Red lipstick has been a beauty staple for decades, and there’s no better moment to reach for a warm, imperial red than the festive season.
Yet this seemingly playful make-up icon has a far more radical past. For more than a century, red lipstick has symbolised female empowerment, rising to political prominence in 1912 when American women marched for equal rights wearing red lips as an act of defiance. Cosmetics entrepreneur Elizabeth Arden famously supported the movement, handing out her signature red lipstick to suffragettes protesting in New York.
Today, make-up is no longer shunned, and red lips are no longer feared. Instead, red lipstick is widely regarded as chic, feminine and flattering, yet still undeniably powerful.
What’s less widely known, however, is what many traditional lipsticks contain. Petroleum-based ingredients such as parabens can easily penetrate the skin causing health problems, while darker shades often rely on mineral pigments that may include heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminium, zinc and chromium.
As Audrey Hepburn once said, ‘There is a shade of red for every woman.‘ Finding the right one can take time, but a new generation of clean beauty brands is making it easier than ever, offering beautiful natural and organic alternatives to classic reds. Look for nourishing bases such as shea butter, jojoba, argan and castor oil, and opt for vegan pigments over synthetic dyes.
At The Ethicalist, we’ve curated our favourite festive shades, leaving just one question: which bold red will you be rocking into the new year?
Ilia Beauty Tint Hydrating Lip Balm, Lady, AED105
This multi award-winning tint hydrating lip balm is for those who want a subtle colour on their lips but don’t want to go all out. Perfect for building upon, this lip balm has a subtle festive vanilla scent perfect for the time of year. Formulated with ingredients including rosehip oil & shea butter for a smooth, hydrated look, we think the burgundy hues of Lady would pair perfectly with a mug of mulled spice. Ilia lip balms are clean, cruelty-free, gluten-free and silicone-free.
Available from Secret Skin
Kjaer Weis, Lipstick, KW Red, AED215
This certified organic lipstick in KW Red will give you maximum coverage of a classic colour that will see you through the whole day of festivities. Made using ingredients such as rosehip, Jojoba oil and Shea butter, this matte red lipstick nourishes and hydrates to keep your lips looking both smooth and sharp. Certified organic, free from parabens and artificial colouring, this stunning lipstick is also refillable. Other Christmas colours in the range include Glorious and Sucré.
Available from Kjaerweis.com
Clove + Hallow Lip Crème, Flaming Coral, AED115
This best-selling creamy lipstick offers bold pigmentation, deep nourishment, and a semi-matte finish that never feels dry. Flaming Coral is for those who don’t want to go the full hog with a deep festive red but still want a splash of colour. Made from a cocktail of organic ingredients including jojoba, castor, and sunflower oils, Clove + Hallow also offer a Clean15™ Guarantee that every product contains 15 or fewer safe ingredients per base formula. PETA-certified cruelty-free and vegan, even the tube is made from 100 per cent recycled plastic!
Other festive colours in the range include Damsel and Eternity
Available from Clove + Hallow
Lily Lolo Vegan Lipstick, Flirtation, AED65
Flirtation is a bold mid-toned red with pink hues that has heaps of festive warmth. A brand-new formulation from this earth-loving brand, it includes nourishing grapeseed, argan, and sunflower seed oils meaning it won’t dry out your lips. Free from harsh chemicals, it is both long lasting and hydrating, with the added bonus of being vegan, gluten free, GMO free and cruelty free.
Stripped would also work as another festive tone
Available from Misspaletteable
CLE Cosmetics, Melting Lip Powder ,True Red, AED95
True Red, as the name suggests, is a veritable classic tone. Beautiful on medium to tanned skin tones, it dries matte and is long lasting. The innovative Melting Lip Powder transforms pigmented powder into a long-wearing lip tint upon application. True Red can be worn as a light layer of colour or used for a bolder look. The added bonus is this parabens-free, vegan powder can be applied to the eyes and cheeks too for a flush of extra colour.
Desert Rose would also work as a seasonal colour.
Available from MissPaletteable
Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lip Colour, Velvet Jazz, AED115
A muted, earthy, brick red inspired by the 1930s, this saturated and highly pigmented lipstick has a creamy, hydrating matte finish with a slight sheen. The formulation is non drying on the lips and promises to give you long-lasting colour. Cruelty free, this luxurious lipstick is also free from parabens, talc, gluten and fragrance.
Other festive colours in the range include Velvet Ribbon and Velvet Duchess
Available at Lisaeldridge.com
Ilia Beauty Lipstick Crayon, 99 Red Balloons, AED105
What’s a lipstick without a liner? Pioneering Ilia Beauty’s 99 Red Balloons, with its brick red tone, is a perfect match for traditional festive lipstick. Formulated with sunflower seed and coconut oils for a healing effect, candelila wax locks in the moisture and colour. It’s buildable and can be layered on for a bold, semi-matte look. The moisturising satin formula is 54 per cent organic, gluten free and vegan.
Available at illiabeauty
