December 04, 2020 6 min read
We polled our GILTY community to find out what lip colours they wear and made this list of the best red lipsticks for badass women. Soul-aligned, of course.
But first...
Imagine walking into a room, feeling unshakable self-belief and confidence to achieve or do anything you want. It’s exactly why red lipstick was invented!
It turns out, you’re not alone.
Back in ancient Egypt red lipstick was seen as a status symbol. Not surprising because the colour was achieved by crushing crystals like ruby or red tourmaline to put on their lips. Later, during the Dark Ages women who wore red lipstick were seen as outcasts who dealt with magic, so you know you’re in good company!
Fortunately things took a turn for the better when Queen Elizabeth began believing in the healing and protective properties of red lipstick. During the Suffrage movement, women wore red lips on marches as a sign of rebellion and during World War II women wore red lipstick as a sign against the far right.
So now when you walk into that room wearing red lips you can feel the power of all those women going back 5000 years who stood up and changed the world.
Here’s our breakdown of the best red lipsticks for badass women on a mission.
Is your lipstick in the list below?
Charlotte Tilbury says “Darlings, get Hollywood glamour instantly! My K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in Love Bite has everything you need for perfect, full, kissable lips. This moisturising bright warm red lipstick is perfect for making a statement, by itself or amped up for a night out.”
Tone: Warm red
Finish: Gloss
Price: £25
Good for: No bleeding. Vibrant colour.
Reviews: 4.7/5 from 28 reviews on the Charlotte Tilbury website.
Chanel says “A lipstick as soft and comfortable as velvet. An alternative to shine that dresses lips in deep colour. A real second-skin effect. Result: a matte yet luminous finish from the very first stroke.”
Tone: Warm red
Finish: Matte
Price: £31
Good for: Comfort. Luminosity.
Reviews: 4.6/5 from 266 reviews on Google.
MAC says “A creamy rich Lipstick formula with high colour payoff in a no-shine matte finish.”
Tone: Orange-red
Finish: Matte
Price: £17.50
Good for: Long-wearing. Bold colour.
Reviews: 4.5/5 from 268 reviews on the MAC website.
Pat McGrath says “A revolutionary lipstick so luxurious and richly pigmented, it drenches lips in a lightweight veil of opaque colour while delivering a mesmerisingly modern matte finish. Sensually creamy and brilliant in texture, this collection evokes the femme fatale siren with every application. Colour and finish so sinful, your pout will speak volumes without ever whispering a word.”
Tone: Orange-red
Finish: Matte
Good for: Creamy, soft formula. Smooth colour appearance.
Price: £36
Reviews: 4.5/5 from 1721 reviews on Google.
MAC says “A creamy rich Lipstick formula with high colour payoff in a no-shine matte finish.”
Tone: Warm red
Finish: Matte
Price: £17.50
Good for: Lightweight feel. Moisturising.
Reviews: 4.5/5 from 269 reviews on the MAC website.
Yves Saint Laurent Beauty says “This iconic satin lipstick delivers rich and luxurious colour. In just one stroke, luxurious and highly pigmented colour dresses the lips with a radiant satin finish. A stay-true colour and medium-to-full coverage for up to 6 hours. In a signature couture jewel-like packaging, adorned with the YSL logo.”
Tone: Pure red
Finish: Satin
Price: £30
Good for: Highly pigmented. SPF15.
Reviews: 4.7/5 from 453 reviews on the Yves Saint Laurent Beauty website.
Marc Jacobs says “One-Swipe Color. Ten Luxurious Hours. Iconic Style. Indulge your pout with Marc’s new revolutionary 10-hour lipstick that covers your lips with buttery, creamy vibrant pigment with one pigment-saturated swipe. Experience unprecedented colour payoff from concentrated colour-boost pigments that are triple-milled and steeped in hydrating ingredients, so your lips experience ultimate long-lasting colour and moisture.
Instantly, lips feel plumped and nourished from powerful peptides, antioxidant-rich seaberry, and natural humectants, including meranti and cocoa butter. Never before has a hydrating lipstick provided such highly pigmented, long-lasting colour. All luxury. All day. No compromise.”
Tone: Pure red
Finish: Satin
Price: £27
Good for: Plump lips. 10 hour wear.
