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Best Red Lipstick
What's the best Red Lipstick that you've tried?
Chanel Dragon, which is long-discontinued, and after that, Guerlain Garconne is my go to red! Bright, lightly glossy, opaque.
— Christine
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MAC Russian Red.
Honestly, I don’t think I have a “best red.” I like many different reds for many different reasons. But the first answer that comes to mind is a super long discontinued Aerie Vintage Quenchstick lipstick. I would probably compare it to Too Faced’s La Creme lipstick formula: glossy, semi-opaque. It was the very first red I ever tried, and I loved it! It gave me the confidence to wear reds and other bright lip products.
I always loved Kat Von D Adora (from a Temptalia review!!) because you couldn’t find bright, metallic blue-based reds back then.
Sephora Lip Stain 01, I forgot the color name but it’s 01. I LOVE IT! Not only is it a beautiful color; I feel that it suits me the best out of all of my reds.
Will probably always be Ruby Woo….I live for retro mattes and it’s the perfect red for NW45 skin tone.
Bite Mistletoe!
I have a few that I keep reaching for. I love MAC x Fafi in Strawbaby, which is going way back. In terms of liquid lipstick, love Ladyballs by Too-Faced. And I have recently discovered Besame cosmetics, and Cherry Red or Red Velvet are constantly in my purse now
Oh man, I still have a Fafi lipstick! I tried to get my hands on Strawbaby, but I was living in Sweden at the time and they were sold out, and it was much more expensive than in the US 🙁
The purplish one? Me, too. Very different. Don’t even know who Fafi is, except that they are …or were… a girl group, I think.
I have Not So Innocent, which is more of a pearly nude. See Christine’s Fafi post: http://www.temptalia.com/mac-cosmetics-fafi-for-mac-official-color-story-product-photos/
Fafi is a French graffiti artist 🙂 See her site: http://fafi.net/
I’ll second Besame Cherry Red and AGENT CARTER LIPSTICK I mean Red Velvet! 🙂
Bite Sour Cherry and NARS Cruella!
My favs:
Cream finish – Urban Decay Gash
Satin finish – Besame Noir Red
Matte finish – MAC Sin or MAC Studded Kiss
Liquid – Pretty Zombie Cosmetics Vamp
Guerlain Rouge Saphir!
Oh wait, I also love NARS Audacious in Shirley❤️
OCC Lip Tar NSFW for a RED red, Shiseido Red Queen for a more muted lip 🙂
I have a few:
bright red – the old MUFE lipstick in 52
true red – Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw
dark red – MAC Dubonnet
Still looking for it. Years back, I had the perfect red for my coloring (very fair, warm), a Prescriptives medium-to-light red with a coppery but not orange cast. I’ve tried many since that are close but not quite that perfect on me. Am looking forward to others’ comments.
AB, my go-to red was also a Prescriptives one — Oodles. I miss it! Only recently have I found something that works for me and doesn’t “scream.” Bobbi Brown luxe Hibiscus, which is described as a plum wine, but looks red enough on me to suit. Sometimes I wear MAC Dark Side first, then Hibiscus over to bring up the color a bit.
I don’t have a perfect red shade. I wish I did. I like Nars Dragon Girl, but I always top it with something else to make it feel creamier. I prefer my lipsticks to have a little slip, and Dragon Girl feels just a bit too dry for my liking.
Kat Von D Hellbent. HANDS DOWN. It makes my teeth look whiter, and while I know a lot don’t care for the studded kiss formula, I quite like it!! For me and my two shades I own. They are creamy and nice!!
Runner up would be Colourpop’s Ultra Satin in London Fog!!
OCC NSFW (perfect true red) or Bite Mulberry, probably.
Colour Pop Lippie Stix in Trust Me. It’s matte, blue-based, pigmented, comfortable, and lasts all night long!
Clarins Rouge Eclat in Red Wine (discontinued, of course!) and Chanel Pirate – I love that one too. Shiseido Bloodstone is another fave, as are two MAC lippies that are also discontinued – Red Dwarf and Red Necessity. I don’t know what I’ll do when I finish up all those lovely discontinued beauties.
Guerlain Greta, Garconne, and Gala are definite tops. Besame Victory Red, Cherry Red, Red Velvet are ridiculously amazing. Tom Ford’s new Lips and Boys shade Dominic is a fantastic matte (and comparable to the matte Louboutin classic red bottom shade for a fraction of the price). NARS Scarlet Empress and Cruella are permanent collection fixtures for me.
1. MAC Ruby Woo
2. Coloured Rain Cherry Blossom
2. Hourglass Liquid Lipstick in Icon
Obviously I love a good blue based, matte red lip. I couldn’t choose just one 🙂
You know what I’m going to say, right? MAC Maria Moretti, hands down! Also LOVE: Chanel Rouge Vie and MAC x Selena Como La Flor. All of these make me feel powerful and unabashedly female.
Mac Ruby Woo has no competition in my eyes!
This is such a great question, because it will be different for everybody. Urban Decay 714 is MY red. Second place goes to Colour Pop’s TGIF, which is so muted and perfect for work. Love them both.
Givenchy Le Rouge Grenat Initie is my all-time favorite, although Urban Decay Mrs. Mia Wallace is a close second!
Mac Russian Red and ColourPop x Jenn Im Jenneration X
My favorite is Max Factor Creme Rouge 537 (I don’t know if they still make this). Also love MAC Von Teese, and UD Mrs. Mia Wallace, F-Bomb, and 69. Liquid would definitely be Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Redrum.
I really wish Max Factor was sold in the US again. They were my favorite drugstore brand back in the day!
