Monday 12 January 2015

Red 2015? No - Red 2000!

My festive period love affair with red just continues into the new year, it's the colour that keeps giving. Last week I mentioned a perfect gorgeous and ravishing red for your nails - Boudoir from Ciaté and today I just had to show its lipstick mate. I've mentioned before that I'm not usually one for doing matching nails and lips and personally I find it more interesting to contrast but some pairs are just made for each other. There are so many gorgeous red shades from the big cosmetic brands but I've always found it difficult to find a shade that works with my colouring and doesn't make me feel like the lipstick is wearing me rather than the other way around. Something tells me I'm not the only one doubting which shade suits me since L'Oréal very helpfully has released their Perfect match red range to help us find the right red.

As a blonde with a hint of a tan left from the holidays, and with a warm undertone to my skin anyway deep reds with blue undertones do nothing good for me and I do shy away from them. Instinctively I've always been drawn to the more orange reds anyway, however there's again a fine balance between reds with a warm undertone and intense scarlets that are just a tad too sharp for me. Having tested my way through reds for years I did eventually find a shade that's just right (yes there is one for everyone!) and it's Avon's Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick in Red 2000 (£3.85).
The formula is nice and creamy without being waxy, and it leaves a nice hydrating sensation on your lips. The pigmentation is very strong so I would recommend being careful when you apply it since it does leave a stain and if you get the lip contours wrong you have to remove it and apply it again from scratch. I find that it works best if you use a brush to apply the lipstick and then of course you get a fabulous and precise lip contour as well, if you've got plenty of time that is, otherwise just dabbing it on works really well too. Because of the strong pigmentation the colour is fairly long lasting, and after 4-5 hrs eventually only a stain remains, but that also mean that it does transfer onto coffee mugs etc for quite a while. From a formula and wear point of view it's a pretty good lipstick, but what nudges it into being a great one is definitely the colour; it's a gorgeous sultry golden tomato red that brings out my natural colouring and brightens everything, even the rainiest of days (have a look at my Instagram to see a color swatch). It's a confident and elegant shade and the only thing that bugs me about this gem of a lipstick is that it's no longer part of Avon's range, but you can find it on Amazon and on eBay.

10 comments:

  1. Hi Charlotte! This is a great shade of red and looks good on you. I agree red shades can be hard to pull off so knowing what tones suit your skin is key.
    Fab post!

    Keisha xo
    www.chrysalisgals.blogspot.com

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  2. I used to buy makeup from Avon all the time, but not so much anymore. Definitely need to have a look online!

    www.britishbeautyaddict.com

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  3. Love the picture :)
    http://whattaylorbuys.blogspot.co.uk/

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  4. This red looks beautiful and would look amazing with that nail colour. Love your post xxxx

    Love Charlotte xxx
    scarletslippers.blogspot.co.uk

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  5. Sounds like a gorgeous red. Wish I had a tan like you :)

    Erin | Erin and Katherine Talk Beauty

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  6. I'm all for matching tips and lips! I reckon you would really suit L'Oreal Blake's Red, i think it looks fab with blonde hair and a tan :)

    Anoushka xx www.Anoushkaloves.com

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  7. The red shades are amazing, I have shiseido coral lip gloss that gives a nice tint without wearing "lipstick"

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  9. Red 2000 is definitely one my most favourite long term Red Lipsticks! I also stocked up on Red 2000 samples from Avon to pop in bag for touching up or for when I go away - very space saving and definitely worth the 25p or so for the sample.
    Amie | Hellbentforlipstick

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