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At the tail end of one of those horribly long days at the end of a horribly rainy week where I’d been besieged by the sort of cold that makes you feel improbably gloomy and turns the rims of your eyes along with your nostrils red, I had to go out.
It was a dinner party requiring a bit of effort, and so I duly plopped some foundation on to cover said redness and reached for the only make-up item I knew to be imbued with magical powers: red lipstick.
Once coated in Lisa Eldridge Velvet Ribbon, my mouth not only took centerstage, drawing attention away from the signs of that cold, but I noticed my shoulders dropped and my back straightened, my body starting to learn that bright lipstick is more than just lipstick: it engenders a feeling, directs mood. You don’t so much wear it as deploy it.
Whether you wear it daily to face life or, like me, reach for it intermittently, there’s an inherent power in bright lipsticks — and these are the ones I think you should know about:
Rouge Allure Velvet Nuit Blanche 0700 by Chanel
Don’t overlook the charms of a bright pink with more than a hint of Barbie about it; it’ll light up your face, turning down signs of tiredness.
Rouge Hermès, Orange Néon
This is the brightest possible matte — but hydrating — orange I’ve ever encountered. Please do also fall in love with the packaging (which, joyously, is refillable).
Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in Atomic Cherry by Lisa Eldridge
While I’m a staunch fan of the classic red that is Velvet Ribbon, I’d like to draw your attention to Atomic Cherry, a sort of sheeny slick of cherry red that will make your lips look perky.
Lip Souffle Matte Lip Cream in Ascend by RARE BEAUTY
If you want your pink to make a statement, to be the feature on your face, get this. The cream holds onto lips really well (without making them feel wrapped in cling film), so you won’t spend half your day fretting about the colour disappearing/transferring.
Everkiss Liquid Lip in Devotion by Dolce & Gabbana
Red, but with a brick twist. I think this mousse-like matte is begging to be paired with lashings of mascara and not much else — but, as always, you do you.
Lip Expert Matte Liquid Lipstick in Sweet Flamenco by By Terry
A blazing tomato red will forever look fresh and vibrant, and this particular one comes in perhaps the longest-wearing formula I’ve used. A tip: to perfect the edges, glance the doe-foot applicator over the edges of your lips with very little of the lipstick on it for a slight blur.
Rouge Dior in 999
Considered a classic among red lip aficionados, the shade 999 is nothing short of iconic, creating the sort of bursting bright bouncy red that belongs somewhere wonderful — a marble hotel room perhaps, somewhere rarified like the Riviera. Wear it with an exquisite perfume to do it justice.
Lip Suede in Pip by Westman Atelier
Want all that red goodness, but matte and, crucially, comfy? Get your hands on celebrity make-up artist Gucci Westman’s brand’s latest lipstick in the shade Pip.
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