fair skin...never ever had a 'red' lippy. is there one that'd work?!

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

I have fair skin, light blonde hair, green eyes. Generally wear v subtle make up and akl pinks. I would LOVE to wear a striking lipstick.but they all look rudiculous on me. Can i wear a dark/ a red lipstick or am i forever to wear nudes?!

[OrchidFlakes]

Have a look at Sleek, their red Vixen is fab! I'm pastie fair, blue eys, dark hair and I love it

[Ashoething]

i just got a free avon lipstick with marie claire and its lovely.called red shimmer i think.i have tried loads ofs reds too.revlon kissable balm in romantic is good for an everyday red.

[AlwaysSleepingBeauty]

I'm very fair and I'm obsessed with red lipstick. I love MAC Ruby Woo and Russian Red, I also like Dior Diva lipstick for a slightly softer but stil classic red and Laura Mercier Audrey for a much more subtle take on red.

[shufflehopstep]

What's the colour of your favourite ever outfit that everybody always comments on? This should indicate whether your warm or cool colouring. As you're blonde and fair skinned you will also have light colouring rather than dark. Then you find your "season". Warm and light = spring (peachy pinks, lime greens, turquoise, daffodil yellow - think spring flowers), cool and light = summer (pastel shades, lemon yellow, powder blue, mint green - colours that remind you of ice-cream), warm and dark = autumn (auburn tones, bronze, navy and dark green, orange and brown like autumn leaves) , cool and dark = winter (colours like dark blues, black, dark reds and purples making you think of icy cold snowy nights).

If you have cool colouring, you can wear either summer or winter colours but if you're wearing winter colours you have to make sure that you balance your bold lips with a bold colour somewhere else like your shoes or jewellery. The same goes for spring / autumn. This might be why it seems overpowering. It could just be what you choose to wear with it.

[clareanna]

for a cheapy to try check out Seventeen in showbiz. I'm also fair and blonde and someone in Boots gave me it to try - very different look for me, and I didn't want to spend more when I wasn't sure I'd wear it again

[YoniAsOldAsYoFeel]

I recommend Clarins Red. It looks quite dark in the tube but it's lovely once on, and lasts a long time too.

[scottishmummy]

Clinique red-y to wear so good

[Crunchymunchyhoneycakes]

I have a Rimmel Kate moss one, lovely texture and colour

[motherinferior]

Or try Revlon kissable balm stain in Romantic - a truer red than Candy Apple imo, which I find a bit corally - and/or the matte red Revlon lipstick in Really Red, which is fabulous.

[MrsLettuce]

(just get the Mac Ruby woo, you won't be disappointed)

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

i have the kate moss one and the Marie Clare Avon one.
Dark brown hair, dark hazel eyes. Pale freckled skin.
Very thin mouth. I look like a hooker in it

My best red is a sheer wine red (No7 Opulant)

[reindeesandchristmastrees]

There is a mother at school who is v fair with dark hair who wears a shockingly red lipstick and it looks truly hideous. I hope she is a m'netter and reads this thread. I don't know her well but I always think 'she hasn't got a best friend' as you'd think someone would tell her how bad it looks. Sorry, bit off topic but i think I'm trying to say please ask the opinion of someone who'll tell you the truth before wearing the lipstick in public

[TallulahBetty]

Yes babybarrister they do

[MrsKoala]

i have dark hair and fair skin with green/blue eyes (i'm a cool/winter colouring) and i wear Dior Indian Red. I get lots of compliments on the colour.

[dontyouwantmebaby]

I have the exact same colouring as you OP and I recently-ish started wearing red instead of my usual nude/pink colours. I have loved wearing MAC Russian Red, out of all I've tried this is my fave. Tried Ruby Woo which I like but somehow the finish on RR suits me better.

Have also got Lipstick Queen Saint Red, I like the colour a lot however have found the packaging has got on my nerves as the lid doesn't stay on properly (maybe I got a dodgy batch) so I don't tend to carry this one around with me so have hardly worn it.

Lipstick Queen do another nice red which I considered buying but didn't in the end, its called Medieval if I remember correctly and its their version of a 'red that suits anyone', like a 'red for beginners' I think they mean . I'd go to a make-up counter and ask them to try some samples out on you so you can see what suits and what you're comfortable with.

[unapologetic]

I generally look hideous in red lipstick. However I have got a corally red from Estee Lauder (no 59 portofino coral) and it looks lovely. I wore it to a family occasion and my daughters kept saying, mum you look different (in a good way) and I looked passable in the photos.

[cressetmama]

Hollywood Red (540) from Maybelline is a gentle pinky red. As other posters have said, MAC has a huge range of reds (but they tend to be drying on me); of these I like best a light orange-y red called Frost. I'm fair-haired, blue eyes but olive skinned BTW.

[ygritte]

Clinique Parisian red...check out the make up alley reviews...brilliant. I tried Chantecaille Rose Delice lip chic today and wondered why I ever needed a red when this suited me so much better.

[SorrelForbes]

I've tried all the MAC, Chanel, Revlon and Kate Moss ones mentioned on this thread and they all look terrible. Very aging and drag queeny! I am fair skinned but slightly olivey of complexion, green eyes and and brown hair. I have thin lips which doesn't help.

[Guerrillacrochet]

I love Ruby Woo and Russian Red but find them a bit drying. However I did get Mac's Viva Glam 1 recently and it is a beautiful red that has a bit more moisture- it looks quite dark and subdued in the tube, but has a lovely vintagey effect when I put it on- very Mad Men (pale warm tones, blonde and blue eyes, so it might work for you).

[SorrelForbes]

Thanks. Alas, I've tried that one too but it didn't look any better than the others. I think the main problem is that I have crap lips!

[Catlike]

I agree with Sorrel that strong coloured, old school lipsticks can be very harsh and ageing. And I don't think any of the red lipsticks that supposedly suit every colouring really do look fantastic on everyone. Whenever I've bought something recommended on that basis (often from a Sali Hughes column), it's never looked amazing on me and I've always ended up giving it away.

Revlon lip butters are REALLY flattering though! I haven't tried the reds but have a bright coral and bright fuchsia pink. Lipsticks in those shades would look awful on my 36 year old face even if the shade was right for my colouring (gave away a Sali Hughes recommended coral lipstick because it was too OTT although the shade itself was good).

But the lip butters are lovely and sheer and seem to have a brightening effect for the whole face. They are far fresher looking and less ageing than lipstick IMO. Would definitely recommend trying their reds out, I plan to do so myself asap

[SorrelForbes]

Catlik You've convinced me to try the Revlon lip butters again. I'll pop into town tomorrow and have a trying on session!