And the reds have it

left to right: Revlon, L'Oreal, Cover Girl, Logona, Besame

Every girl knows that finding the right shade of red lipstick is just as bad as shopping for jeans, swimsuits and bras.  And no matter how much advice is dished out, you still need to just bite the bullet, buy the darn thing, and try it.  Hence, how I've acquired this collection of reds (and not shown are two brands I simply pitched in the trash for being horrible). 

Things to consider when wearing red:
A.  always exfoliate your lips for smooth coverage
B.  use softer shades for daytime wear, intense for the evening
C.  keep the rest of your makeup clean and simple
D.  be precise when applying because crooked edges are much more noticeable with red
E.  lip liner is great to help with bleeding, but if you can't match the liner and lippie, opt for a natural liner color
F.  blot and reapply for longer wear
G. and have a girlfriend tell you when it's on your teeth!

I tried on all my reds without liner to give a more true representation of the lippie color.  Obviously I'm fair skinned so tend towards blue-reds.  Lippies are reviewed from least expensive to most expensive.

Revlon

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze in Stay Ablaze 545 - light, glossy coverage that works really well in the daytime.  It applies smoothly, holds up well and wears off consistently across the lip so it's not obvious that you've been running errands all morning.  Great to use as a topcoat over other lippies.

L'Oreal

L'Oreal Infallible La Rouge Lipstick in Blazing Sangria 714 - a more intense color but still good for wearing during the day.  Smooth coverage, non-drying and wears well.

Cover Girl

Cover Girl Outlast All Day Lip Stain in Eternal Flame 521 - two step application (color then gloss topcoat) makes for deep, long lasting color with high gloss.  It holds up well but can be dry and "crackled" over several hours if not enough gloss is applied. 

Logona

Logona Naturkosmetik in 04 - based in Germany, this company offers an all natural lippie that provides  intense color in a semi-matte finish.  Wears very well, non-drying, deep color.

Besame

Besame Classic Color Lipstick in Red Velvet C215 - the most intense, dramatic color reserved for evenings out.  Smells nice, glides on beautifully and wears great in a semi-matte finish. 

And the winner is...

Snood by Arthelia's Attic and cherry clip by Backseat Betty's Bootique

...Besame in Red Velvet!  

This brand gets a lot of buzz in the vintage world, but it is well deserved.  The nostalgic packaging and great product are worth the price tag ($22).  I hope you're able to find your perfect shade.  Red is a color that will never go out of style!