What’s your power red (as in lip color)? Share the red that makes you feel most confident!
Chanel Dragon 🙂
Thanks to Melinda for today’s question! Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
Thanks Christine! 😉 My power red is MAC’s Russian Red with Cherry lip pencil.
MAC Sin.
MAC Viva Glam Rihanna! 🙂
Buxom Scoundrel! It’s my perfect red, and I feel like I can conquer the world when I wear it!
I’ve been itching to find a red lipstick to add to my arsenal (because I feel no makeup collection is complete without at least one red lipstick), so I’ve been eyeing Buxom Scoundrel. I’ve read several reviews on it, and it seems to combine everything I desire in lip color: opacity, shine, and moisture! I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Nars dragon girl! hands down. Ruby Woo is bit too dry for my taste :/
NYX Snow White. It’s red but not “here come Julie’s lips” red. Plus I love the name!
Trying to find a lip pencil/liner that matches NYX Snow White. would you happen to know of one?
I have a few that I really love.
My Red of Reds is Be A Bombshell’s lipgloss in Hot Mess. I also really love BAB’s lipgloss in Vixen (a darker, more sparkly red).
My other big reds are an accidental theme. Red Velvet Velvetines by Lime Crime is a good matte lipgloss; Red Velvet Lip Butter by Revlon is my every day red lippie; and Red Velvet Butter Lip Balm by NYX is the one I wear most often at home for a little color and some moisturizing.
Maybelline Red Revival. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only one currently on the market I feel isn’t too pink, too orange, etc… I’ve had several over the years by Shiseido, L’Oréal, & Borghese, and I have yet to find replacements…
Revlon Provocateur!
I like the discontinued Chanel Marilyn lipstick a light red. I own a lot of red lipsticks but I always feel pretty in Loreal’s British red lipstick.
I love red lipstick. I’m not sure I could pick one because it drastically depends on my mood. My fave’s in no order are: MAC Russian Red, MAC Lady Danger, Bite Beauty Rouge, Clinique Chubby Stick in Mighty Maraschino, OCC Lip Tar in NSFW and most recently I’m super impressed with Elf’s Matte Lip Color in Rich Red. If I included my ‘almost red’ pinks and burgundies my list would be much longer. I could never choose just one!
MAC Ruby Woo and Senegence Blu-Red
YSL Glossy Stain in 20! It is AMAZING-definitely a HG product for me. It’s cool toned but leans quite neutral on me. I really loved the shade of Hourglass’ Icon Liquid lipstick, but unfortunately it only lasts about an hour in the center of my lips and wears away unevenly. If the formula was better I’d definitely call Icon a power red for me, as well.
Nars Terre de Feu.
Mine would have to be Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense in Palpitante or Guerlain Rouge G in Gisela. 🙂
MAC’s Ruby Woo!
Tom Ford Diabolique! It’s strange how I always go back to that one!
MAC Dubonnet for sure
Kat Von D Underage Red, Illamasqua Box, MAC Marcel Wanders Gesina, NARS Dragon Girl, MAC Ruby Woo, MAC RiRi Woo, MAC Ronnie Red. There’s probably more but that’s the main “strong red lipstick” arsenal, LOL. I also have a “Saturday red” category (the red lipstick you put on Saturday to go out and do errands) but that’s for another time!
Definitely Viva Glam I. Love of my life. <3
Probably Estee Lauder’s Rich Red. If I *really* want to make a statement, I’ll go for Revlon’s Fire and Ice!
Chanel Pirate 🙂
NARS Velvet Matte lip pencil in Red Square… I can only wear matte lipsticks because glossy ones make me look like complete trash. so I’m super thankful that this line of lippy exists!
I’m still upset about that getting DC’d.
MAC Lady Danger
Urban Decay F-Bomb!
Nars Dragon girl
MAC Russian Red
It was the BareMinerals Pretty Amazing in Strength but I’ve been really digging the matte look so I just ordered Ruby Woo. Let’s hope I can handle the dryness! I’ll just chant my mantra, “Pain is beauty, pain is beauty, pain is beauty…”
I don’t actually tend to wear red lipsticks as they don’t suit me. But I have been leaning towards Revlon Fire gloss which seems to be a good shade for me.
