This third article in the ‘All About Red Lips’ series focuses on the different textures that red lip colours can come in.  Understanding these aspects can help you to narrow down what sort of effect you want on your lips.

Looking for more inspiration, tips or techniques for wearing red-based lip colours? If so, you might like other articles and products featured as part of the ‘All About Red Lips’ series.

Most lip colours come in a variety of textures which can create different effects on the lips.

Matte

Matte shades give a very classic look and can create a ‘vintage’ effect on the lips.  They can often be longer-wearing and so require fewer touch-ups.  Some matte lipsticks can be a little drying and so it is important to prep the lips with balm beforehand.  You can also add a little bit of balm over the top to keep your lips moisturised.  Below are some of my favourite matte red lip colours, along with swatches.

Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick in 08 Tesoro (left) is a long-wearing, liquid lipstick.  This product dries down quickly to a matte, long-lasting finish.  Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Colour in Hollywood Red (centre) is a classic, matte red lipstick.  I love wearing this shade with neutral eyeshadow and a slick of black liquid liner for a classic, vintage look.  Loreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Julianne’s Pure Red (right) is a matte pinky-red shade.  This lipstick is very soft and light to wear on the lips.  The texture of this particular lipstick also makes the lips look nice and full.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Satin and cream

These finishes give a classic, yet smooth finish on the lips.  Below are some of my favourite satin/cream lipsticks, along with swatches.

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lipstick in Wonderland (left) is a smooth, cream finish pink-red lip colour which glides on to the lips.  Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in 715 Ruby Tuesday (centre) is a classic red lipstick in a satin finish.  This product feels so light, glides on and lasts throughout the day.  MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Brave Red (right) is a classic, slightly deeper red colour in a cream finish.  The cremesheen texture of this lipstick gives a little extra shine and makes the lips look fuller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimmers and frosts

These textures focus attention on the lips.  Pigmented shimmery reds can give an intense look to the lips, whilst sheer shimmers give a softer focus effect.  Having a slight sheen can give the lips more dimension and make them look fuller.  Below are some of my favourite shimmery/frost finish lipsticks, along with swatches.

MAC Viva Glam Lipstick in Rihanna (left) is an intense, deep red with a frosty, slightly shimmery finish.  This product is very pigmented and so would work well on those with darker skin-tones.  Lancome Le Absol Rouge Lipstick in 181 (centre) is a shimmery, orange-red lipstick.  I think this lipstick is limited edition, so it might be harder to find but I had to mention it as I love the shade of this product.  MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Sweet Sakura (right) is a soft, muted red with a slightly pearlescent sheen.  This is one of my particular favourites for when I want to wear red lipstick but I want it to look very soft and pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossy

Glossy finishes can make lips look fuller and juicier.  Lipsticks with a glossy finish can also make the lips look very fresh, without being too heavy.  Pigmented red lip glosses can be a little more high maintenance, as they can be prone to slipping or sliding onto other parts of the face.  It can be helpful to apply a clear lip liner around the lip lines to prevent this from happening.  Sheer red glosses are generally lower maintenance, as the pigment is less strong and more muted.   Below are some of my favourite glossy red lip products, along with swatches.

MAC Huggable Lipcolour in Cherry Glaze (left) is a soft, glossy, cherry red.  This lipstick has a gorgeous, gel like texture which gives a pretty glaze to the lips.  Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipgloss in 30 Captivating Ruby (left of second photo) is a light, smooth, red apple shade.   This product has quite a bit of pigment and so is beautiful if you want to create a very glossy, full effect on the lips.  MAC Viva Glam Lip Glass in Rihanna 2 (right of second photo) is a sheer, orange-red lip gloss with sparkles.  This product gives the lips just a hint of colour and is beautiful for when you want a lower maintenance red-based lip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have a favourite texture or shade of red lip colour? Let me know in the comments section below!

The next article in this series will look at the different shades that red lip colour can come in to help you choose your perfect match.