Five Perfect Xmas Red Lippies

My love affair with red lipstick started at university. It was my daily staple, and made me feel braver when I lacked confidence. One thing is for sure - a woman in red lipstick screams confidence! She'll have none of your nonsense. She's busy and important and she gets things done.

Don't be afraid of red. If you have thinner lips, opt for a wash of colour or a sheerer formulation. But there's a shade of red for everyone - if you're lucky enough to have tanned or yellow toned skin, go for orangey tomato reds. If you're pale and cool toned, blue reds are lovely, But there are no set rules! Experiment and have fun with this iconic colour!

Here are five absolute corkers for the Christmas season:

• Maybelline Super Stay 14hr Lipstick in Non-Stop Red (€10.49)

This lipstick is the equivalent of any high-end formulation. It's matte, non-drying, and it will not budge. I adore it, and Lisa Eldridge is a fan (in case you needed more reason to love it yourself!) It's an almost neon coral/cherry red, and it looks fabulously festive on the lips!

• Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Diva Red (€7.95)

This is a deeper, vampier blue-based red. Wear this with dramatic eyes for serious drama or with pared-back eyes for a chic Christmas look. The formulation is wonderfully moisturising and has a soft sheen, which reflects light and makes lips look plumper!

• Armani Rouge d'Armani Lipstick in 409 (€28)

This lipstick is well on the luxury end of the scale, but with its burnt orange undertone, it is too delicious to pass by. I always get compliments when I wear this, and it smells divinely of fresh laundry. The soft sheeny finish keeps lips from feeling dry. I can't recommend this one enough.

• Mac Ruby Woo (€19.50)

This is many people's ultimate red. For years I didn't like Ruby Woo because the consistency is so much drier than other MAc lipsticks. However, the bright cherry shade is to die for, and if you prep lips with balm and lip primer beforehand, this will happily sit on your lips all night. It's that classic 1950's shade. I just love it.

• Mac Russian Red (€19.50)

Russian Red was my staple lipstick for years. It's amazingly pigmented, and its blue undertone makes teeth look incredibly white. This is less fussy to apply than Ruby Woo, but entirely as divine. You'll take this one out of your makeup bag for years to come!

Will you dare to wear red this Christmas? And what is your ultimate red shade? Share in the comments!