Chanel Dragon, MAC Ruby Woo and Giorgio Armani 400 Lip Maestro!
Occ lip tar in NSFW!! I’m actually planning on wearing it tomorrow!
Urban decay Gash lip liner (discontinued) with Smashbox Infrared lipstick on top. It stay put perfectly for hours and is a beautiful deep red.
Yes! No one ever knows Infrared. That’s my fav.
Hourglass Raven. 🙂
MAC RiRi Woo
Mac Viva Glam 1 🙂
Revlon’s Red Laquer(orange-red 😀 most say it’s a bit sheer but on me it’s almost opaque and buildable as I’m pale…on others it looks more orange and non-bright; the problem with it is that it’s a frost finish and altho it has no frost in it, it gets dry on the lips after a while just like frosts do…at first it looks creamy and juicy…I wish it was made in cream)
Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple.
Lately it’s been Bite Beauty’s VIB Rouge (my first Bite lipstick and I am so pleased I will probably order the full size). But in general, it’s probably Clarins Red Wine, which is a gorgeous,wearable red with a lovely texture.
Chanel Pirate!
Urban Decay’s F-Bomb.
MAC Russian Red. It’s such a beautiful colour.
Ruby Woo – a recent discovery. For the longest time it was Viva Glam 1
Beauty UK’s Naughty, which is a vivid red-orange! 🙂
MAC Lady Danger, it’s always fun to wear and attention grabbing.
Russian Red by MAC or Fiery by Stila
Clinique Red.
YSL Rouge Pur Couture #01
Recently it’s been MAC Lady Danger, and I’m probably going to wear it again tomorrow night!
Any red makes a statement, and is powerful. Personally, there is nothing better than a matte red. I love MAC’s Chili because it’s so understated but i also love a MAC’s Russian Red because it’s such a bold red.
Russian Red. it’s also my everyday red, my night-time red… SIIIGH. RUSSIAN RED, YOU’RE MY FOREVER GIRL.
NARS Red Square. It was my first bright lipstick purchase and also the lipstick that led me to discover I look better in warm tones than in cool ones.
Riri Woo by MAC is a statement of power for me!
MAC Russian Red
MAC Red
Nars Mascate, sometimes with MAC Russian Red gloss over it to add some shine. I just ordered Urban Decay F-Bomb pencil and 69 liner during the sale and can’t wait to try those!
Mac riri woo I looooveeee itttt! In my opinion its darker then ruby woo and that color is best for my dark skin
Red red? Riri woo
Shu Uemura’s Mon Shu Red but it has been discontinued and I can’t find a dupe.
I definitely don’t have one power red, but the shade that really springs to mind first is MAC Russian Red. Although, there are many others that I absolutely love.
Mac Russian Red!!
I wanted to buy Chanel Dragon last year but it was discontinued 🙁
MAC Viva Glam I
My power reds keep getting discontinued. 🙁 First it was Avon Wonder Wine, then MAC Charred Red, then Revlon Mulled Wine. My current power red is NARS Red Lizard.
I collect red lipcolors, but POWER red? My take-no-prisoners, I-am-queen-of-all-I-see, I-dare-you red would have to be OCC NSFW.
Definitely MAC Riri Woo, with the Driven by Love lipglass!
Rimmel Kate Moss in 107! A deeper matte red, I love it!
MAC Runaway Red is #1 for me.
Also, MAC Scarlet Ibis, Ronnie Red and Absolute Power
I think I’m covered for reds 😀
Hourglass Icon! If I apply a lip pencil underneath, I only need to reapply after eating something oily 🙂 But it fades evenly and is such a powerful color on me!
Chanel hydrabase lipstick in fire .
Rouge d’armani 400. It’s the perfect color and formula for me. Even better is that my husband picked it out!
Mac Relentlessly Red, Mac All Fired Up, and Mac Russian Red.
NYX Chaos.
Nars Red Lizard and OCC NSFW.
Chanel dragon
May belling red revival. Best drugstore red ever and so underrated it’s upsetting, pretty close to dragon I think
My current power red is MAC RiRi Woo lipglass. I’m also infatuated with MAC Driven By Love lipglass.
