Ask Angie: your red lipstick

Steph

Angie, you and I wear basically the exact same colors, which leads me to believe that even though our coloring might be different, the same colors flatter us. To that end, I am wondering what your go-to red lipstick is. I never wear lipstick, but thought it might be nice to have a red in the event I need one. Can you let me know what you use? Thanks!

14 years ago

General

10 replies

Latest reply was from Kari

Maya

Veteran

Not Angie, but having seen you in person and gone through as much makeup as I have in the past few months, I feel like I can speak with some authority.

You really can't go wrong with MAC. The amount of colors and finishes is nothing short of astounding.

The red that I have, Lady Bug, would probably look great on you. It's a warm red with a lustre finish. Lustre is rather sheer and tends to wear off easily, but it's buildable and moisturizing which I like. It doesn't bother me that I have to reapply. One swipe will give you nice sheer color, but you can certainly just add on more if you want. Cockney was the other red I tried on. It was similar to Lady Bug, and I can't quite remember why LB won out. I think it was just less intense. If you like one, you'd probably like the other though.

MAC Red is also worth considering. It is one of their most popular sellers for a reason. The description says it's a "bluish red" but I wouldn't really be put off by that. It's more of a clean, true red. The satin finish is somewhere between matte and shiny but doesn't have any shimmer. It is VERY bright, though. Too bright for me, personally. I'm not a huge fan of bright red unless it's some kind of dramatic evening event...but you may like it.

Russian Red, which is another popular one, is more bluish than MAC Red, and it's matte. I'm not sure what your preference is, but I find matte finishes drying and aging and am just not a big fan. Ruby Woo is another popular matte red. If you like matte finishes, they might both be worth a look but I'm inclined to say they might be too blue.

Those aren't even the tip of the iceberg, though. If you can get yourself to a MAC counter, I would highly recommend it.

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

And our new Make-Up expert has spoken. Good job! :). (Maya, you crack me up that you are now so into make-up - never say never!!).

Steph, high five to wearing the same colours! Marianna does too - and to some extent Maya, actually.

I have been wearing the SAME lipstick for years. I do not wear gloss. I also like to mix my lipstick with Burts basic lipbalm.

- MAC : "Hot Tahiti"
- MAC: " Spice It Up"
- Chanel; "Fire" - for night, fancy occasions, and red outfits.

I often mix these lipstick colours too. I love that! I look awful with nude and pink lipstick, and earthtones are not my thing.

Like I said to Maya when she started her lipstick investigation, I am a huge MAC fan. I have found their lipstick best and will not change unless they discontinue my colours.

14 years ago

Steph

Veteran

Maya, that is so funny--I was just at MAC yesterday and tried and liked Ladybug! I thought the color (which is kind of an orange-red, to my eye) worked well on me. The problem is that I'm just not used to seeing myself in lipstick at all, let alone bright lipstick, so I feel awkward in the look. But if I do decide to buy some, I think Ladybug might be it (unless Angie chimes in her lipstick and I prefer it).

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

We typed at the same time!

Try mixing the red with lipbalm first - softens the blow.

14 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I felt the same way you did, Steph. "Like a drag queen," as I told the SA. But I got used to it (being a drag queen, that is). I always wear a smear of Aquaphor under it though. As Angie says, it makes it go on a little more sheer.

I never used to wear lipstick, as you may know, mainly because I always associated it with being too color-intense and matte. But now that I have tried a bunch on I have come to like it much better than gloss. My go-to color that I use most of the time actually looks much more natural on me than gloss ever did (who naturally has wet liips...?).

Lesson learned: You never know unless you try.

I do wear many of the same colors as you, Marianna, and Angie--although I look better in slightly deeper versions. I am pretty liberal with color though. I know what looks the absolute best on me, but I don't reject anything if it's not 100% spot on.

14 years ago

rosee

Veteran

Not Angie, but any MAC lustre is a good start, not exactly a gloss but a sheerer color. Right now I have 2 lipsticks, both Clinique: Angel Red (a sheerer dark red) and Plum Nude (a browny pink with SPF, it's actually more of a neutral-cool color than nude).
My favorite MACs are all lustres: Midi Mauve, Lady Bug, Redwood (discontinued).

14 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

My go to red is by Make Up For Ever 205.

14 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

I do love when you all have done the research and we all get to reap the benefit of your experiences

I may need to try red lipstick now. . . . . .

14 years ago

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

This is a late posting and I am so happy to read your suggestions. I'm going to the makeup counter tomorrow and have been using Sue Devitt's "Babylon" with the MAC lip liner, "Soar," and more recently "Boldly Bare."

So, it's nice to have these other lip color ideas! Thank you.

14 years ago

Kari

Veteran

This thread is great - Angie, I know you've shared the name of your lipstick before, but I appreciate the recommendations for other great shades of red here. As a relatively new lipstick wearer (I usually choose a medium pink) I've been trying to find "the perfect red" for when I want a more dramatic lip, and have been tentatively exploring my options. I'm officially assigning myself homework to do so, and to try out some of the shades mentioned here.

14 years ago

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