If You Can’t Do a Red Lip, These Are Festive Alternatives

By Betsy Cribb
November 15, 2019
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Credit: Andry5/Getty Images
I should know by now to steer clear of red lipstick. Most days of the week, I’m not even tempted to try, deferring to muted mauves and subtle pinks instead.  But every year, when the holidays roll around, I find myself at the drugstore flirting with the reddest, holiday-est red lipstick on the aisle. With Bing Crosby on the radio and the twinkly lights strung all over town, it’s like I develop red lipstick amnesia, forgetting in my sugarplum trance the dozens of times I’ve tried to rock the classic color and wound up looking more Ronald McDonald than Marilyn Monroe. But not this year. Bing Crosby will play and the twinkly lights will twinkle and the Sugarplum Fairy will dance, but I will not again fall prey to red lipstick’s siren song. I’ll leave the red lip in Christmas past and scoop up one of these instead. Who’s with me?
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Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Rum Raisin

Credit: Nordstrom

BUY IT: $29; nordstrom.com

For the gal who favors neutral shades, this plummy hue is a sophisticated step towards party mode.

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Tom Ford Lip Color in Stimulant

Credit: Saks Fifth Avenue

BUY IT: $55; www.saksfifthavenue.com

A ladylike pink rivals the timelessness of a classic red, but it delivers a little more sweetness too.

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NARS Satin Lipstick in Miramar

Credit: Nordstrom

BUY IT: $26; nordstrom.com                                                                                                           

Go bold with a swipe of an effervescent shade that feels just right for midnight toasts.  

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Lipstick Queen Jungle Queen Lipstick

Credit: Amazon

BUY IT: $24; amazon.com

Coral is often relegated to the summer months, but the citrusy shade is a welcome burst of sunshine in the winter. Plus, it’s universally flattering.

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Lancôme Color Design Lipstick in Wine Party

Credit: ULTA

BUY IT: $25; ulta.com
If red lipstick swapped her stilettos for velvet slides, she’d be this merlot shade. The red tones dial up the merriment, while the darker berry notes make it a little more user-friendly.

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Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Goldpearl Plum

Credit: Walmart

BUY IT: $5; walmart.com

For those not quite willing to give up the red-lipstick-for-the-holidays dream, this almost-red is a satisfying swap.

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Chanel Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue Ultra Wear Lip Colour in Intense Rosewood

Credit: Nordstrom

BUY IT: $38; nordstrom.com
A high-shine top coat gives this approachable pink a spirited edge.

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By Betsy Cribb