Revisited & Updated: My top 5 favourite red lipsticks.

Back when I first started this blog, I wrote my first Top 5 red lipstick post. To put it quite simply, it was AWFUL. From the photography to the writing, I'm amazed I even thought it was something worth publishing to be honest. Anyway, so here I am back revisiting this old post, updating it and seeing what has changed. These aren't ranked in any particular order so here goes:

1) KIKO Velvet Mat in 606 Fire Red

KIKO are a brand which I've only just tried for the first time recently and I've not had this lipstick in my collection for too long but I already see it as one of my favourite reds. When you put this on, you can instantly feel the velvety effect; it feels so smooth and supple on the lips thanks to the ingredient 'K2 Repulp' a multi-leveled plant extract which works on multiple levels to leave your lips feeling moisturised and healthy looking. The lipstick is incredibly bold and very well wearing; and with the packaging looking so sleek and professional, it's amazing that this lipstick only retails at £6.90. 

2) L'Oreal Color Riche in Julianne's Red

This one hasn't changed since my first lipstick post and I still stand by what I said previously. It's not as intense red as my other favourites but I love having something a little different to go to from time to time. What I love about this one is that it gives a very even and strong payoff within the first application. It's very smooth and yet for a matte is not at all drying on the lips. This colour has more of an orange tone to it which again is slightly different for me. 

Swatches appear in order of the lipsticks in the images at the top!

3) Besame - Red Hot Red

I visited Besame's store when I was in Burbank, California. Now this was one of the most amazing store's I have ever visited and it was right up my street! Besame are vintage reproduction beauty brand and you can see this in their beautiful gold and red floral packaging. I haven't yet ventured into their other cosmetics but this lipstick has been an incredible addition to my life. To be quite honest, people talk a lot about skin tones when it comes to picking out a shade of red but I honestly couldn't care less. I'm not going to be one of those people who thinks I can't wear something because my skin has a certain tone. Nope, I wear what I like! So I have no particular reason for picking out this shade other than I just love it. It's a warm red, it's well wearing and applies perfectly with one coating. The tip of the lipstick is different and can take a while to get used to but actually works really well with applying to the lips evenly.

4) MAC - Russian Red

One of the life long battles in the MAC world when it comes to red lipsticks is Russian Red or Ruby Woo? Truth be told I love both but I definitely agree that Russian Red comes out on top for me. It's luxurious; it's matte yet creamy and never drying . The deep redness of this lipstick is soooo attractive to me and paired with the 'Cherry' lipliner also by MAC, it's like a partnership made in heaven. You can see that I love this one probably *the most* as it's nearing the bottom. I have to say, Russian Red, you are my holy grail. 

5) Charlotte Tilbury - Red Carpet Red

This is one of the most satisfying buys I've ever made when it comes to high-end luxury purchases. Admittedly, I have a bit of a habit of buying make-up items, using them once or maybe a couple of times and then forgetting I've bought them. However, not with this lipstick. I'm not usually one to be *that* bothered about packaging unless it truly impresses me (see also the KIKO lipstick) but Charlotte Tilbury, oh boy does her packing make me swoon. The rose gold casing makes me so happy, I love pulling it out in public to do my apply my lipstick as it makes me seem far more fancier than I actually am. The lipstick formula itself is pretty perfect! very long wearing especially through eating and drinking and the nib is perfect for applying with especially if you don't have a lip brush. It's designed to apply perfectly. It's a deep true red that really replicates old hollywood glamour. 

So that's my up to date list of my current red lipstick favourites. I can see myself repurchasing these over and over again which is why I love them so much. I do however, have my eye on the NARS velvet lip pencils as they also look glorious...that one's for my wishlist!

What are your favourite lipsticks?

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xo

Kiko haul.

So I'm not sure when this happened but Bromley INTU shopping centre now has a KIKO shop. This is so exciting. I've never bought from KIKO before for the pure fact that their products would have only been available to me online or in their central London store but I'd rather try them out in person first. So when I was in the middle of my christmas shopping, I popped in a decided to try out a few things!

I already know they are a reasonably priced make up company but having their own shop really makes them seem more high end to me without ACTUALLY being so. In fact, this store is a couple of shops away from Mac in Bromley and I was more pulled in by here than I was to Mac.

One of my 'things' is that I generally always have to get a matte red lipstick with any cosmetics brand I try and I didn't feel any differently here. I first picked up this 606 Fire Red lipstick from the Velvet Mat range. The packaging is SO high end and priced at £6.90, it has to be one of, if not the most gorgeous high street lipsticks I have ever seen. The gorgeous rose gold packaging is a dream for any blogger I'm a sure, but for me, it's definitely on par with the Charlotte Tilbury lipstick I just bought - and for fraction of that price, you really cannot complain.

Now I decided I wanted to venture out of my comfort zone and pick up a lipstick that was not only NOT in my usual matte formula but also a non-red colour. I quite like some nudes and brown colours on lips but I have been hesitant in picking them up.  My eye was caught by the Gossamer Emotion Creamy range because the packaging on the lipstick was so different it almost fascinated me a little bit. It looks like a bullet with it's metallic outer shell and a gold, logo embossed click button at the top which releases the lipstick from the shell. I went for the Pinkish Brown 105 shade which says what the lipstick shade is like right in the name. This lipstick is slightly more expensive than the Velvet Mat range, priced at £10.90. On first impressions, this lipstick is very rich and creamy and also works to leave your lips feeling smooth and silky, which is obviously a nice feeling when you spend most of your time wearing matte lipsticks which can leave your lips feeling dry. As for longevity, I'm not too sure yet but I'm going to be giving that a test over the next couple of weeks.

I've been lusting after a glittery red nail varnish for a little while now and none have particularly taken my fancy. My eye caught the nail lacquer 277 in 'Blueberry Glitter' as it looked the perfect christmas shade for me. As you can see, the polish is absolutely opaque and it took two coats which I find is pretty standard among nail varnishes for me. I know I'm not the best at applying nail colours and it's definitely not my forte but I'm going to see if I get better and less messy. I seem to be one of those people with really weak nails; I have no problem growing them but they snap really easily so I find it hard to have beautifully shaped nails! Well, that's my excuse for this anyway. First impressions though? I'm really pleased! The colour is absolutely gorgeous and applies so well so the only thing I've got left to test is the longevity. I no doubt will be purchasing more colours. For £2.50 (down from £3.90) who can resist?

I then picked up these two beauty and skin care accessories! I'm always trying to try new blending sponges and after enjoying ones from Primark and Real Techniques, I thought I'd give this one a shot as it's only £6.90. It's slightly different shape to the other two I already have, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that works with my foundation application. Another thing I saw that looked interesting was this Cleansing Face Brush retailing at £5.90. Recently, I'm trying to look at new ways of improving my skin and this brush looked really interesting to me. I've not used anything like this before so I'm looking forward to using it and see how it changes my skin, if it does. 

I absolutely loved my trip to Kiko although it was really hard to choose what I wanted to buy. The selection in their stores is incredible and it's so interactive so you know exactly what you're buying before you do. It's refreshing to have an actual make up store with high street prices and not just high end ones. The high quality feel and look from these products make me love them all the more. Until next time...

What are your favourite KIKO products?

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xo