They had the best lipsticks.
Shiseido Lacquer Rouge. Tons of shades, great packaging, wears great, slightly glossy (although you can blot them for incredible matte wear), super-comfortable to wear, and not terribly expensive at $25 for the quality and color range.
Burberry’s “Military Red” and Besame’s “Cherry Red”!
Nars Banned Red. It’s not really a true red but it’s just the perfect color for me.
That’s rough because there a lot of great lip products out there in different finishes and undertones. My “Ride or Die” (BTW I just died a little inside typing that) is Nars Cruella. It seems to work on everyone, wears well, and doesn’t dry me out.
MAC Dubonnet. I prefer a darker red.
Honestly? This is going to sound funny but Bite Me by Makeup Monsters. It’s super light weight and insanely pigmented. One swipe and I’m good to go all day. On top of that, I seem to get way more compliments when I wear that red as opposed to my other reds. I highly recommend it!
YSL Glossy Stain in 9 Rouge Laque.
I am LOVING Clarins Joli Rouge Red Terra at the moment – a neutral red with very slight browned tones. Best of all it is creamy, hydrating to the lips and unscented.
The first red lipstick I ever bought: Stila liquid lipstick in Fiery. I like the mousse-y, creamy application and the color suits my light, cool- leaning skin so well!
I’m hoping to branch out and try more reds this year since I haven’t tried too many. This thread is the perfect start 🙂
Nars Cruella, like some others have pointed out. Dior 999.
Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid in Lempicka Red #18
Cannot even pick top ten. It’s like favorite dog. Please send me everyone’s favorites, make up god. Express mail would be nice. Gotta go cruise Besame. They have such classics, and the Sephora selection is expanded…
Omg, low stock alert on virtually all! Hope that doesn’t mean anything, like d/c of line, though I never had any issues with besame direct.
I would go for MAC Russian Red and Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip – Silhouette (perfect,perfect,perfect) <3
Besame Cherry Red and of course Besame Red Velvet–I am a huge Agent Carter fan!
I love Nars Shirley. Not only is the color the perfect red for me but the texture is lovely.
I lean toward the deep reds…right now im into Bite tannin and recently was surprised by how much I like Shiseidos bloodstone
Wow! You and me both. I’m enjoying both of those as my 2 top reds as well.
MAC New York Apple, Viva Glam Rihanna and NARS Le Palace. LOVE!!
I prefer reds that are sheer, rosy, and gentle. My long-time favorite red has been MAC Hot Tahiti. It is subtle, complex, and very flattering.
MAC RiRi Woo
Ruby Woo, bright red. MAC Viva Glam brownish red. Pop Colour Avenue, more of a yellow red on me.
I love Elizabeth Arden Red Door Red and wear it frequently. I also really love Sephora Cream Lip Stain in #1, Always Red. It is a great formula and really reasonably priced. I don’t really wear liquid lipsticks so I put a little balm under the Sephora. It still wears pretty well for me.
Mac Russian Red and RBR Perfume of his gaze for a sheer wash of red.
Too Faced Melted Strawberry.
Chanel rouge coco Gabrielle is stunning!
I’m not the right person to give advice on good red lippies, since I rarely wear ’em.
Bobbi Brown Red Velvet.
Guerlain Gina 🙂
Box from Illamasqua
MAC Ruby Woo or Queen’s Sin (an oldie)
Ooooh, red lipstick is my weakness! I’m usually a neutral-to-cool leaning fan, so that is what my list of faves lean towards:
Power reds: Chanel Rouge Allure in Rouge Tentation, MAC Riri Woo, and Burberry Lip Velvet in Damson (leans a little berry-red, but it’s gorgeous)
More sheer or tame reds: surratt beauty Lipslique in Rubis and Lunasol Full Glamour Lips in 02 Cherry Red. Both of those are extremely hydrating as well.
Gloss: Paul & Joe Beaute Glossy Lip Color in 10 Cabaret and MAC Lipglass in Riri Woo
Discontinued Favorite: Revlon Lip Butter in 070 Cherry Tart, which was such a perfect and wearable red and performed as well as the highest end red lipsticks for under $10. Miss this one!
I have 1 go to #1 favorite best red lipstick of all time. Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Lipstick, really red #006 It is discontinued in stores now but you can still find them on ebay and amazon etc. When they started to clearance them out. I bought 6 tubes of it. It is a gorgeous perfect red for any skin tone and it is Matte but not dry at all. Nice and creamy. Perfect for my pin up look. And of course no red loving lipstick woman would be without M.A.C’s Ruby Woo. But that one is so dry and hard to apply. But once it’s on. It is gorgeous. There one thing this red lover knows and that is red lipstick. I have two giant draws full of nothing but reds. ALL THE REDS! If you want a cheaper gorgeous easy to find red. E.L.F’s Rich Red Matte stick. $3 and it is also one of my go to’s.
UD Mrs Mia Wallace. I rarely go for cream finishes, but this one is so long wearing and pigmented. I also LOVE the movie Pulp Fiction, so the shade name speaks to me.
NARS Cruella and Besame Red Velvet.
Tatcha Kyoto Red is perfect with my coloring. It makes a statement without looking harsh or garish on me and I love the satin-matte finish. It’s classic and elegant for evening, but it looks just as good when worn with a casual top and blue jeans.
I rarely wear red lipstick, if I do it’s usually in the winter months, so I have one old red lipstick; Shiseido Real Red Rouge Authentique.
Bite Candied Maple and Tatcha Kyoto Red
Currently, Marc Jacobs Goddess
Maybelline colour drama velvet lip pencil in red essential is my perfect red. (Nw15/20)