Battle-Ready Red Lipsticks!

What are YOUR Battle Ready Red LIpsticks? 😀 I wanna know!

The new section here is the dwelling place of that bold and emboldening character, the ‘perfect’ Battle-Ready red lipstick! My relationship with red lispticks is generally limited to ‘blue reds that have a bit (or a lot) of gloss to them’, because I find them to be both striking and versatile. I’ve actually written two posts before on what I consider to be excellent, essential red lipsticks that will work for almost any adventurer out there! They are both linked below, and are (spoiler alert?) for Revlon Fire and Ice, and Estee Lauder Rich Red.

One of my favourite things about red lipstick is just how many of them are on offer, such that I absolutely believe there’s something out there (probably closer than you think) for every adventurer. It’s not like purple, where you often have to struggle to find something that isn’t cop-out burgundy when you swatch it, or that elusive concept ‘nude’, which can often seem to exist for everyone but oneself. Nope – if you want a red with which to anoint your lips before going into battle, there’s one for you!

Why ‘Battle Ready?’ well, it’s not exactly a secret that red lips are a symbol of feminine power and sexuality (or possibly sensuality. or arousal. or something). While you want to keep your mind on the battle at hand (and not on how attractive that nearby bard is…), you also want to go out onto the battlefield – whatever your personal one is – with your head held high and your battle cry framed by a lipstick that makes you feel ten feet tall and invincible. Red lipstick is a great way to to this. It’s not the only way, but it is a very effective one!

Bard vs lipstick? Both of them are ready for battle though!

That being said, one of the things I found hardest about red lisptick is seeing oneself in it for the first time (especially opaque reds). I feel like red is one of those colours that you think you’re going to love (because, well, it’s *red*), and people seem to wear a lot, but then you put it on and you’re all HOLY GELATINOUS CUBES THAT’S GROWN UP! This goes double when, like me, you are flurescently pale and the bold red on your lips stands out a mile. Don’t get me wrong, I love the effect of blood red on snow white (just wish I had dark hair…), but it is pretty arresting the first time you see it in the mirror ;-).

Anyway, all rambling aside. here is a little picture swatch guide I put together of some of my favourite battle-ready red lispticks! Some are variations on existing ones (I don’t actually own all that many reds – well, for a lipstick addict, anyway 😉 ), but they’re all favourites of mine. You can click the picture to enlarge it for the text if necessary!

What can YOU do? Why you can share with me your own personal favourite Battle-Ready Reds! Lipstick or gloss, just tell me what it is, why you like it, and what your skintone/colouring is so other adventurers like you can find a new favourite! Comment below, on this post, or send me an email!

After the picture you will find (shortly, I hope!) a wealth of links to reviews and swatches of warrior-worthy red lipsticks, from a number of wonderful and generous adventurers who share them with me (RIGHT, GUYS?! :-D). I would love to get as many different lipsticks and skin tones and lip pigmentations and undertones represented here as possible, so even if your favourite is already up, SEND MOAR! 😀

Mmmm..blood of the damned… UH, WHAT?! NO, I SAID NOTHING.

On this cool-toned vampire…

Clinique Chubby Stick in Two Ton Tomato (sheer bright orange red that somehow looks more pink red on me)

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire and Ice (you kind of have to see this one to believe it. Punchy bright red that can pull either cool or warm depending on the wearer!)

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon (translucent balmy red goodness, with a bright pink/coral hint to it)

Nyx Butter Gloss in Cherry Pie (The perfect (artificial)cherry red gloss ;-). For bonus points, also smells delicious!)

Benefit Benetint (kind of a rosy red pinkish something lipstain. Very versatile and handy!)

Ana Hilwa lipstick in Tarut (with Bahaa gloss) (An odd shade, that pulls kind of pink and kind of red on me, but muted. Adding the raspberry gloss upgrades it!)

