The Best Red Lipsticks for 2014

Whether you're a smitten kitten or single and proud, a fierce red lip is a Valentines' Day must. 

From left to right: Tom Ford Lip Color in Crimson Noir £36, Sainsbury's Boutique Lipstick in Paint the Town Red £7, Urban Decay Revolutionary Lipstick in F-Bomb £15, NARS Semi-matte Lipstick in Jungle Red £18.50, Illamasqua Lipstick in Maneater £16.50, Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Infrared £15.50, MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Ruby Woo £15 

swatch

Illamasqua Lipstick in Maneater £16.50, with a bit of Intense Lipgloss in Touch on top, £14.50

The most vibrant of my picks, choose Maneater for a pout with a punch! An intense, bright red that makes a real statement.  

NARS Semi-matte Lipstick in Jungle Red £18.50

A softer hue, Jungle Red has a undertone of coral softness that makes it much more versatile. This shade looks amazing with darker, olive skin tones. 

Sainsbury's Boutique Lipstick in Paint the Town Red £7

A pillar box red for those on a budget, Sainsbury's own beauty range is soft on the lip and surprisingly hydrating. A classic, slightly glossy red with blue undertones.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Infrared £15.50

I absolutely LOVE this red, it's matte, deep, intense and moisturising all at the same time. This true red is flattering to all skin tones, and instantly makes me feel like a Hollywood movie star. A make-up must have in my opinion.

Tom Ford Lip Color in Crimson Noir £36

A splurge for the red lip lovers, this deep red lipstick is incredibly smooth and glossy. The texture reminds me a bit of the MAC creme sheen lipsticks, only much smoother and more comfortable on the lip. Only one-slick required for a satin-finish pout of luxury colour. 

What's your trademark red? 

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream, £42 

Kiehl's have introduced a brand new anti-wrinkle cream to their impressive offering, a POWERFUL wrinkle reducing cream. Hooray!

I've been using this rich, hydrating cream for one week, and I'm already impressed with the results. My skin feels smoother and the nasty open pores on my nose are less visible. So far, so good.

Kiehl's claim that this magical cream can improve elasticity by 32% within 4 weeks, which really is something. With copper PCA and abyssine as active ingredients, the scientists at Kiehl's say that copper is essential for stimulating the production of elastin (that keeps skin supple) and also acts as an antioxidant to improve the skin barrier function.

But that's enough of the sciencey stuff. In consumer tests, a cross section of fifty 35-55 year old women trialled the cream for four weeks, and 84% said that their fines lines looked visibly reduced, while 83% said the look of pores had decreased.

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream (and eye cream) will be available from Kiehls.co.uk from February 2014.

Dermalogica AgeSmart Skinperfect Primer SPF30

Dermalogica AgeSmart Skinperfect Primer SPF30, £33.50

A friend of mine recommended this little tube of primer, and despite being a bit shocked at the hefty price tag, it is undoubtedly the best primer I have ever used.

It leaves skin really well prepped and smooth, and my make-up stays put all day long. I love the trademark Dermalogica fragrance, I actually feel like I'm putting a treatment on, and whoever decided to make the primer skin toned is nothing short of a genius! A little goes a long way, and it's doing approximately a million things at once... I'd say that's a justified splurge, right?


Get all the best beauty news! Follow @poutoutproud on Twitter and Like Pout Out Proud on Facebook

Benefit Ultra Shine Lip Shine in Foxy Lady

If you're on the lookout for a super-glossy, non-sticky, beautifully scented gloss, then Benefit Ultra Shines Lip Shine in Foxy Lady, now £7.00 in the sales, available from Benefitcosmetics.co.uk,

is absolutely perfect. It's packed full of glorious pinky-golden shimmer. I love to glide a layer over a feminine pink lipstick (currently I'm using Chanel Rouge Allure 112 Fantasque, available this spring 2013) for a temptingly kissable, glossy pout. 

I think I'll be getting a lot of wear out of this beautiful little gloss as we head towards summer, it's so pretty and eye-catching. This really is a pink to make the boys wink.

Pictured above on nude lips (i.e. without base lipstick)

Get all the hottest beauty tips: subscribe to Pout Out Proud.

Wintery Delight: Cranberry and Honey Scrub by Original Source

Original Source's new shower gel release, a Daily Scrub with Cranberry and Honey, £2.50, available from Tesco, is my latest must-have for body wash luxury. And priced at just £2.50, it's a luxury that's totally guilt free. This shower gel really does have the feel of an expensive product, as it's subtle fragrance leaves skin smelling lush. The gentle exfoliation of the cranberry seeds isn't harsh on skin (as you'll do more harm than good by over exfoliating), while the honey is wonderfully nourishing and soothing. 

