Red is undoubtedly the colour of the season, and I’m rather delighted about that. It is not the traditional festive blue-reds that are dominating the catwalks for this season, but a spicy orange-red, aggressive and transporting.
While it can be a frightening colour – you certainly won’t go unseen while wearing it – it is also joyous, subversively wintry and a declaration of confidence. Every high street shop is awash in various shades of red, and it has bled (excuse the pun) on to make-up counters too.
Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette
f you’re reluctant to wear a red jumper, you might be positively scandalised by the idea of a red eyeshadow like some of the variously textured shades in the Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette (€65 from Brown Thomas).
Don’t fear. A touch of burgundy or red blended through the crease of a smoky eye gives it depth and warmth at any age and offsets blue or green eyes particularly well. Red make-up can be subtle, interesting and supremely wearable, provided the rest of your make-up is tailored to work with it.
NARS Blush in Exhibit A
If you have paler or pink-toned skin, red hues will exaggerate the natural red pigment already in your skin. Before applying a blush like NARS Blush in Exhibit A (€32) – when applied sparingly to the cheeks, it mimics the prettily flushed effect of cheeks bitten gently by cold weather – make sure you have concealed blemishes well.
Choose a sufficiently high coverage base to banish pink tones, as they will clash with any reds you apply. If your skin is deeper in tone, you can get away with applying greater quantities of a red blush like Exhibit A, and the finished effect will be jewel-toned and radiant.
Christian Louboutin Oeil Vinyle Luminous Ink Liner in Red
For a subtle doff of the cap to red, apply a black cat-eye flick, and trace a thin line of a red liquid liner like Christian Louboutin Oeil Vinyle Luminous Ink Liner in Red (€75) along the top. If you’re feeling particularly brave, apply the flick in red altogether. Applied in a clean line, it has no trace of the conjunctivitis effect you might fear. It looks particularly strong with a good red lipstick.
Chanel Exclusive Creation Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour
My current favourite is Chanel Exclusive Creation Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour (€36). Finally, Chanel has issued their glorious magnetic lipstick packaging in a deliciously rich red hue. The bullet inside comes in four red shade options – two satin and two matte.
Without doubt, the most shamelessly brazen of these is the shrieking hot red satin finish No. 4. It is, in my opinion, consequently the most desirable. The pleasure of seeing that flash of red and gold each time you open your handbag cannot be overestimated.
Essie Nail Colour Gel Couture in Style Stunner
If you love red but all the above feels a touch blowsy for your taste, dip a toe (or finger) into the trend with a classic red nail. Essie Nail Colour Gel Couture in Style Stunner (€12.99) is the perfect peppery orange red to capture the trend of the season, and will last for up to a week with a good clear top coat applied over it.
