5 Best Red Lipsticks at the Drugstore
Rounding up five of the best everyday red lipsticks found at the drugstore, including the best Maybelline red lipstick! This list also features red lipstick from Almay, Pixi by Petra, and Covergirl. Read on if you want to discover some of the best cheap matte liquid lipstick!
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner (wait, what? wasn’t it just Christmas time?) and it’s time to find that perfect shade of red lipstick to rock. While I have a few favorite high-end lipstick brands, I truly feel that drugstore brands have some of the best lipstick formulas on the market and you cannot go wrong with the price (especially if red is a color you’ll only wear once in a while.) I sat down and went through my collection and picked out my favorite red lipstick shades that you can go get from the drugstore TOMORROW, just in time for you to rock for Galentine’s or Valentine’s, or, you know, for whenever you want a pop of color.
Before I jump into my recommendations, let’s talk about bright colored lipstick. I have always always wanted to be the kind of girl brave enough to wear red lipstick and was always so terrified of it. Not only was I afraid of it getting on my teeth or smeared on my face (not cute,) but I was also worried about what other people would think of me. I felt like only girls who had perfect teeth or were insanely bold and confident could wear red lipstick and I definitely didn’t feel like I had either. To be honest, I still don’t have perfect teeth (thanks, chemo) but I have learned that red lipstick has helped me become more confident in who I am.
I remember seeing a makeup tutorial one day, featuring a beautiful red lip and just feeling so defeated, thinking I could never wear that color. But then, I had a thought: if my cancer came back tomorrow, would I regret not taking the risks I wanted to take or trying the things I wanted to try because I was scared of what other people thought? Life is too dang short to not wear red lipstick, and it’s too short to care about what other people think. I marched myself to Ulta later that day, picked up a tube of red lipstick, and wore it the rest of the day. I got SO many compliments on it throughout that day, I couldn’t believe it. It was a game changer for me - my confidence was through the roof. I WAS capable of wearing red lipstick and I was also capable of ROCKING it!
All’s this to say: life is too short to not do the things that you want to do. If you want to wear red lipstick, freaking wear that red lipstick and ROCK it! You are beautiful and 100% capable of pulling it off. Promise.
Okay, now let’s get into it.
Here are my 5 favorite red lipsticks at the drugstore:
Almay Lip Vibes Lipstick in #230 Love Yourself ($7.99) - I can’t say enough good things about these Almay lipsticks - the formula is SO creamy and moisturizing and they are really pigmented. Almay claims that this formula doesn’t feather or bleed outside of the lips and I can 100% say that this is true based on my experience. It stays exactly where you put it and it also is long-wearing and lasts a very long time for a standard lipstick. This shade is in the cream formula and a dark red with a rusty red undertone. Choose this shade if you’re looking for a red that is a little deeper and darker then a true red.
Almay Lip Vibes LIpstick in #170 Treat Yourself ($7.99) - Yes, two Almay lipsticks made the list because the formula is THAT good. This shade is a bright red with a pink undertone and is in the matte formula, which is still intensely creamy & moisturizing (that’s right - it does NOT dry out your lips.) Choose this lipstick if you’re looking for a red that looks like pink in certain lighting situations.
Covergirl Melting Pout Matte Lipstick in #315 All Nighter ($6.23) - This definitely isn’t the longest wearing liquid lipstick on the market, but it’s definitely comfortable to wear and a great one to try if you are new to liquid lipsticks and want to get used to wearing them. They also fade beautifully (my lips never crack or get cakey when I wear it.) I love this color in particular because it’s got a really great purple/plum undertone, which makes it a little bit sultry. Choose this lipstick if you’re looking for a dark red that leans a little vampy and sassy.
Pixi by Petra MatteLast Liquid Lip in Real Red ($14.00) - This is definitely a little pricier compared to others (and I guess, technically not drugstore, but it is in Target, so that’s why I included it) but it’s 100% worth it. This formula is VERY long-wearing and not drying because it’s infused with rosehip oil! It’s also very pigmented and I find the applicator makes it really easy to apply the color without getting sloppy because it has a very pointy tip to help line your lips! Choose this lipstick if you’re looking for a true red.
Maybelline Superstay Ink Lipstick in #20 Pioneer ($9.49) - If you’ve been around here for a while, you are NOT surprised to see this on the list. I saved the best for last - this is BULLETPROOF lipstick and my absolute favorite long-wearing formula available at the drugstore. It’s comfortable to wear, it lasts for freaking ever, and it does not transfer. I can kiss Teddy (my white doodle) square on the head and not have any red come off on his head! This shade is a blue red, so it will also make your teeth look whiter. Choose this lipstick if you want a kiss-proof color that will last all day long!
That rounds up my favorite red lipsticks at the drugstore! I hope this helps you find the confidence to wear red lipstick this month AND to choose which one to buy with confidence.
Let me know which shade you are leaning towards in the comments below!
(P.S. If this was helpful, I’d be so appreciative if you pinned the image below to Pinterest! Thank you!)
