Finding the perfect red lipstick - Part 3



 Well , we have come to part three of finding the perfect red lipstick. Unfortunately , my super cheapy finds have not worked perfectly for me.

Oh, some could work, but when it comes to lipstick (especially red lipstick) I am very, very picky.

Therefore, I have moved on to more expensive, yet still reasonable drugstore lipstick finds.

My two favorite are L'oreal's  "British Red " and Covergirls "Hot."

Now, both run about $6.00 to $8.00 at most places. Walmart is the cheapest. These lipsticks are much more expensive than what I would normally look at. I got "Hot"  for around $3.00 because its about $6.00 at Walmart and I had a  $3.00 off  coupon."British Red" still cost me $7.00 with a  $1.00 off  coupon at Rite-Aid. 

Both of these lipsticks are easily found at most mass market retailers or drugstores. Many drugstores like Rite-aid or Walgreens offer a b.o.g.o 50% off  often.   Quite often I have found Hot sold out at many places .

"British Red" from L'oreal is a gorgeous, creamy, lightweight, non-drying,  shiny, satin finish corally red.  I LOVE THIS SHADE. It makes me feel "rich" and sophisticated.  However, it can pull orangey and is not a true red (in my opinion). Also, it is not long wearing enough for me. You need to apply this multipe times and touch up often to maintain its richness. Since I am used to wearing matte lipsticks this is a bit to  "sheer" and glossy for me, even though I love the lightweight non-drying  feeling of it. If this was a .99 cent to a $2.00 lipstick I might deal with the downfalls but not for $7.00. Sorry. I am way cheap and really, really hard to please. I want RED but am not willing to be high mainteance to look high maintenace. HAA!! (and it is possible)!



Covergirl's "Hot". Well, this  baby is my (so far) all time winner for  cheap red lipsticks.  Why? well, its rich, creamy, dries to a long lo-o-ong lasting matte, yet non-drying finish. I can literally apply this in the morning an never touch up. I mean never (14 hrs). The color is great. Pat Mcgrath, the makeup artist for Covergirl, used this on 40+ different models in a spring 2013 fashion show. (sorry, I don't remember which one).  I  figured if 40+ models of all different skin tones could wear it so could I. Taylor Swift also uses this color. Plus, I have read its a close dupe to the famous MAC Russian Red.


Now, "Hot " does have a few downfalls. First, it doesn't seem true to shade all the time. Let me explain. On me it applies a vibrant poppy, yet still neutral, red. ( Its a blue red with a hint of coral).   However, sometimes it can set up as a more cherry red (more truly cool blue based). Its sort off odd, but I still think it can work for alot of skin tones. If I apply it very heavy it seems to stay true to the poppy shade (which I prefer). But, applied heavily it can bleed  (badly)and get on teeth. This lipstick is creamy but very heavy.  It also stains. I mean  it stains badly. I have to scrub, scrub , scrub my lips to remove it all and sometimes I wake up in the morning and my husband says "You forgot to take off your lipstick last night".  I love longlasting lipsticks and have gotten used to the stain other than the fact it can be drying and if you don't remove it before the next application the next application won't go on evenly or true.

All in all, Covergirl's "Hot" is my go to drugstore red lipstick. I own 3 tubes (so far), wear it every single day, and only stock up when its on sale and with coupons. Despite its downfalls it is a fix it and forget it high impact lipstick, which is what I want.


 Someday I may really splurge and buy the famous MAC Russian Red or Ruby -Woo ( That wouldn't be very beer budget of me now would it) but for now Hot is my perfect red lipstick.