"Put on some red lipstick and live a little" - My top 5 Higher End Red Lipsticks

Lucie
Jan 30, 2019
8 min read

Okay so I know I talk about illness a lot, however I wanted to write a "normal" post, a post that talks about things other than illness. So I'm gonna talk about one of my favourite things - Red Lippy! So whether you know me or you don't know me, it becomes very clear that I'm a bit in love with red lipstick ... okay more than a bit, it's my inner makeup addict weakness. I can guarantee you that there is hardly any day that I go out without wearing a good old red lip. So it's taken me all the might I could muster to attempt to whittle down my top 5 higher end lipsticks and I can safely say this was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Why do I love red lipstick you ask? When I wear a red lip, I feel like the most confident and best version of me I could be, I feel like this powerful woman that could do anything. It's so hard to describe why I love it, I think when I wear it, whatever is out side that front door - good or bad - I can face it. You don't ever need makeup to feel or be beautiful or to feel or be confident, but sometimes it's the little things that get you through the day. Because I spent 3 years with an NG tube and I use a wheelchair, my confidence plummeted, not because those things detract from beauty at all, they don't have that power, but I think when I saw those things I didn't feel like myself, I didn't feel like me. Red lipstick changed that. That little bottle of red pigment made me feel like Lucie, and that was someone I was missing for a long time.

I've added a whole selection of lippy's so whatever takes your fancy red lipstick wise, whether you're a splurger or a budgetter I've got you covered to satisfy everyone of your lipstick needs. I'm a hugeeeeeee fan of drugstore red lipsticks, and some of my all time favourite come from drugstore brands, so I'll be writing a post soon about my favourite red lipsticks from the drugstore.

I brought my first ever red lipstick when I was about 12 years old, I wanted to get one because I was going to a Taylor Swift concert and I was desperate to wear red lipstick just like her. I got this one in Claire's and I rushed to the toilets in the shopping centre, swiped on the classic red shade and just stared at myself in the mirror all sad because I didn't look as cool as Taylor swift did (btw this was without wearing mascara too). I was so inexperienced, that not only did it look like a 5 year old raided her mum's makeup bag but, I also pushed the cap of the lipstick on and completely forgot to unwind it down (FAIL). However the next day I put a bit of mascara on and tried again, and that was it, that was the moment where I fell in love with wearing it, and since then I never stopped wearing it, I'd even wear it when I was at home in my pjs. I recently got my first high end lipstick for my 17th birthday because I wanted to go a bit fancy, (big mistake - I fell in love with more expensive ones and since then I haven't stopped buying them because they are just so beautiful ... whoopsies) but when I put it on I still felt like I did when I was 12 years old.

So here are my top faves, with lip swatches included (ps. I planned do write a post like this before I even had this blog so these swatches are from last year and I'm looking at them and I saw how truly terrible they are)

1) Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Redrum.

This is just the most perfect classic red shade ever! I have to admit the Jeffree Star liquid lipstick formula is one of my all time favourites! It ticks so many boxes. It doesn't get on your teeth and you don't have to worry if you're talking to your crush about red splodges on your pearly whites.... I mean we've all been there. The packaging is simple but effective, it smells delicious and the staying power lasts allllll day without making your lips look dryer than the Saharan desert. I wore it when I went to a concert and I had it on in the morning and I kid you not it lasted the whole night without ever needing a touch up, this was through all the tears and screams. Everyone of his lipsticks I've brought I've never ever been disappointed, they're just so so comfortable and I don't have to keep maintaining it, which is often the down side to a lot of red lipsticks. This lipstick gives you such a classic look, which you can really dress up as a full glam look or you can just shove on a bit of mascara and go for a statement bold lip. This is possibly my most used liquid lipstick I own, that's how much I love it.

Another Jeffree Star lipstick shade that I'm also completely in love with and I believe deserves an honourable mention is Unicorn blood. So all my autumn girls and boys out there, you will love this grungy red shade.

