I’m going to start by saying that I don’t take red lipsticks lightly. Committing to a red lip is like saying you’re entering a marriage for the evening. You can’t back out once you pass the front door, cheating is not an option. All you can do to survive the wear and tear is taking moments to check yourself (in a bathroom mirror, obviously) and reassess any damage done (lipliner, lipliner, lipliner), then fix it at all costs.
Wearing On My Face:
Tom Ford Soleil Neige Highlighter & Blush Glow Stick
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil
The best thing about a red lip is that it’s an instant level up. Your outfit, your attitude, everything seems to feel a little bit chicer. I love wearing one when I have the most minimal outfit on, white shirt and black pants – it’s the best accessory, alongside a gold hoop. The hardest part about them is finding the perfect shade to suit your skin tone and vibe.
To help with this, I’ve put together a list of my top five M.A.C red lipsticks of all time. The ones that have stuck by me through high school, to university, first jobs and travelling around the world. My absolute fail-safe options through life no matter where you find yourself. M.A.C continues to be my go-to brand when it comes to lipsticks and as a bonus, I know they’re easy to access worldwide. I hope they serve you as well as they have me.
My Top 5 M.A.C Red Lipsticks
1. Russian Red
MAC Russian Red is a slightly cool-toned, medium-dark red with a matte finish. It is a permanent lipstick and is my number one go-to easy red lip. The cool tone means your teeth end up looking fresh and white. I don’t find this drying on my lips (compared to Ruby Woo at least) and it stays most of the day without moving, especially over a lip liner. Note: it does come across a lot darker than in these photos.
2. Ruby Woo
MAC Ruby Woo is an absolute classic red lip and a must for any collection. It’s a very vivid blue-red which suits most skin tones and makes your teeth pop white. This red I find a little more on the dry side so it’s best to prep your lips well, but it does last all night. A very vampy, chic, cult classic.
3. Brave Red
MAC Brave Red is a moderately warm-toned, medium-dark red with a natural finish. It’s the third red I added to my collection after I was given it on my NYC trip years ago. This is a classic red, being a little more on the warmer side and I imagine this to be a french favourite. Less vampy but very wearable during the day and I never find this drying.
4. Lady Danger
MAC Lady Danger is a moderately warm-toned, dark orange-red with a semi-matte finish. This shade of red is not for the faith hearted! I was given this as a collaboration between Stolen Girlfriends Club x MAC last year which suits the brand perfectly – it’s a party colour. With a prominent orange tone showing through this suits people with warm skin tones.
5. Diva
MAC Matte Lipstick in Diva, a cult-classic shade of Bordeaux red lipstick that is the opposite end of the spectrum to the other reds here. This one is vampy. Paired best with a merlot in hand – this red is great for all skin tones because of its dark berry undertone.
