So there I was thinking that I wanted red lips for the festive season but I didn’t have a single red lip product. A quick rummage through my collection revealed about…er, 20 different red lipstick and glosses. So I don’t need a new one. Nevertheless I did a few quick swatches of the four products that stood out and to decide what would be suitable for the festive season.
The Matte
Nars Velvet Matte pencil in Cruella
There are a few other choices in the Nars range but I own Cruella, which is a dark, true blue based red. I love blue based reds although it means they are more serious to wear….more evening than day.
If blue based reds ain’t your thing there are other shades of red in this range. I like this because its such a grown up red, but I reserve it for evening occasions. Velvet matte is great under a gloss but a bit drying for me if I wear it on its own. You can use this without a lipliner which is a bonus.
Marks: 3.5/5
The Glossy Lipstick
Paul & Joe Limited Edition Reds in 002
There are 3 in this range, 001 for a natural red, 002 is the one we are looking at and 003 is a matte, evening red. I own all three and 002 is my favourite. That’s because 001 is sheer and indeed very very easy to wear but it’s almost to wishy washy. It’s like wearing sparkly turquoise eyeshadow as a sheer wash. Some colours need to be STRONG. 003 is a matte red and it’s nice but not as plumping or fun as 002.
This has a really nice glossy soft texture – it is still quite pigmented though so you will need some lipliner or some way of keeping the colour neat and controlled. It’s borderline wearable for the day – a blot perhaps and some gloss would make it office friendly.
Marks: 4/5
The Pure Red Gloss
Nars Bloodwork
This is not for the faint hearted. A true red, fearless and bold – this gloss is highly pigmented (the following swatch was just from one dip):
This is such a fun, fun, fun red. I didn’t use lipliner because…I’m too lazy to find one, but obviously when using such a strong gloss you should really use a lipliner, all over the lip so the gloss has something to grip on to.
The red really is bold – you need to little of this product. This is like the red that is sexy and vampy, that isn’t shy. You just have to be careful with application because if you apply it like how I normally apply gloss (slap it on) then you are going to look like the joker.
It also makes the lips look really lush. You just have to be commited to wear it.
Marks: 4.5/5
The Fun Red Gloss
Chanel Big Bang Gloss
Big Bang is like an orgasm on the lips – no, not like that. It’s a sheer red with a million microsparkles, that no photograph could ever do justice to.
Big Bang isn’t LE in the UK but it is in some parts of the world. It’s the easiest to wear of the bunch I have reviewed today – sparkly, fun, moisturizing, gorgeous. When Chanel does lip glitter, they really do is amazingly well.
Marks: 5/5
So for my day to day, I’ll stick to Chanel’s Big Bang, for Christmas Eve, I’ll use the Paul & Joe, for parties Bloodwork, for Christmas Day, Cruella with gloss on top.
Another added bonus is that your boyfriend won’t go anywhere near you when you have bright red lips. Men find it abhorrent apparently, a bit like tights and bangs.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
lol, yes I haven’t met a single male that actually finds red lips sexy. Unless maybe if it was on Angelina Jolie.
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I love red lips during winter too! The Chanel Big Bang is so pretty and festive, and it’s not too much for daytime wear either. <3 it!
NARS Cruella is really pretty too. I love the matte look of it.
Have a great Christmas!
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I absolutely love that Chanel Big Bang gloss on you, so many sparkles!
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Cruella is awesome! You must try it under Fire Down Below lipstick – it’s amazing! Fire Down Below on it’s own is pretty wrong, kind of dried blood red, quite hard to wear but over Cruella it is most amazing!
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Hey Blu
Yeah I think its a practicality thing – men dont want to kiss you if you have red lips! It reminds them of clowns!
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Hey Gloria!
Yes so many red shades but also textures. The Matte feels super glam, the gloss is just so much fun and easy to wear
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Hey Ashley K
In the night, you know when you are in the evening the sparkles on it is AMAZING
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Hey Medina!
You know I was at the nars counter trying out red (about 6 shades) and Fire Down Below was one that I didnt try!!!!!!!!! Isn’t that annoying! So many shades, so many tones, its hard to pick
/
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That pic of Big bang looks soo nice! I think that will be the first glossimer I buy. Have you seen the ASOS sale?They have quite afew beauty brands on sale. Becca palette is £24.50! =)
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wow, Big Bang is orange-peach on me. I wish it looked red like it does on you!
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just had to say that i love this red lippie post!
i don’t have the confidence to wear the red, nor the charisma…but it looks great! makes me really want to
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