The Holiday Reds

With the holidays fast approaching, I decided it was time to take an editing eye to my red lip collection in order to deliver a pared down compilation of my favorite picks for the holiday season. My idea of the perfect holiday red is something cheery and classic (nothing too vampy) that can achieve and maintain a statement lip for holiday parties and gatherings. I found four options spanning a few different finishes and price ranges that will easily suit any and all holiday red lip needs.

Swatched L to R: Guerlain Garconne, NYX Perfect Red, NARS Cruella, Revlon Fire Opal

First up is Guerlain Rouge G in Garconne $51, a vibrant, true red. It's an ultra creamy and pigmented formula with a finish that manages to pack shine without appearing too wet or glossy. Aside from Garconne being the epitome of a "holiday red," the substantial, luxe Guerlain packaging makes it a treat to use any time of year, but especially on special occasions.

NYX Matte Lipstick in Perfect Red $6 is like the matte, slightly more subdued version of Garconne. The soft matte formula feels comfortable on my lips, unlike MAC matte lipsticks, for example, and although it's not very hydrating, it isn't drying either. It applies well, wears well, and the color is truly the perfect classic red. The best part? It comes in at just under $6. Why wouldn't you add this to your shopping list?

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella $25 is a rich, deeper red with a completely matte finish. The pencil makes it easy to line and fill in lips at the same time (a plus for darker shades that can often be more difficult to achieve clean edges with when applied straight from a lipstick bullet), and it wears seamlessly for hours on end. Just make sure lips are freshly exfoliated before application.

Revlon Ultra HD Lip Lacquer in Fire Opal $8 is a fiery, orange-red with a slick, glossy finish. It's an incredibly pigmented gloss with a brush applicator that, admittedly, can make clean application a bit more troublesome, but the end result is certainly worth the effort. Just look at it.

So, there you have it - my red lip picks for this holiday season. And in case I haven't mentioned it before, because I sometimes get questions about this, I don't often use lip liner (unless it's a nude one to enhance my lip shape), even with darker or brighter lip shades. If achieving clean edges is an issue, I typically prefer to just use a lip brush for the most precise application.
What are some of your favorite reds for the holidays?

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