Photo:
iStock. Behold the power of a matte red lip.
Spoiler: My special interest is red lipstick
There’s a rule in my family during long car rides: Don’t interrupt anyone when they’re talking about their special interests. Don’t put your headphones on. Don’t ask for the aux. Just listen. Ask questions. Nod along. The subjects that we have all learned about as a result are vast: Pokémon. Beavers. Lil Shine.
See, my love language is indulging others with the opportunity to go into far more detail than necessary about anything they’re really into. What I’ve learned by living this love, is that most things are, in fact, pretty fascinating if someone obsessive is sharing with gusto. I only hope my teenage son and tomboy wife share this belief, as after one particularly long jaunt down to Portland last summer, they now know everything they never wanted to know about red lipstick.
Before I launch into my love letter of a lipstick roundup for all of you, I should let you know what this article is not. I’m not going to tell you which hues will make your yellow or pink undertones pop. I’m not going to divide shades into seasonal quadrants. I’m not going to tell you which formula will cinnamon-burn your lips into a shape Mother Nature never intended.
What I am going to do is gush about my favorite sticks, glosses and stains with the wild abandon of a diesel-femme lesbian mom reveling in my fourth decade on Earth, and my second decade as a rule breaker in au naturel Seattle. Let’s begin.
The mattes
The role model here is 1994 “Reality Bites” Winona Ryder.
I have long loved a matte red lip. It’s high maintenance, a little aggressive and not the most comfortable lip look. And yet. It’s exactly the accessory you need if you keep a copy of "I Who Have Never Known Men" in your truck and order your well whiskey neat. It’s my favorite lipstick option.
If you don’t know Sunnies Face yet, get with the program. This Philippines-based, South Asian-owned company is the GOAT when it comes to the matte lip. Their cult-favorite Fluffmatte is my top choice for matte lipsticks by far. It feels like a little cloud hug on your lips, lasts through a greasy meal but wipes off easily with coconut oil, and their colors are perfect. My go-to red in this line is the tomato-inspired Hot Sauce. If you’re wanting a more classic red with less orange, Major is what you’re looking for.
Glossier’s Zip is also one of my most-reached-for sticks. I love the poppy red that never oxidizes to pink on my lips, but it is very drying. Only go this route when you’re especially hydrated and ready with a base provided by a generously thick lip balm.
Last up on my matte list is the only lipstick ever to have a seat in the U.S. Congress. Famously favored by Representative AOC, Stila’s Stay All Day liquid lipstick in Beso is a true patriotic red that you can put on once in the morning, and if you don’t take it off at night, it just might still be there looking perfect the next day.
Warning: Don’t go with Beso if you’re new to the statement lip. If you color outside the lines with this one, you’re stuck with that smear.
Pro tip: This is good advice for all lipstick-wearers, but it’s especially recommended if you’re doing a matte lip. Hydrate your body by drinking all those glasses of water we’re supposed to be drinking, exfoliate and balm your kissers before applying, and pick up a jar of coconut oil instead of tossing money at a pricey makeup remover when it’s time to take it all off.
The glosses
Grace Jones, of course, is our idol for this one (for everything, really). In particular: Grace Jones on the October cover of “Interview” in 1984.
No relation to Grace, but Jones Road’s Cool Gloss in Great Red is my first choice for a shiny cherry lip. The peppermint oil in the formula is nice and tingly; the gloss is thick but not too sticky; and the color can be a sheer kiss as a light layer, or big and bold if you pile it on.
Coming in by far as the most wallet-friendly pick of the list is NYX’s Butter Gloss in Apple Crisp. At $6 a pop, you can stash a tube in every room of your home and gift one to all of your friends and enemies. It’s a juicy Red Delicious hue, and while it won’t last through breakfast, you can afford to keep reapplying with no worries.
Of course, any red lipstick roundup would be remiss to leave out a mention of the one-and-only Ruby Woo. For me, I only get the hype when we’re talking about Mac’s Lipglass in Ruby Woo. I know I’m going against the makeup masses here, but I’m not a fan of the brand’s signature Retro Matte version of the shade. I find it unbearably drying and too pink on me. In its mirror-like Lipglass iteration though, Ruby Woo shines like the star she is. A little on the blue side, this gloss is the perfect pick if you’re wanting to go red but you’re actually a pink person at heart.
The stains
You, in fact, are the inspiration for this look. But it’s the best you. You after making out with someone you think is the bee’s knees. You after eating a pomegranate. You after twisting your mouth up in that cute way that you do because you’re watching “Love is Blind” and some unhinged 22-year-old is about to do something you absolutely did yourself during your Jägermeister era.
Benefit’s Benetint in Rose is the long-reigning champion of sexy-without-trying lip stains. (Fun fact: I have been a devoted fan ever since I got my first Benetint in a swag bag from style icon Aya Kanai to commemorate the wrap of my internship with “Teen Vogue” at Condé Nast back when proofing issue layouts meant literally laying out magazine pages on the floor.)
Benetint also comes in Love Tint, which is a bright fiery red, but for me it will forever be the floral-scented, deep red Rose. Either option is a solid one. All Benetints feel like nothing once they’re dry, have excellent staying power, and give just-been-kissed vibes. Bonus: Benetint doubles as a cheek stain and will make you look like you just returned from a brisk sleigh ride or romp in the hay.
Seattle-based beauty company Kari Gran also makes a great organic lip stain called Lip Whip that comes in a classy little glass pot. The Suji shade is a rich cranberry red with a slight shimmer. The company is women-owned and all of their products are organic.
And last but not least, if you’re feeling crafty, you can make your own DIY red lip and cheek stain with an empty container and just three ingredients: Beetroot powder, castor oil and shea butter. Check out Hello Glow for the simple how-to. Full disclosure: I’ve tried a similar recipe and I ended up melting a few chunks of my favorite red lipsticks into the mix and the mini brick-red pot I cooked up is now in my regular rotation.
The rules
Did your mother tell you to pick one feature on your gorgeous face and take a toned-down approach with the rest? Wrong. Feel free to pair your chili pepper lip with ombre eyeshadow in your favorite mermaid colors.
Do you still yearn for the moody brown lip liners of the ’90s? Pair a chocolate border with a blood-red base and go for it.
Do you think your perfect lips are too thick or too thin for an unapologetic scarlet smear? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
I’m convinced red lipstick is for anyone who feels like it’s their time for red lipstick; and that when it’s your time, you should rock it exactly how you want to. With sweatpants by yourself. With a shoulder pad blazer for a presentation. With your favorite people in an old car, riding around and talking nonstop about everything you love.
More resources that are a little fancy: |
Editor’s note: This list was independently curated by ParentMap’s resident lipstick enthusiast. It contains affiliate links. If you purchase products through links on our site, ParentMap may earn an affiliate commission.