After years and years of buying red lipsticks from various cosmetic companies only to find that i’d stuffed up yet again and ended up binning them, I believe that Giorgio Armani #401 is THE one. I’ve worn it several times now over a 3 month period and I still love the way it looks on me each time. Its a keeper!
Icon from Hourglass with 999 lip liner by Dior!
Besame’s Cherry Red or Crimson Rouge
I love matte reds so Stila’s Fiery and Beso are my faves.
I luv riri woo and lady danger
Absolute Power by MAC
Absolute Power and Russian Red by MAC
When I put on Ruby Woo, I turn into a matte velvet super hero.
Urban Decay F-Bomb!
I’m not much of a red gal but my favorite is Mac Love Goddes because of the pinky undertone
Since Chanel Dragon being discontinued, I’d go with Hourglass Icon Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick!
This is the bluest & darkest red without being pinky or vampy red! I haven’t found the dupe in traditional lipstick form, the same shade in Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick are somehow a bit different in color.
i’ve never worn red lipstick and i never will
MAC Russian Red
NARS Cruella. OR Buxom Scoundrel on top of Urban Decay 69 24/7 Pencil. Or NARS Damned.
Bourjois – Lovely Brille Corail des Mers.
You can never go wrong with sheer lipcolour *^.^*
I wore only reds for years so I have tried many. When you mention “power” red I think of something that will stay put, eliminating my daily favorite glosses, balms and lip butters i.e. Buxom, MAC, Revlon. That leaves us with OCC Lip Tar in NSFW & NARS Cruella Velvet Matte pencil. There a bunch of other great reds like MAC Charmed I’m Sure, Ruby Woo, RiRi Woo & Ronnie Red, Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro 502, UD 69 & Gash that are always good too.
Mac ruby woo without a doubt!
I am crazyyyyy for red lip colors ( aahhhhhhh how many times i repeat this ? )
my fav and first love is – mac cherry lip pencil with mac russian red lipstick ( absolute fav )
after this NARS cruella and fire down below followed by REVLON fire and ICE .
i have way too many reds but these are the first few I love the most and they are not being discontinued 😀
and i recently tried CHANEL PIRATE from sample card which was there with me for past 1 yr .. and i want a full tube of that shade after reading it is fav of soooo many readers 😀
I agree with Chanel Dragon. I often wear Illamasqua’s Succubus gloss as well.
Ooh yes, I forgot about that. Stunning colour!
MAC Prepare for Pleasure
Ulta lipstick in Chili Pepper (#203)! The most beautiful deep red that lasts foreverrrr.
I have so many! Chanel pirate is up there, as is Dior 999. But there are so many occasions for which Mac Viva Glam 1 or Russian Red or Ruby Woo are perfect ( Ruby Woo doesn’t dry out my lips…go ahead and hate me 😉 And I can’t not mention Mac’s All Fired Up (a near perfect dupe of Nars Dragon Girl as far as I’m concerned). So, yes, I love red lipstick and I’ve fallen down the Mac rabbit hole 🙂
It’s a toss up between MAC’s Russian Red and MAC’s Kanga Rouge from Holiday 2011. I have a backup as well 🙂
Special mention goes to NARS’ Jungle Red.
Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Toast!
Rimmel 107 from Kate Collection.
Hourglass raven. I get the most compliments when I wear this! It just compliments my warm skin tone so well.
Russian Red has been my go-to for years, but lately it’s been all about Kat von D Outlaw. Good god damn, is it perfect! Even my husband loves it, as in “hey, are you going to put on your ass kicking lipstick tonight? Oh good!”
Bite Beauty Rhubarb and Urban Decay Gash.
MAC Lady Danger!
Hi Christine.
I think it depends on how I’m feeling because I might be having a little rocky/dark powerful day xD and I would sooo use Mac’s Diva but If I want just a red lippie I would surely go for RiRi Woo 😀
Love this question! I’m always looking for new reds to try.
For myself, it would be either Guerlain Garconne or Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro #201! I love my MAC Russian Red too, but find it a tad drying compared to my Guerlain or the Armani.
There’s a quote I love from Elizabeth Taylor: “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.” I always carry around my Garconne if I ever need a little pick-me-up or whenever I need help to “pull myself together” 🙂