When your complexion sits on the ‘ivory’ end of the foundation spectrum, red lipstick is the best weapon you can have in your armoury. Lipstick is my cosmetic constant; I shudder to think of how many kilos of pigment I will unknowingly consume over the course of my life.
As any lipstick fiend will know, finding the perfect match isn’t just a case of walking into your nearest chemist and grabbing the first tube you see. But that’s exactly what I pulled off a few days ago. I was quickly stocking up on shampoo in Priceline when I spied a sale flag on a row of Revlon Super Lustrous matte lipsticks. Boy, does that store know how to tug on a girl’s heart (and purse) strings.
They were about to close, so I grabbed the first red I came across, did a quick hand swatch and decided to give it a whirl. That snap decision could have ended in disaster but to my delight, ‘Retro Red’ turned out to be a real beauty. It’s the kind of intense, rich colour the characters on Mad Men wear, so if you like that classic sixties look you’re going to adore this shade.
I don’t usually go for matte styles because they make my lips feel too dry, but this one is super silky and glides on really nicely. Plus, at $21.95 – or $16 on sale – it’s a steal. A red-hot one, if you will.