My fondness for red lipsticks started in 2009 when I bought a trio pack of Estee Lauder lipsticks from the Zurich airport. Since then, I’ve added just two more red lippies and one red gloss to my collection and hence, I like to call it my Little Red Bouquet 🙂
From L-R: Elizabeth Arden Gloss Sparkling Ruby, Estee Lauder Fig, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Red, MAC Ruby Woo
Estee Lauder Pure Colour Lipstick in Fig:
This was the first red lippie I bought. Well, actually, it was an accidental buy coz the colour on the trio pack looked very different for the actual lipstick colour.
It is a beautiful shimmery berry red and looks really beautiful on my NC37-40 skin tone. It is a highly pigmented, rich, creamy colour which goes on smoothly, doesn’t smudge and brightens up my face. It has a wonderful fragrance too and I simply LOVE the glamorous Estee Lauder lipstick packaging. Because of the slight shimmer, this lipstick is perfect for Indian weddings and festivals and it also does light quite long. Fades a bit after eating but doesn’t look bad even if you don’t touch it up.
Elizabeth Arden Exceptional Lipstick in Red Door Red:
This is a creamy true red with quite a sheer finish. On the first application, it feels quite dry and plasticky and takes time to deposit colour on the lips. I find this lipstick easier to apply with a lip brush rather than directly from the tube. One really good thing is that the colour seems to cling to my lips and hence, despite its sheer to moderate coverage, it seems to last quite a bit.
I believe this is a limited edition colour and it was part of the Elizabeth Arden Christmas Blockbuster set that my brother got for me from USA last christmas. The packaging is a bit disappointing. It is a very simple (kind of cheap feeling) black and silver tube.
Elizabeth Arden High Shine Lip Gloss in Sparkling Ruby:
This is a creamy gloss, much thicker than other glosses. It has a lovely rich colour with a subtle shimmer and a pleasant fragrance. It is a warm toned red that goes well with my skintone and pigmented lips and is perfect for evening wear either by itself or layered over red lipstick. Since it is a gloss, it will bleed if not worn with lip liner. It lasts quite long for a gloss without needing touch up and doesn’t dry out my lips either.
MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo:
Remember the crayons all kids use for colouring? My favourite colour as a kid was the red one crayon, pure red, no orange undertones. That same colour in lipstick form (including the same dry texture) is MAC Ruby Woo! I personally feel that this colour would suit all skin tones.
My latest purchase, this is a pure classic red lipstick (think old-school Hollywood Glamour) with blue undertones that make your teeth look a bit whiter. Since it is a Matte lipstick, it is DRY…. drier than any lippie I’ve ever used before. You have to make sure that your lips are well exfoliated and moisturised before you wear this. Sounds like too much hard work, but the result is worth it. But being such a dry matte has it’s advantages…it lasts reaaaalllly long and doesn’t really leave lipstick stains.
Here are the swatches of these colours.
From L-R: Estee Lauder Fig, MAC Ruby Woo, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Red, Elizabeth Arden Gloss Sparkling Ruby.
Swatched in fluorescent lighting without flash.
From L-R: Estee Lauder Fig, MAC Ruby Woo, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Red, Elizabeth Arden Gloss Sparkling Ruby.
Swatched in fluroescent lighting with flash.
So, these are my favourite reds. Which ones are yours?
Fig is a gorgeous colour, but iv heard it might be discontinued 🙁
Fig looks so pretty in swatches!! I’ll check this out for sure 🙂 same pinch on the Ruby woo 🙂