The 12 Reds of Christmas

At this time of year, I love nothing more than a strong red lipstick . To me it screams Christmas party season and it looks so elegant, especially when paired with a simple eye. However, finding the perfect red can be hard work and there is a lot of trial and error. For today’s post I have taken the hassle out of the search for you.

Last year, mags from Emerald Eyeliner, did a series of posts on the 12 red of Christmas, which I absolutely loved, so I decided this year I would take some inspiration from her and do my own.  I have shopped my stash and taken out 12 of my favourite reds. Yes, I have more than 12 red lipsticks!! It is a bit of a disgrace really, but in my defence they are all different!! With a bit of luck, you will find your perfect red for the Christmas season, in the 12 below.

Essence no. 14 Adorable Matt

Adorable Matt is a creamy, light lipstick that glides onto the lips. This is a glamorous red lipstick that has a leaning on the pink side. It is long lasting and there is a few hours wear time before it wears off. I love the fact that this lipstick wears off evenly and leaves your lips stained rather than blotchy like some reds can. At €2.89 this is an absolute bargain and a must have for any makeup bag.

Catrice Ultimate colour 350

This is a little sheerer than some of the other lipsticks on this list, but still very comfortable to wear. This is more of an orange toned red and a little more subtle than some of the more vibrant reds. It wears well, but does require topping up a little sooner than the essence lipstick . At €4.49 this is a fantastic option for those of you looking for an orange toned red on a budget.

Inglot 230

I really have a weakness for blue toned reds. They just do it for me and Inglot 230 is no exception to this. This is  a beautiful blue toned red, that glides onto the lips like a dream and is very long wearing. I find it tends to lean a little on the pink side of red, which makes it even better for my skin tone. Like all Inglot lipsticks it costs €14 and can now be bought online here.

Paese No 56

I am not going to lie. The minute this lipstick came through the door, I let out a little sqeel at the absolute beauty of the colour. This offering from Paese, is a plummy red colour. It is pigmented, creamy and easy to wear, although I do find this is one of those reds that you need a lipliner with. It contains argan Oil and Vitamins A, C and D which gives serious hydration when wearing it. At €6.99 I highly recommend that you go and add this one to your collection.

Smashbox Be Legendry Lipstick in Legendry

I have had a bit of a love affair with this lipstick from Smashbox and this is infact my second tube of this colour. I love it that much! This is yet another blue toned lipstick . It is creamy in texture and slightly glossy on the lips and again is full of all sorts of lovely ingredients to hydrate the lips.  I prefer to wear this with a  liner, but when I do wear it, I feel uber glam. This is one lipstick that is certainly worth the €19 price tag.

No 7 Love Red

I adore the colour of this lipstick from No 7 . This is a matte lipstick, that goes on evenly and velvety. Colour wise, it has a slight leaning on the orange tones and reminds me of a tomato red on the lips. The only down side to this lipstick is that it can be quite drying on the lips. A gloss over the top is an absolute must when wearing this, otherwise it can be quite uncomfortable. You can pick this up on No 7 counters for €12.95

Mac Ruby Woo

I can’t do a red lipstick post without including what I deem to be the queen of all lipsticks, Ms Ruby Woo. I can’t get enough of this amazing blue toned red lipstick. While it can be drying on your lips and you wouldn’t want to be wearing it for more than a few hours, the beautiful colour more than makes up for the slight discomfort. You can read a full review here.

Catrice Ultimate Colour in Mattraction

When it comes to red lipsticks, Catrice have been knocking it out of the park. This is yet another offering from the budget friendly brand. While it looks like a deep red in the tube, it is intact a beautiful rose red colour that looks so glam on the lips. Even though it is a matte, it isn’t a traditional matte like Ruby Woo, but instead a much more comfortable matte, but it still has the long wearing capabilities. You really can’t go far wrong with this at only €4.49

Wet n Wild Red Velvet

Most of you will already know my absolute obsession with the Wet N Wild Mega last lipsticks. I just can’t get enough of them. Red Velvet is no different and what makes it even more special, is that it is an excellent dupe for Mac’s Ruby Woo but at a fraction of the price. It is also a little more comfortable on the lips too.

Essence No 12 Blush My Lips

This offering from Essence is a little different from the other reds as it is much more on the pink side of red. In fact I probably am cheating a little bit including this, but it is such a gorgeous colour and it’s fantastic for those who want the bright lip that looks really glam. You can pick this up on an Essence stand for €2.49. Complete Bargain.

Wet N Wild Spotlight red

Out of all the lipsticks that I have included, Wet N Wild stoplight red is up there in my top 3. This is a blue toned red and just makes your makeup pop. I wear this going out at night, but I have been bold and worn it during the day. It is not a lipstick for the faint hearted, but it is worth the risk.

Inglot 126

Inglot 126 is a fab blue based red. It gives the appearance of a matte lipstick, which I love, but is actually lovely and creamy and doesn’t dry out on your lips. It has good staying power, I wore it for 4 hours and only had to top up once. It actually stains your lips so even when it wears off your lips have a bit of colour left on them still.