If you want a little treat that doesn't break the bank, then this is the one for you!

Product Pick: Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara

Benefit's 'They're Real' mascara, £18.50, available from FeelUnique.com (delivery included!)

If you're looking for a new mascara, I would definitely recommend the latest offering by Benefit... Just a few strokes creates instant lash wonderment. Thicker, fuller and longer lashes, hooray! 

The best thing about this lash wear, in my opinion, is how it stays put all through the day. No smudges and no flakes. I just HATE it when you go for an afternoon mirror-check to see a smattering of black specks have set up shop across your cheeks! 

Benefit's They're Real, before and after:

 Find out all the latest beauty news by subscribing to the Pout Out Proud blog, and following @PoutOutProud on Twitter!

Tan-talise: The Best of Fake Tan

The Bronzing Mousse Break-Down

Bronzing mousses are easy to apply as you can instantly see where the product has been applied, ideal for those who are a bit nervous about self-tanning. 

St Tropez Self-Tan Bronzing Mousse, £30.64, available from St-Tropez.com

Colour: 5/5

Last-ability: 2/5

Smell: 5/5

Price: 2/5 

I've always been a firm fan of St Tropez when it comes to good tanning. The mousse is so easy to apply (use a tanning mitt for a flawless finish), doesn't streak, and smells great. No old biscuit-smells here, phew! The tan is a sun-kissed golden brown shade, which can be layered up for a deeper colour. 

My only negative points for this product would be the price, which is a touch steep, and the duration which the tan stays on the skin. I find that after two washes it has normally disappeared, even if I leave it 24 hours before the first wash. This can be a blessing in disguise though, as there's nothing worse than old shabby tan remnants imitating a strange skin disorder. 

Lauren's Way Self Tanning Bronzing Mousse (Medium), £17.95, available from LaurensWay.com

Colour: 4/5

Last-ability: 4/5

Smell: 4/5

Price: 3/5

A warmer brown tone, this is a tan for all you glamourous girls and boys. A deeper tan than the St Tropez, it definitely has that Essex-glam feel. It applied really evenly on the skin (again I use a tanning mitt) and dried instantly. What I loved about this tan is the fact that it lasts for days. Friday night glamour lasts right through to the Wednesday evening cinema trip. Perfect!

St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse, £2.99, available from Home Bargains

Colour: 2/5

Last-ability: 4/5

Smell: 0/5

Price: 5/5

Here's a tan for the end of the month, when the luxuries of pay-day are just a distant memory. Okay, it smells pretty hideous. The tone is more of a dirty brown than a golden one. And there is a slight chance you'll develop a rash if you have sensitive skin. 

But hey, it's £2.99. And after a quick rinse-off in the shower, the colour is much improved and the smell isn't that intoxicating. Everyone needs an anti-pastiness contingency plan. This is mine. 

My Fave Wash-Offs
Wash offs are great for stress-free (and pong-free) tanning and they're generally more hydrating than longer lasting tans. Just avoid rain at all costs!

Pictured from left to right: Rimmel, Sienna X, Lauren's Way

Sienna X Instant Bronzing Gel, £12.95, available from FeelUnique.com (includes free delivery!)

Colour: 5/5

Smell: 5/5

Price: 3/5

A lovely golden colour with a slight shimmer, this tan is a thick gel so it doesn't run on application. It also smells fabulous, as it is the most heavily fragranced out of the three. Perfect if you're looking for a very natural, sun-kissed colour.

Lauren's Way Instant Wash Off Glow, £11.95, available from LaurensWay.com

Colour: 4/5 - if you want a darker tan then this is definitely the wash off tan for you!

Smell: 3/5

Price: 3/5

If you're a real tan-addict, then Lauren's Way is the way for you. This wash off is much darker than the others, has a very neutral smell, and was a bit runnier in consistency. 

Rimmel Sunshimmer Instant Tan (medium matte), £5.99, available from Superdrug

Colour: 3/5

Smell: 4/5

Price: 5/5

A good mid-way tan, Rimmel's Sunshimmer is lighter than the Lauren's Way yet has a deeper brown tone than Sienna X. It is however a touch reddy-bronze in some lights, which I'm not a huge fan of. But it is available at a reasonable price, applies well and smells pleasant.