Shades of Red

I am a self-confessed red addict. It is my favourite colour and I am always on the look out for the next amazing shade. The thing about red lips is that no matter what clothes I am wearing or how tired and fed up I might feel, putting on a red lipstick is an instant way of bringing in the sense of occasion in my life.

Red is also one of the most intimidating looks for many women. In my selection below, I have included several options for those of you who are afraid they won't be able to pull off the look. My tip is- try wearing red lipstick on a casual day, when you feel relaxed and most likely in your jeans and sweater. Take time to enjoy the way it makes you feel and build your confidence towards stronger looks. Nothing would make you feel more like a little girl experimenting with her mum's make up than attempting to wear red lipstick for the first time as a full on evening look.

MAC Ruby Woo- My all time favourite red lipstick. It looks scary, dry and intense on the bullet, but applies surprisingly well and feels weightless on the lips. The colour pay off is second to none and is very long lasting when applied with care.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect in Rouge- glamorous, full-on, hydrating and plumping lipstick that has old-school glamour written all over it. If you struggle with dry lips and want a lipstick which delivers comfort, while giving the sense of occasion, this is the lipstick to buy. It is a classic blue based red that suits most skin tones.

NARS Red Lizard- a rich red suitable for warmer and/ or dark skin tones, this lipstick is a distant relative of the MAC Ruby Woo, only this bit more intense and warm.

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Trendsetter and Finale- I love this particular line of Revlon lipsticks. Easy to apply and buildable, both shades are universally flattering. Trendsetter is your cherry red shade and Finale is a warmer tomato red. These are perfect if you are afraid of red as a lip colour and want to ease yourself into wearing it. For matte lipsticks, they are non-drying and weightless on the lips and by far the most long lasting ones I have come across. 

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Mightiest Maraschino- I much prefer the Intense range of the Chubby Sticks to the original ones. They offer a better colour pay-off, more hydration and better staying power. The Mightiest Maraschino is a blue based glossy red that feels a cross between a lipstick and a lip balm. Although the shade is incredibly glam, the bullet allows for easy application. I think of it as my 'jeans-and-sweather' red.

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in New Temptation- moisturising, pigmented, glossy. There is something nostalgic about the shade of New Temptation. It's a slightly cooler red that makes my teeth look really white. 

L'Oreal GlamShine Stain Splash in  Juliet- if you are a red lipstick virgin, try this stain and you won't be disappointed. The GlamShine Stains are water-based and keep lips soft and hydrated, while providing a lovely buildable coverage. You can wear them as a bare hint of colour to a more intense shade of cherry red. Long lasting and glossy, they fade away to a beautiful stain on the lips and great for people who hate re-applyng their lipstick.

No7 Poppy King Lipstick in Power- another 'easy' red, presented in a super cute packaging. Easy to apply, not too intense and hydrating, this is a great every day lipstick that you can pop in your handbag and apply on the go.