I gave you Nanoblur, please give me a red lipstick

[DontCallMeCharlotte]

In all my 50 odd years, I’ve yet to find the right red lipstick. I’m happy with the lipstick I wear daily but occasionally, I want to make a statement.

I have fair skin with freckles. Judging by the “vein test” etc, I’m pretty sure I have a cool undertone. I don’t wear foundation, just a dusting of neutral powder to take any shine off (and to “set” my lipstick between coats). I have very blonde hair (naturally – but with a lot of silver coming through underneath). So I think I’m looking for a blue-toned red lipstick?

I’d like to try a cheap one first, to see if I can carry it off before taking the plunge with something better, so any and all recommendations would be welcome.

TIA

Honestly MAC Ruby Woo has served me for YEARS! It goes with everything! When I'm pale, when I'm tanned, when I'm dressed up or down. It's so effortless and has a lovely matte finish!

Yy, Ruby Woo or Ladybug are good.

Whatever you use it will be easier to get used to if it's a bit translucent and buildable or a gloss. I'm 50 too and I find my more opaque matte reds don't work as well anymore, they're aging. Shame as red gloss is a PITA - bleeds and transfers, difficult to keep on etc.

Also a good transparent liner will make it all so much easier. It keeps colour from feathering and you can run it around the edge of your lipsticked lips to make a nice soft line. I like Urban Decay Ozone but Body Shop do one as well and it's dead cheap.

I’d be surprised if you have cool toned skin if you have freckles. I’m not completely sure, but it’s worht considering. Have you ever noticed any colours for either makeup or clothes being particularly good or bad on you?

Forgot to say MAC matte reds are the exception as they have some texture and translucency so I don't find them aging. You can blot/gloss to sheer them or you can layer to build them.

Besame reds are utterly opaque and I don't wear them much anymore.

I’m in the same mission by the end of April..! I’m a Bobbi Brown fan so will be popping to one of their counters to get properly matched. There is no way I’d be able to choose myself because of tones etc. What is the vein test??

I'd also say to pop to Mac and Bobbi Brown and get matched to one.

Sali Hughes talked about reds recently. The one I most remember was a
Laura Mercier in fire. Not cheap but interesting for the cool tones www.harveynichols.com/brand/laura-mercier/667298-velour-extreme-matte-lipstick/p3041812/

MAC are incredibly drying. Much as I love Ruby Woo, I cannot wear it for more than half an hour without giving in to the urge to scrub it off and apply industrial quantities of lip balm.

As a cool toned, freckly paleface I've had success with the following

MAC Ladybug. Much creamier
NARS Velvet lip pencil in Baroque. Doesn't last long but wonderfully flattering colour
Lipstick Queen - Medieval
Lipstick Queen Velvet Rope in Black Tie (expensive but to die for) It's my evening red lipstick

Maybelline's Hollywood Red is a neutral to cool soft red that's very wearable, and cheap.

And I second Medieval.

I love Ruby woo but agree it’s drying. I tend to apply lots of balm then leave whilst I do the rest of my face. Blot off, use the lipliner but fill in my whole lips lightly - one swipe of ruby woo on top and I’m done!

Sometimes I’ll use a little balm on top but then it’s not Matt obv!

Thanks for all the replies. I will definitely try the Mac Ruby Woo for starters.

DragonsAndCakes Yes, I was surprised as I've always thought of myself as having warm looking colouring but I do tick all the cool toned boxes (although I wear gold jewellery rather than silver but not enough to make a difference to my overall look) and my complexion is quite pink. My best colours are blue, pink and teal. But, yes I have freckles (although they are rapidly being overtaken by "large" freckles, i.e. age spots!).

Fullfatlatte This contains information about the vein test. Mine are practically purple! stylecaster.com/cool-warm-skin-undertones/

I am the pure definition of cool toned and I have freckles. I believe both cool and warm tone complexions can have freckles.
I'm so pale that my skin is nearly blue, my hair is salt and pepper with generous dashes of white and my eyes are dark blue/grey. My hair when younger was dark ashy brown and my freckles are absolutely on the ashy side of the freckle colour spectrum if there is such a thing

I wear Mac Ruby Woo or Mac Red.

Reading this back it reads like an online dating profile, what a catch I am.

Mac Russian red found it slightly less drying that ruby woo. But you need to try both on your skin to see which one suits you best I guess

Revlon cherry blossom is my favourite cool red, it’s intense so if you are pale you need much less of it to create an impact. I smudge it on with a finger v thinly and use the tiniest tap of what’s left on my finger afterwards for blusher. I’m a bright winter, so cool and clear. If your colouring is cool and softer, (ie what they call summer) a red for you will need to be more muted, ie less bright with the addition of a drop of grey or brown if you see what I mean

Fenty Stunna seems to suit so many people.

Mac lady danger is perfect on my cool toned skin. I have Russian red as well but relarely wear it (dd bought it for me). Ruby woo didn’t suit me at all weirdly

I absolutely love Mac lipsticks BUT have found a really inexpensive alternative - the Bourgeois Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick it's only about £7 in boots or Tesco - there are a couple of gorgeous blue reds (T15 or the deeper/darker Jolie de Vin)
It honestly stays put all day, just doesn't budge.

I'm neutral toned
I couldn't get myself to wear red lipstick until I tried kat Von ds underage red . It's unbelievable !

Another shout for bourgeois rouge edition, I have 3 different shades and they are brilliant - easy to apply and I always get compliments when I wear them.

My go to all time favourite red (as a fellow cool toned gal) is MAC Russian red although I agree it can be drying. I find putting plenty of balm on first, then layering the Russian red on top by blotting gives the best results.

I’m very cool toned with freckles! Definitely try Ruby Woo as that’s my go to red & I often get compliments on it.
If you have a Mac store near you then go in & ask them which red they recommend for you. That’s how I found out Ruby Woo worked well for me.

My favourite statement red is Mac Lady Danger. Love it so much.

For all the 50 year olds there is a fantastic Chanel lip tint that gives the most gorgeous flattering sheer layer of colour. Can’t remember the name or the range, but it’s number 54. The nice Chanel lady will guide you.
Looks great over Vaseline and can be Dialed up or down.

I us d to wear carina passion, or ruby woo, but now they make me look like aunt sally.

Clarins

i would definitely go for Ladybug rather than Ruby Woo, much easier to wear and a good blue-toned red. Also Chanel Carmen and Clarins Clarins Red (I think). i have lots of cheapies, too but all the names have rubbed off!