Reviews: 4.7/5 from 83 reviews on the Marc Jacobs Beauty website.
Charlotte Tilbury says “Darlings, are you ready to get the WOW factor? My Matte Revolution Lipstick in Red Carpet Red is a red matte lipstick featuring ingredients for plump-looking, hydrated lips in a long-lasting, kissable formula. This true ruby red shade is perfect for amping up the glamour for that classic old Hollywood effect.”
Tone: Deep red
Finish: Matte
Price: £25
Good for: 10 hour wear. Glowing colour.
Reviews: 4.7/5 from 107 reviews on the Charlotte Tilbury website.
Estee Lauder says “Colour with the power to transform your lips, your look, your attitude.
Sculpts: Multi-faceted pigments create definition. Lips look beautifully shaped, sculpted, curvaceous. Hydrates: Time-released Moisture Complex helps capture and seal in hydration. Lips feel continuously moisturised throughout the day. Intensifies: Saturates lips with high-intensity colour - in one stroke. Super creamy, glides on effortlessly, covers evenly. Sensually soft and smooth, luxuriously comfortable. Up to 8 hour wear.”
Tone: Blue-red
Finish: Creme
Price: £27.50
Good for: Hydrating. Sculpting.
Reviews: 4.6/5 from 143 reviews on the Estee Lauder website.
MAC says “A long-wearing Lipstick formula with intense colour payoff and a completely matte finish.”
Tone: Blue-red
Finish: Matte
Price: £17.50
Good for: Fade-proof. No bleeding.
Reviews: 4.2/5 from 116 reviews on the MAC website.
Chanel says “ In the blink of an eye, ROUGE COCO FLASH shows its true colours through its transparent cap. In a stroke, it applies easily over the lips and transforms into a shiny oil for a sensation of absolute comfort. In a flash, it offers an intense high-shine result, owing to an ultra-hydrating texture and glossy oil finish, selected for its ability to reflect the light.”
Tone: Blue-red
Finish: Gloss
Price: £31
Good for: Intense, high shine. Ultra hydrating.
Reviews: 4.8/5 from 44 reviews on the Bloomingdales website.
CLEAN LIPSTICK OPTIONS ↓ - With ingredient lists that are literally good enough to eat.
Kosas says “A game-changing clean lipstick made with active botanical oils and butters to hydrate and nourish. Comfiest feel, lasts all day”. Perfect coverage, very moisturising.
Tone: Deep red
Finish: Gloss
Good for: Lightweight. Perfect coverage.
Price: £27
Reviews: 4.7/5 from 1115 reviews on Google.
Vapour says “Intense, full coverage, high-pigment lipstick. Formulated without petroleum, polybutene, silicone, dimethicone or polyacrylamide. Always cruelty free and consciously made for you + the planet”
Tone: Tomato red
Finish: Satin
Good for: Nourishing. Intense colour.
Price: £33
Reviews: 4.5/5 from 30 reviews on the Vapour Beauty website.
Rituel de Fille says “A vibrant, universally flattering deep blood red lipstick made with carmine pigment from the cochineal insect. Carmine has been worn by women for centuries and imparts a stunning red unmatched by other dyes. This is the very first shade we created, and truly the most perfect blood red lipstick we've ever found”
Tone: Blood red
Finish: Semi-matte
Good for: Intensely saturated. Lasting moisture.
Price: £21
Reviews: 4.6/5 from 84 reviews on Google.
These are the red lipsticks our GILTY community of soul-aligned badass women love. Obviously it’s best to try colour in person as skin tone is not only unique to every person but also changes through the month, but hopefully this list helps you narrow down your search.
Are you a deeply passionate, impact-driven spiritual badass?
If so, then we call you GILTY, and we love your style.
To support you on your mission, we have two offerings for you:
URBAN GILT exists to empower you on the outside, providing sleek, sophisticated, fully conscious clothing for you to shine your light and make an impact. You can discover more about us here.
HOUSE OF GILT exists to support you on the inside, providing a sacred space for you to connect, heal and rise alongside your soul tribe. You can discover more details here.
We exist to help you fulfil your soul's purpose and mission because when we collectively stand up, united in our shared values and vision of a new world of abundance for all, there’s no limit to the impact we can make together.
We can't wait to welcome you to the GILTY family 🖤
Lisa x
Founder