Red lipstick for beginners

Bright, dark, bold lips: when I first got into make up it scared me. I also get comments from people saying that some lip colors are great, but that they wouldn’t dare wearing it. But as time wore on and I experimented a bit more here and there, I have found that a bright, dark, bold lip suits me. Now I wear it almost every single day.  My favorite color? Red. Be it orange toned, blue toned, or a really deep burgundy shade. But what if you’re not that brave just yet? Today I am sharing 5 red lip colors that are great if you are just dipping your toe into the world that is red lips.

If a bold red lip is not your thing then a sheerer version can be your savior. Anything balmy and sheer but with still enough pigment to give some color to your lips, are your best friend if you’re trying to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I have to admit that I still wear some of these quite regularly. I save these for those days where I want to tone down the color of my lipstick. There are swatches at the bottom of the post.

ELF Barely Bitten

Eyes Lips Face is a brand I haven’t purchased any products from in a long time, but back when I first started exploring make up I did. This lipstick was my absolute favorite red for a long time. First of all, the name is very well chosen as this truly is very sheer color. It is a red with a hint of coral to it and it has a nice sheen as well. In the bullet it looks as if there is shimmer in this lip color, but when you look at the swatch that becomes non existent. I used to wear this tons for a ‘my lips but redder’ look.

NYC City Proof Twistable Intense Lip color Roosevelt Island Red

If lipsticks scare you, then looking into these chubby type lip pencils could be a good idea. Depending on the formula, they are usually fairly sheer and serve more as a stain than anything else. This one by NYC was my favorite for a bit as this color went with nearly everything and I loved taking this with me on the go. By now, I have moved on to the HEMA Soft Matt Lip Balms, but this was a great product to have. If you would like to see this on, I am wearing it in the blog post that is linked above.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Wild Watermelon

A great way of adding a bit of color to your complexion is to get your hands on some tinted lip balms. The Revlon Lip Butters are classics in that sense: they are balmy and extremely comfortable to wear, while still packing a great deal of colorful punch. Wild Watermelon is my favorite shade together with Berry Smoothie. I save Berry Smoothie for ‘my lips but better’ days, whereas Wild Watermelon is the perfect sheer pinky red for a bolder option.

Maybelline Color Whisper Who Wore it Red-er

The Maybelline Color Whispers didn’t really take off from what I could tell. For one, I don’t think these ever launched in Holland and two I found this a year ago in a Czech drugstore, but haven’t seen them anywhere else since. Despite their brief moment of fame, I still think this product is worth a mention. These are similar to the Revlon Lip Butters but much more sheer. Hence the name. And don’t be fooled by the color in the bullet, because once swatched this looks like a neon red with a pink undertone.

Dior Addict Extreme 756 Fireworks

Now, what if you’ve got a little bit more budget to spend and wish to buy a sheer but slightly more longlasting formula? I would recommend the Dior Addict or Dior Addict Extreme lipsticks. They cost a pretty penny, but they are well worth the investment. This is a sheer lipstick and the color is spot on for a great everyday red. Yes, those do exist. Because it is sheer and the color is the most true red in the bunch, I would have to say this is my favorite.

ELF – NYC – Revlon – Maybelline – Dior

As you can see in the swatches all 5 shades pack enough color to give you a good lip look. However the last 3 are definitely more on the sheer, balmy side with a glossy finish. The first two go on a bit more opaque, but the colors look very natural on. They are reds that don’t shout: look at me! and take over your entire make up look. And that is what makes all of these absolutely perfect for an every day red lip. Or if you’re beginner of course.

How did you start wearing red lipstick?