Some people swear by red lipstick, but I’ve always been ride-or-die for burgundy. Where bright red lipsticks are bold and loud (whoever named Too Faced’s Melted Matte red lipstick “Lady Balls” nailed it), dark wine shades are shadowy, and don’t demand attention so much as magnetically attract it.

My dream color is how red translated on-screen in black and white movies—the kind of shade that says you’ve been sipping red wine and having sparkling conversation, or biting your lip while concentrating on your reading (think Rory Gilmore season one, or Hermione book five.) It’s vivid against your skin but dull in general, which is part of the plan, because this lipstick is for you and you alone.

I say all this because I was recently cleaning out my desk for a big move, which made me confront the ugly truth: I have no less than a jillion wine red lipsticks (38 is a cautious estimate. Very cautious). Lest you think I’m exaggerating, here’s a brief roll-call of recent faves: Stila Forza, W3ll People Retrograde, RMS Russian Roulette, Ilia Lust for Life, Pat McGrath Labs Guinevere, Joah Sangria, Flesh Cosmetics Swollen, and Besame Cosmetics Blood Red.

I lug around at least four on any given day, but only one has stayed with me from work, to playing pool in a bar’s back room, to hiking (selfies in front of a waterfall, I’m not going to not), and that perfect baby is Rituel de Fille Carnal. Carnal is sexy but bookish, thanks to its muted-wine color, and similar to the shade of dried blood (in a cool way). If you’re not familiar with the brand, it’s perfected the aesthetic of “moody” with non-toxic products that draw on their nature-inspired origins. The entire vibe of the line is earth-y gorgeous, plus a little ethereal. And in the prettiest packaging you’ve ever seen.

The formula, too, equally nails it. It’s matte but not drying, which makes the color super natural-looking. The one negative is sometimes I open the tube to find the bullet disconnected and floating in the cap, but I just shake it back down and continue as usual (and that’s likely just because it goes everywhere that I do).

I hate to say “effortless” as a compliment, because I’m all for making an effort, but Carnal feels like I don’t have to. It’s just easily ideal—and, in my opinion, no other lipstick (especially red) gets it so right.

Rituel de Fille Carnal Forbidden Lipstick, $24, neimanmarcus.com and ritueldefille.com

Related Stories:
–5 Cult Favorite Lipstick Shades That Truly Look Awesome on Everyone
–It Took Me 12 Years, But I Finally Got Over My Fear of Lipstick
–10 Makeup Artists on the All-Time Best Products Ever

Source link