Lancome L’Absolu Rouge in #132 (A perfect, classic blue red with a satin finish. Bonus: hydrating and comfortable!) I totally need to review these Lancome ones…

Lancome Rouge in Love in #159B (warmer and brighter than #132 above, and a little sheerer/juicier as well)

Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick in Rich Red (A perfect, juicy, bloody red that can be as opaque as you like, but still retains its depth and shine)

The Inside Scoop from My Fellow Bloggy Adventurers!

 

Jaa from Hello Jaa! (an NC30 sorceress)

MAC Riri Woo (a classic red, a little more toned down)

Stila Beso (OUTRIGHT BRIGHT RED! 😀 )

 

Auxiliary Beauty (A fellow cool-neutral vampire, with dark brown hair and green eyes)

YSL Glossy Stain #11 Rouge Gouache (Bright pinky red with a lacquer finish).

Maybelline Vivids lipstick in On Fire Red (Blue-red with a glossy finish and a very comfortable formula).

Maybelline Vivids Lipstick in Vibrant Mandarin (This seems to look orange or pink on everyone else in the world, but it looks like a coral-red on me)

NYX Matte Lipsticks in Bloody Mary and Alabama (Pinky red and brick-red, respectively. I love the NYX matte formula, too).

NARS Sheer Lipstick in Flamenco (Semi-sheer, buildable cool red).

Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet (Semi-sheer brick red, slightly more opaque than Flamenco).

Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple (Semi-sheer orange-red).

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Mysterious Red (it was limited edition for last Fall, but it’s the perfect matte red. Slightly more cool than warm, but pretty much neutral. And perfect. Did I say perfect?)

 

Teresa from BrushandBullet (an NC30,  fellow Middle-Earth – NZ – adventurer!)

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Vie d’Enfer

Ellis Faas Milky Lips in L201

OCC Lip Tar in Stalker

Lipstick Queen Red Sinner (perhaps the all time favourite).

 

Melissa from KissandMakeup

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Red Ego (A dark red berry – Melissa isn’t a red-mage per se, but I’m linking this here because she looks UTTERLY FABULOUS in it, plus she does an epically beautiful flapper-inspired look in this post!).

 

Sunny from Mostly Sunny

Tom Ford Diabolique (it was LE, but you totally need to go see Sunny in it, because hot damn! does she look good…)

 

Liz from Beauty Reductionista

I like them ALL. Here are a few favourites:

YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 01 Le Rouge, Clarins Joli Rouge in Clarins Red, MAC Apres Chic, MAC Lady Danger

Clarins Rouge Eclat in 20 Red Fuchsia

Hourglass Raven (Icon is another ravishing red but I don’t have that one)

Shiseido Perfect Rouge in RD553

 

Larie from EyeHeartIt

Rouge d’Armani 400 – perfect “true” red on me (not too blue, not too orange)

NARS Mascate – darker matte red that I call my supermodel lipstick…

MAC Lady Danger – the classic orange-red in a killer matte formula

Dior Trafalgar – and a similar orange-red, but in a glossier, comfortable finish

And if you want a glossy version, Maybelline Signature Scarlet

And everyday wear – MAC Dubonnet or Laura Mercier Mink

 

Carolyn from The Makeup Writeup (an NC30, Asian adventurer!)

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Envious

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Flamboyante

Chanel Rouge Allure gloss in Pirate

For sheerer reds, I also really like NARS Flamenco and Guerlain Rouge Automatique in #120 Coque D’Or

 

Aditi from Brown Girl Makeup Musings (an NC42, Indian adventurer with warm yellow undertones!)

Revlon Matte Balm in Standout

Wet N WIld Megaslicks Balm Stain in Reddy Or Not

Rimmel Kate Moss in 01

L’Oreal Color Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain in Endless Red

MAC Ruby Woo

MAC Red (had this, lost it, boo, but I’m probably going to pick it up again!)

