I know you’re thinking “Damn, another NYX post?!”, but I promise you guys I’m not working for NYX. I just happen to have a decent amount of their products and I love just about all of what I own. I was rummaging thru my stash this morning, looking for a red lipstick other than my trusty MAC So Scarlet (LE). I wanted to show another color from another brand some love today, and then I remembered two shades by NYX that I couldn’t go wrong with. I swear finding things you haven’t used in a while and rediscovering why you love them is such a fabulous feeling. Do you guys realize it’s 2010 and there are still women out there who haven’t attempted a sexy red lip?? Mainly because they’re terrified at the very thought of rocking a bright, bold red lip. Are you one of them?

NYX makes really great, creamy lipsticks for embarrassingly low prices. If you’re afraid of red, but wanna get your feet wet and try a few colors without spending $14+ on a single lipstick, I recommend trying the following…

gorgeous red color

  • Chaos is a creamy blue-based red with very subtle fuchsia sheen. If you look close enough you can see super tiny sparkles, but this doesn’t translate onto your lips as gritty or anything (I promise you won’t feel what you may see). It’s just what gives the lipstick it’s character. This one also has lots of sheen to it upon application but like Snow White, that sheen will eventually fade and you’ll have a gorgeous red matte stain on your lips.

another gorgeous red color

  • Snow White is a really pretty semi-matte deep red color, that I find to be very neutral and forgiving. It’s slightly more red and a tad brighter than MAC’s Dubonnet (which is very warm), but at the end of the day they’re in the same boat. I feel that anyone warm or cool toned can definitely rock this color and look amazing in it. It’s warm without being too warm for cooler skin-tones. It’s semi-matte because it’s a totally flat color but has a nice sheen to it when first applied. After a while, the sheen does wear off and you’re left with a nice stain.

I didn’t find either one of the NYX lipsticks to be overly drying, and both had really good staying power. To prevent the crustiest lips in the world, I always balm my lips up before applying lipstick. Let the balm soak into your lips for about ten minutes, wipe away any excess with your finger (tissue will dry it out), and then apply. However, they will transfer pretty easily, so avoid kissing anyone with these. Both are super creamy and smooth and incredibly opaque — they are not sheer at all.

Whenever I wear red lipstick, I really don’t like to put anything else on my face that will distract you from my already bright ass lip. This isn’t necessarily a “rule”, but it’s a factor you should consider. I also don’t do bright pink blush with a red lip because that’s automatically gonna have me looking like a clown and give me that “obvious” look I can’t stand. I usually rock a bright bold red lip with golden skin, eyeliner, neutral eyeshadow (if I have time) and tons of mascara. However, red lipstick can look FIERCE with sexy smokey eyes.

RED FLAG

When you first apply red lipstick, it can be a little daunting. Your initial reaction may be “Whoa!” and you may very well hate it. I hated red lipstick when I first tried it years back, but that was because I was trying the wrong reds, and I wasn’t used to it at all. Such a stark change can be a turn-off at first and freak you out. Not every red is created equal. You have a selection of warm, yellow, cool, and neutral reds. Play around with them all to find one that suits you best. Don’t automatically think that just because you’re warm-toned you can’t wear a cool red, or vice versa. Buy a red that works for you, and try it a few times and you might grow to love them like I did. It takes getting used to for lots of people. The only red lipstick I personally stay away from are yellow-toned reds that make the teeth look more yellow. Neutral, warm and cool reds? I’m all for those.

OVERALL

These aren’t the only red lipsticks made by NYX, but they’re two of my favorites. Since they’re so cheap, you can afford to buy several different red colors and figure out what works and what doesn’t. I’m warm/olive-toned, but I’m clearly wearing both of these colors. If I can wear these, I think you guys should at least try it…they’re both cheaper than a value meal, so what do you have to lose? I wanted to show these two beautiful and inexpensive red lipsticks to you guys who are afraid of red, but need that extra push to go ahead and just play around with bolder colors.

Stop being afraid and relax…it’s just makeup ;)

Availability: NYX Cosmetics, ULTA Beauty, Cherry Culture

-Stay beautiful

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