I don’t often wear cherry-red lips, but sometimes I want a change from the usual… Which is normally one of the five lipsticks mentioned in my post about favourite reds. Each one has a warm tone and I tend to go for the classic bright, pillar-box types.
Sometimes a cherry red is nice though – and can work better with pink blusher, I think. What I particularly like about the lipstick I’m reviewing today though is how much it satisfies my inner vintage-geek; because this little shade has been on the scene since it first came out back in 1952! You don’t get more authentic than that, surely (don’t know about you but I have no desire to wear an actual lipstick from the 50s; germ fest).
Stay tuned and I’ll even give you a little bit of history – which I find fascinating, so hope you will too… But for now, onto the lipstick itself.
I’d say the colour in the below picture is pretty accurate – although it somehow comes across as a tad brighter in the flesh. And yes, my top does have cherries on it – the 50s like matching things and so do I. Eh-hem.
Although it’s a pink-based red, I still think it works for people with slightly warm skin tones, like me – it’s quite neutral as red goes. Doesn’t lean too much in the blue or orange directions.
Pros
- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I love the Super Lustrous packaging for the transparent lid which makes it so much easier to find when you’ve got a few
- The shade – and its history – is just so classic and instantly brightens up your face
- The colour wears fairly well – you can get a good few hours out of it
- It’s good value for money at about £8
- It doesn’t dry your lips out like so many strong colours do
Cons
- I don’t personally like the slightly shiny finish – but blotting it and/or adding translucent powder over the top tones that down
- The strong pigment transfers onto anything it touches
But really, I can’t think of much worse to say about it than that; it does what it claims to and the colour’s so lovely that if you’re after a fairly neutral, cherry-red, this could be the one for you.
Still not convinced..? Maybe this little bit of history will sway you…
This particular shade had its own now infamous ad campaign featuring a rather glamourous and smouldering woman wrapped in a red fur (Google it), and asked the question:
Are you made for fire and ice?
If you answer 8 of the following 15 questions in the affirmative, you officially should go out and buy this lipstick too 😉 And bear in mind, these questions were supposed to appeal to every woman’s inner bad girl…
- Have you ever danced with your shoes off?
- Did you ever wish on a new moon?
- Do you blush when you find yourself flirting?
- When a recipe calls for one dash of bitters, do you think it’s better with two?
- Do you secretly hope the next man you meet will be a psychiatrist?
- Do you sometimes feel that other women resent you?
- Have you ever wanted to wear an ankle bracelet?
- Do sables excite you, even on other women?
- Do you love to look up at a man?
- Do you face crowded parties with panic – then wind up having a wonderful time?
- Does gypsy music make you sad?
- Do you think any man really understands you?
- Would you streak your hair with platinum without consulting your husband?
- If tourist flights were running, would you take a trip to Mars?
- Do you close your eyes when you’re kissed?
I love, love, love that an ankle bracelet was considered somehow immoral! Anyone knows what on earth 11 is on about, do let me know…