Spoonie Make-Up | Effortless Red Lips for Christmas

Hello!

I don't know about you – but most of the time I either lack the energy or time to invest much effort in my make-up – especially over the holidays. Lipstick is great. It looks amazing. When Christmas comes along I want red lips all the time. All. The. Time. I have a bright red bold lip going on whilst I write this even though I don't plan on leaving the house for days. Unfortunately, lipstick is just too much effort, time and energy for me. You need lip liner, you need one layer, you need to blot, you need to powder, you need another layer, to blot, to powder, repeat... and then it all comes off anyway. You try to top it up quickly because you're at work or socialising and don't have the time to be carefully tending to your lips, and get it everywhere. Well, I do anyway.

With all this in mind, I reserve lipstick for special occasions. In the meantime and day-to-day grind, where time or energy elude me, I opt for products that can be applied and reapplied quickly and easily. Usually, they are not as bright as a lipstick, meaning they don't look as terrible when they fade, but also have enough pigment to say, “Hey, look! We're red! Christmas!”. Which is handy.

Lush Lip Tint in Santa Baby

Like all Lush tip tints, this is hardly a tint – it's an almost opaque layer of colour that tastes of pure Christmas. It's a bright, warm-toned red which makes me want ginger hair (I always want ginger hair). I don't think it really suites me but it's perfect for Christmas day regardless. I applied some using the stick and my little finger for the edges before Wimbledon Zine Fair and was surprised a few hours later when I still had red lips! I'd been eating, drinking and talking and my lips still looked like Christmas! This is probably due to its matte finish. I really like it. The smell is so, so nice, too. 

Elf Jumbo Gloss Stick in Movie Star

This is the easiest product to apply and my go-to early shift lip product. Because it's the most sheer and it's a crayon, it's hard to go wrong. Just draw some on your lips and smush it around. While being sheer, the red is definitely on your lips. It's good for when you want a more subtle red lip. You can easily build it up in one application, but I tend to whack it on, let it settle and come off onto a straw after a drink or two before adding more. This way it leaves a stain for the rest of my shift if it does wear off again, and looks good if it doesn't. It is unscented, but has that classic lipstick/make-up smell. This reminds me of ballet and makes me happy.

Barbara Daly Make-Up Lip Melts Sheer Lip Colour in Cherry Bomb

(Recently re-branded, similar here.)

Also a crayon, this is super quick and easy to apply. Just draw it on and colour your lips in. A quick, single blot can help, but if not just apply it thinner with the help of your finger. This way there is less to come off when drinking, being clumsy or blowing your nose. Although it is balmy in texture and sheer it has much more pigment than the Jumbo Gloss Stick. It's a bright, sexy, red with a hint of glitter. In some lights it looks warm-toned, and in other it looks cool. Confusing. I find one layer provides plenty of colour and even if some wears off, it's still there. This also moisturises your lips and tastes like apricots! Super rad.


And, if you have the time...


Makeup Revolution London Salvation Velvet Lip Lacquer in Keep Trying For You

This one takes a little more effort, and a little bit of drying time, but once it's done, it's done. Making it easy. You have to apply it carefully to get the shape right, and wait for it to dry. If you have the spoons to prepare your lips with a scrub, concentrate on the application and possibly have to clean up, it's definitely worth doing. The doe foot applicator does make it easier to be precise. Like a good, proper, liquid lipstick, dries matte and stays put for hours. I'd recommend keeping your lips conditioned well in-between applications as it may dry them out - but while it's on your lips feel really velvety which is awesome. The shade is a bright, slightly warm red. It's glorious. Other shades of red are available from the Makeup Revolution website. As they cost £3 I feel I may have quite the collection ready for next Christmas! 

I hope this has provided inspiration for the spoonless who desire a Christmassy red lip! Do you have any products that make it easier? Please let me know in the comments if you do!

Big red-lipped kisses!