Red lipstick is a make up bag essential at this time of year.
When you want to keep the rest of your look simple, a red lip can be the ultimate show stopper and a great way to add a touch of glam. It's also a really quick trick to transform your look from day to night, which is perfect if you're going for after work festive drinks and don't have long to get ready.
But like all beauty products, you can snap up a red lippy for a small pocket of change, or blow the budget on a luxury item. But at a time when we're all trying to save a bit of money, do you really need to splash the cash?
READ MORE: We tried supermarket yule logs and two scored top marks
This week, we put three red lipsticks to the test that all have a different price point, to see which scored the best. Here's our verdict:
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet Red
I'm a lipstick fanatic - I was mocked in secondary school when my friends sported lipgloss and I'd opted for lipstick instead but I didn't care. I remain a devoted lipstick lover.
Charlotte Tilbury is quite a high-end, luxurious brand famed for its iconic rose gold packaging and high performing products. On the hunt for the perfect red lipstick, I decided to treat myself to the brand's Matte Revolution Red Carpet Red.
I love red lipstick but, being so pale, it's important to nail the right shade as some can wash me out so intensely, I end up looking like the corpse bride. I loved the name of this lipstick, as I was after that perfect "Hollywood" red.
At £26, it's definitely on the pricey side for a lipstick but in my opinion, it's worth it - and you can usually snap it up on sale somewhere. It's a beautiful, creamy formula that is perfectly matte without drying your lips out - winning. It's also incredibly long lasting and I usually only have to top it up once or twice on a night out.
It's the exact shade you'd expect to see on an A List actress posing on the red carpet on the way into the Oscars or Golden Globes. The right red lipstick is transformative; turning jeans and a tucked in white t-shirt from a casual, thrown on outfit to a sleek, polished and stylish look. If I'm struggling to find an outfit for drinks with friends, or feeling underdressed, then I apply this lipstick and instantly feel more put together.
If you're concerned about the price tag, then there's regular deals online. If you sign up to Charlotte Tilbury's mailing list, you're given a discount code for your first order. The brand is also stocked at ASOS, Cult Beauty and more which offer regular sales and discount events.
I'd advise shopping around and discount hunting - this is the only way I can afford all the expensive things I love but most definitely cannot afford.
Price: £26 at full price
Where to buy: Charlotte Tilbury, John Lewis, Cult Beauty and more
Rating: 5/5
Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick Hollywood Red
I’ve had an obsession with lipstick for years, but there has always been one colour I’ve never quite mastered. Red and I have a love-hate relationship, if the past is anything to go by. I love wearing the colour but I’ve just never had a red lipstick that sat right with my skin tone or didn’t make my lips feel really dry, which I hate with a passion.
With Christmas on the way, I thought I’d treat myself to a new lipstick and see if I could find a red that works for me. After searching high and low in my local Boots, I managed to find Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in shade ‘Hollywood Red’.
And it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The lipstick glides on seamlessly, giving a deep hue that isn’t too dark or too pink - a big issue I’ve come across thanks to my pale complexion.
The product has a creamy, balm-like formula that stays hydrated and doesn’t give you those dreaded dried lipstick marks in the corners. The finish is a soft matte, which works perfectly for me.
The colour lasted for hours, even after eating and drinking, and I was left very impressed. I know without a doubt that Hollywood Red will now be my go-to red lipstick - and I’ll be stocking up.
Price: £6.99
Where to buy: Boots
Rating: 5/5
Receive the Liverpool ECHO Shopping & Reviews newsletter by signing up here
READ NEXT:
-
We tried supermarket sausage rolls & an 98p pack scored top marks
-
We compared festive hot drinks from all the big coffee shops
- We compared autumn door wreathes and the cheapest 'looked expensive'
- We tried bubble baths and a £1.99 bottle scored top marks
- We tried cheap supermarket crisps from Sainsbury's, Heron, M&S and Asda and a 43p bag came out on to
