Revlon’s Fire & Ice, a bright, retro blue-based cream red, has been a bestseller for the brand (and every drugstore ever) basically since Revlon became a makeup powerhouse. It’s pretty obvious why, because it’s the perfect maraschino-cherry-Marilyn red and it’s about $5, depending on where you shop. (I’d say pick it up at Target or Wal-Mart vs. CVS, because it’s like $8 there for some ungodly reason. Not that it’s not WORTH $8 …) And because it’s so cheap, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t buy a million tubes and give them to all your friends. I stuck one in Brittani’s birthday present so she can share in my love.

Here she is folks, Ms. Ruby Woo, the most wonderful, classic, LOOK AT ME red from MAC. I realize my top two desert island reds are from MAC, but the fact that MAC lipsticks are so pigmented and so matte (my favorite texture) makes them my favorite red lipstick vendor, no contest. I loathe YSL, wasn’t bowled over by Chanel, feel very “meh” about Dior … I’d rather spend $14.50 on an amazing, stay-on-your-lips-til-the-next-day retro cherry red. And I’m not kidding when I say it stays on. It’s so matte it’s almost chalky to apply at first, but damn if it isn’t the greatest blue-based red in the entire world.

If for some crazy reason someone said, “Kara, you’re being sent to live the rest of your days on a deserted island somewhere in Fiji and can only bring ten of your 75+ lipsticks,” MAC’s Lady Danger would be the first one I’d grab. In fact, I might just take ten tubes. I’m only half joking about that. For awhile, Lady Danger was impossible to find in the US, so a friend from Canada sent them to me.

Lady Danger is my favorite red lipstick. I make sure to have two or three tubes around at all times: one at home, one in my bag, maybe one in the car … just in case. It’s a bright, orange-based matte red, the kind that wakes up your whole face. If I feel like shit (and/or look like it), I just swipe some on, throw on sunglasses and voila! Instantly 1000x better - and did I mention how fantastic LD is with a bronzy face? Harper’s Bazaar’s insanely awesome Joanna Hillman ONLY wears Lady Danger … while I’m too much of a hoarder to ever have a “signature shade” like that, if I did Lady Danger would be one of two.

I’ve had this Dior photo saved in my computer for awhile; I’ve been keeping it in the back of my mind to try when I feel particularly daring. (My eye makeup routine is either just mascara, a swipe of liner or cakes and cakes of black smoky liner that I just keep piling on day after day. I rarely wear eyeshadow. Why do I own a hundred eyeshadow palettes? IDK either, dude.)

So after a stop at the Fergus Falls Wal-Mart Supercenter (NO APOLOGIES, that place has an insane beauty section) I picked up Maybelline’s new 24 Hour Color Tattoo shadow in Tenacious Teal. For $6, I figured if I hated it I could use it as warpaint or something. 

Turns out I kind of love it. This, with Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in Black, is all I used for my Dior interpretation. I used my finger to apply the shadow, which is a mousse/gel hybrid that starts out light and is easily buildable, up just past my crease. I applied about three layers to get it to the intensity I desired. Add a thick swipe of gel liner and NARS Heat Wave lipstick, the perfect orange-red, and voila! Wearable Dior-inspired face!

(Ok, I cheated and used Instagram.)

Nothing beats a fresh new MAC lipstick. Happy September from Runaway Red and me. This new red doesn’t look anything like runway shots led me to believe but I like it anyway. It’s a bit Snow White and Rose Red with how pale my hair is.

Clearwater Travel Plaza restroom in NPSet Madrid, available at Target

NARS Red Square Velvet Matte lip pencil. J Crew loves this orange-red. I love this June leather jacket from Len Druskin.

Saturday low key: Clinique Chubby Stick color balm in Chunky Cherry. Aren’t all those names godawful?

Exude Lip Creme in Red No 1. Took me FOREVER to figure out how it worked; it has a plastic applicator, kinda like a lipstick tampon. But glossy and minty with a classic red shine. The plastic applicator is handy because the lipstick won’t ever melt or dry out! Rachel Zoe endorses this lipstick line, so you know it’s legit.

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01