2) Mac lipstick in collaboration with Aida Domenech

2) This is a new discovery for me but I'm very much in love and I would marry it if I could. It's that perfect inbetweeny shade between a gorgeous bright red and an autumnal vampy burgundy, with a hint more brown rather than being really purple. This whole heartedly is a new staple just as many Mac lippies are. It's so creamy yet dries to that perfect kind of matte (you know what I mean). My very first high end lipstick was a mac one and it's safe to say my collection is growing fast. I love the formula and the smell. I know it's weird to talk about smell when the smell has nothing to do with how well the lipstick works, but I just feel that I need to put it in. Although I adore liquid lipsticks sometimes I just want a bit more of a comfortable feel on my lips, rather than them feeling like sandpaper, so if I'm not wearing my trusty Ofra liquid lipstick, I'll probably be wearing this one. I have to touch it up occasionally as it goes a little patchy (but let's be honest all dark lipsticks do) but with a lipliner it stays on through hot drinks and milkshakes (I'm not sure about how long it last whilst eating because I don't eat but it has a good staying power in general) so although it can be a bit pricey it is well worth the investment to add to your collection. There's also something about the sleek packaging of Mac lipsticks that just honestly has me falling head over heels for, it feels very luxurious and classy.

3) Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick - Milan

This right here is my baby. I'm a darker red lip girl, but often some lipsticks wash me out where I'm so pale, but this is just perfection. This is one of my alllllll time favourite liquid lipstick formulas and it is a dream to wear and so so so comfortable and creamy. It's a little lighter in colour in comparison to my Aida one, but it's that nice inbetweeny shade of the JS Redrum lipstick and Aida. The doe foot applicator is really small too, which makes it super easy to swipe on and make the cupid's bow look snatched. I can honestly tell you this lasts a really long time even when it was windy and all my hair was blowing on my lips. It smells of Crème brûlée, which is a massive bonus to be honest. I'm honestly so obsessed with this right now, it's a perfect lipstick for anytime of the year and any occasion. Most girls and boys into makeup have a Mac lipstick as a staple in their collection however I think everyone should also have Ofra liquid lipsticks as a new staple item too.

4) Mac Retro Matte Lipstick - Ruby woo

Spot the fact that I've put in this list 2 Mac Lipsticks? Well it's because I have a bit of an obsession with them, they're just so brilliant. I begged my mum to grab me this for Christmas as I was desperate to see why everyone loved it so much. Similar to the Aida collaboration, this lipstick has that sleek packaging that instantly makes me feel a little bit more classy. Anyone who knows a little about makeup knows Mac Ruby Woo, it's that staple red that is perfect for that classic bold lip. The formula is a little drying, so I would suggest maybe use a lip scrub before hand or use a bit of setting spray to help it glide on with ease. However the staying power of this beauty hasn't come to play around, I had the most amazing and messy Nutella milkshake, with creams and all the yummy goodness, afterwards I dreaded to look at my lipstick, I honestly thought it would be all over the place, oh how I was wrong. It stayed there perfectly and looked like I'd just touched it up, that's when I fell in love with it. If you want that classic red shade, this is the only red lipstick you will ever need. The thing I love most about this lipstick is that it instantly brightens your face and I felt like a 1920's flapper girl. This is the holy grail of red lipsticks. It's that perfect blue tone red that flatters any skin colour. It can feather a little as all red lipsticks do, so use a lipliner and you won't have to worry about your lippy for the rest of the day.

5) Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick - Outlaw

Ah Kat Von D, you never seem to disappoint. As a big fan of her renowned eyeliner, I was desperate to try her liquid lipsticks, so I picked one up when I was in America. Outlaw sure makes that perfect statement lip, it's super long lasting and insanely pigmented. I adore this as it makes you lips look luscious with bold colour. It made me feel kind of like a boss, ready to take on my day. It's super comfortable and creamy and it applies so lovely. What I love about this lipstick is that it doesn't pick up on any dry patches on your lips or make them look crusty, which lets be honest is the worst look with liquid lipstick. It has a slight shine too it, but you can just blot it a little bit to give that full matte effect. Again this is one of my favourite liquid lipstick formulas. It's definitely worth the splurge. Similar to Ruby Woo the blue undertones instantly brighten your face and make you feel that little bit more put together.

It's Ovarian Cancer Awareness week, and here I am joining the campaign #smearforsmear. This is an amazing campaign to encourage women over the age of 25 to get a a smear test! When I think of smear test I instantly dread when I'm going to be 25 years old and have to have them, however that bit of unpleasantness, might just save my life. Smear tests manage to present 75% percent of cervical cancers.

So please join the campaign with the hashtag #smearforsmear and tag me on Instagram @2a.m.journal

For more information here are some links below:

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust

NHS Cervical Screening information