MAC Russian Red (okay, so a friend had it and I tried it, but I love it! Looks AMAZING on deeper, warm skins)

Urban Decay Revolution in F-bomb

Urban Decay Revolution in Bang

 

Lena from Lenallure

MAC Ruby Woo (looks nice on me but the formula pains me)

L’Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain Endless Love (a newfound love!)

 

Katie from Bellarosemu (a fair-light adventurer with yellow undertones)

MAC Ruby Woo over a red lipliner (looks like red velvet and makes me feel very classy and sophisticated)

MAC Diva (also a matte, but is a darker red. I feel like the most bad ass MF’er when I wear that. If I want to make it a bit less bad ass and a bit more red and glossy I like to put the Rimmel Apocalips/Show Offs in Big Bang over the top!)

 

Mica from Sciencekoekje (a neutral vampire!)

MAC Viva Glam Rihanna Lipstick (Frost) – (Perfectly smooth and even hot red, lasts all dungeon-long, and even supports charity!)

 

Zaina from The Redity (a dusky, black haired adventurer!)

When going for day trip to beach/mountains/waterfalls where touch-ups will not be possible:
Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipstick in Hot Hot Hot – Opaque matt red, stays on for 4-5 hours

For the party nights:
Revlon Colorbrust in True Red – Semi-sheer buildable red

Every day wear:
Nivea Fruity Shine Lip Balm in Pomegranate – Red tinted balm, color plus protection

To complement traditional (Indian) wear:
Maybelline Moisture Extreme in Cranberry – Brick red color, glossy finish with warm tones, best for tanned skin (this was my first red lipstick!)

For that extra shine:
Essence XXXL Shine Lip Gloss in Red Blossom – Inexpensive red lip-gloss with subtle gold shimmer

A very recent one, cause you know one can never have enough red lipsticks 😉
Street Wear Color Rich Ultra Moist Lipsticks in Riveting Rouge – Satin finish cool red with great coverage quality\

 

theworldofcos

Nyx Black Label Lipstick in Ruby

 

Erin from Clever Girl Reviews

Revlon Cherries in the Snow

Lipstick Queen Medieval

 

All the Hot Tips from My Amazing Reader Questers!

 

Janet Bene

Tarte Glamazon Lipstick in wild (a lovely cool red for a lovely cool gal! 😉 )

 

SC (Loyal Subject of the Lipstick Queen 😉 )

Lipstick Queen: Red Sinner, Saint Red, and Medieval, with Scarlet Red Sinner and Saint in supporting roles.

Revlon: Love That Red, Cherries in the Snow (sheered out with balm), the relatively newer Romance (serves as a good base for other reds), and lower your lipsticks to half-mast, the now discontinued matte Really Red.

 

Fairfran (a fair/light (~NW 20-ish) adventurer with strong cool undertones with golden tan on top)

My fiercest, most battle-ready reds:

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella (a deep, dark, intense scarlet red)

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Ruby (an intensely bright blood red)

 

Want something just a bit less bright?

Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick in Matte Crimson.

 

Want something with a bit of sparkle and a bit of pink?

Urban Decay Super Saturated High Gloss Lipstick in Scandal

 

Want the pink tone with some shine but no sparkle?

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Luxemborg (a watermelon)

Too Faced La Creme in Jelly Bean (a raspberry red)

 

Want a darker, more complex, subdued red?

Limited Edition MAC Lustre lipstick in Gospel will work.

 

Shy about wearing red?

Lipstick Queen Medieval is subdued and sheer.

 

Need a pencil that will work with most of these?

Clinique Quickliner for Lips in Rich Red works well.

 

Need to touch up a red without a mirror?

Keep Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Cherry in your bag.

 

Rachel R.

Max Factor Creme Rouge 537 (I always get tons of compliments on it!)

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Mrs Mia Wallace (LE), 69, and F-Bomb

MAC La Vie en Rouge

 

 

 

 

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