Everyone needs at least one red lipstick in their beauty arsenal. It’s an essential piece of kit that’ll instantly take an otherwise monochromatic or dull look from drab to fab. However, finding the right shade for your lifestyle and skin tone can often be a challenge with so many options on the market, which is where we like to come in and help by testing out these products as a team to help you find the right shade for you.
From Charlotte Tilbury to MAC, as beauty writers, we know a thing or two about a red lip, and most recently, the lippie that has us all pretty obsessed is No7’s new ProArtist Red Carpet Ready Matte Muse Lipstick, which launched just last week and costs £14.95 – the cheaper end of many incredible lipsticks we, as a collective, love.
But its more affordable price tag by no means indicates its quality – a testament to the whole range, which has “been designed to deliver amazing results, with luxury-rivalling products and beautiful, easy-to-achieve looks, that means everyone can feel excited about makeup.”
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Speaking about this new collection, No7 UK Makeup Artist Ambassador Nicola Chapman said: “Social media would have you believe that everyone knows what they’re doing when it comes to makeup, and you need a cupboard full of products and an advanced skill set to look your best.
“The reality is that most of us want a few brilliant products that are quick and easy to use in our busy lives and deliver stunning results. The new No7 Pro Artist collection offers exactly that. You don’t need lots of time to achieve a beautiful look with these products – the high-quality formulas are fool-proof and can be used at home or on-the-go.”
And with a vast majority of our beauty experts being red lipstick girlies through and through, they had to put the new Red Carpet Ready to the test to see if the claims are true. Find out below…
Lauren says it may be her ‘next go-to’
I’m a bold red lip gal through and through – in fact, some might say it’s my signature shade (inspiration: Gwen Stefani). As a fair-skinned girlie, though, the wrong shade can leave me looking washed out and pastier than ever.
My failsafe is MAC Ruby Woo, the matte lipstick owned by most millennial beauty fans. I love the vibrant colour, but it dries my lips out, and I tend to have an unsightly, flaky mouth by the end of the night. Not the one.
However, No7’s new Red Carpet Ready might be my new go-to. This creamy formula glides on my lips easily, leaving them feeling hydrated and full, and I only need two quick swipes to get my preferred tone. The pigment also impressed, lasting for hours, with only a minimal top-up needed during an afternoon and evening out with pals.
The magnetic lid is another little treat. It prevents it from accidentally opening, protecting my belongings from damage and lippie stains (yes, this has happened before, and yes, it is upsetting). All in all, it’s a thumbs up from me.
Bethan says it’s ‘the perfect Christmas party season shade’
I previously worked as a health and beauty advisor at Boots, so No7 holds a rather special place in my heart and I always find myself gravitating back towards their products when it comes to replenishing my makeup bag. Over the years they’ve earned themselves a reputation for their affordable but effective products, becoming a trusted and much-loved name among shoppers.
When their Future Renew skincare range launched in 2023, it was instantly a bestseller, and I think their new ProArtist range is set to be just as popular. This new collection feels really premium, but still feels really reasonably priced, with their lipsticks coming in under £15, making them cheaper than some of my go-to brands like Charlotte Tilbury.
Trying out their bold Red Carpet Ready Matte Muse Lipstick, I first lined my lips with the £12.95 No7 Pro Artist Precision Edit Lip Liner. The liner has an incredibly precise ultra-fine tip, allowing you to get a razor-sharp line to avoid pesky lipstick bleed. It boasts a creamy, matte formula that’s super soft and glides onto the lips with intense pigment, so you only need a light hand.
Then, I went in with the lippy, which has a really velvety texture and is just as pigmented as the liner. I’m not usually a fan of matte lipsticks as I find them drying, but the finish isn’t too dramatic, sitting comfortably on the lips without being sticky thanks to ingredients designed to help ‘hydrate and nourish your lips’.
As for the shade, it’s a red with a slight blue undertone, which is more universally flattering than a warmer red. It feels like the perfect shade for Christmas party season, ideal for pairing with a little black dress or a festive knit.
Eve says the No7 red is a ‘contender with Charlotte Tilbury’ shade
Red lipstick – and a bright one at that – has always been a staple in my handbag, make-up bag and any other bag I’m carrying, just in case I need an on-the-go boost. It’s essential for me and will always be my choice over a pink or nude. As a result – having tried and tested many, many over the years – I’ve become pretty well versed in what makes a good and bold red lip. Following the devastating discontinuation of my beloved KIKO Lip Me Lots (sob), I turned to Charlotte Tilbury’s moisturising and powerful Hollywood Vixen. But trying out No7’s new cool-toned Red Carpet Ready Matte Muse Lipstick, I think it has a strong contender.
The No7 Pro Artist Precision Edit Lip Liner, at £12.95, that matches is unbelievably soft and easy to draw on thanks to its fine tip, lining my lips beautifully (cancelling out any potential feathering). It doesn’t set immediately either so you have time for touch-ups if need be.
The lipstick didn’t glide on quite as easily as my Hollywood Vixen on the first try (personally) but that may be because it was fresh out of the packet and needed warming up as after brushing on the first few strokes, it got into the rhythm and went on like a dream.
Its matte finish is creamy, intense and (I’m not a shiny finish fan anyway) hydrating. Some matte lipsticks can leave your lips flaky and looking very unkissable, but this formula is nourishing and isn’t at all sticky (and only has a teeny bit of transfer onto glasses).
The cool undertone in the lipstick shade is beautiful too and immediately brightens your complexion and compliments whatever eye colour you have. I can see myself wearing this throughout the festive season as a Christmas party outfit is not complete with a pop of red now, is it?
I also loved how the side of the lipstick has No7 etched into it – very chic.
Get it here.
Rachel tried out the red and it ‘brightened her complexion’
I’ve been on a mission to find my perfect red lipstick this autumn. Previous attempts have left me feeling like Pennywise, with orange-toned reds just looking wrong. Following a recent visit to my local Boots store, I was advised to hold out for the Pro Artist range, which would include a red that would look “flattering on most skin tones”. Being the impatient person I am, I also went in search of an alternative before the No 7 launch and came across Maybelline’s Superstay Matte Ink in Pioneer, which I discovered was the statement red of choice for Emirates cabin crew like danidboyy1 on TikTok. While it looks fabulous on Dani, the hue was a little too dark on me and totally washed me out. Back to the drawing board.
Enter No7’s Pro Artist Matte Muse Lipstick in Red Carpet Ready. As well as coming in a chic magnetic casing and being beautifully embossed, Red Carpet Ready carries a subtle blue undertone that seemed to brighten my complexion and boost my confidence. It did, like most lipsticks, fade after eating and drinking throughout the day and required a quick top-up, but I loved how moisturising it felt for a matte lipstick. Having shied away from a red lip for most of my adult life, I can honestly say I’ve found “the one”, and can’t wait for the next night out to show it off.
