Red Letter Girl Loves Red Lipstick World

Editor Caroline Issa shows how it's done.  Images via Tommy Ton and The Sartorialist.

There is something so enticing about a classic, and it doesn't get more classic than matte scarlet red.

But finding the right shade of red can a real challenge.  As a half Asian, I have to have to guard carefully against shades that look awesome on non-Asian models or friends, but on me just send geisha/whore/Anna May Wong signals.

Here are two scarlet reds I can commend to you wholeheartedly:

1. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella

I love it because:

• It's a crayon, so you don't need a separate liner.  
• It's a huge hit with Asian girls (particularly Filipinas) on MakeupAlley.  
• It's totally matte. 
• It stays on forever. Really.  Like, I ate an apple and it looked like it had just been applied. 

It doesn't fade off uniformly, but it does leaves a nice stain you can blend out with your finger.  I wear it with the merest schmear of pink cream blush, procured on a high of Lisa Eldridge inspiration.

Cruella looks like the color on Du Juan, left, in this image from H&M.

2. Boots No 7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in Cherry

I scored this lipstick at Target.  Liv had asked me to take her there so she could pick out a selection of lip balms like the ones her friend Zelda has been toting around.  This is how it starts, people!

I wheeled my red cart full of LipSmackers and daughter down the Boots aisle and found this little number, which I illicitly unwrapped to test on myself.  It passed with flying colors.

I love this one because:

• It's a perfect, balanced scarlet color
• It's highly pigmented
• It goes on super smooth
• It's unscented (rare for drugstore lipstick)
• It stays on forever
• is $9.99



Cherry looks like the color Paz Vega is rocking here.  Image from Glamour.