Red lips: Wet n' Wild Stoplight Red vs. Cherry Frost

TGIF :D  Today I have for you a small comparison of Wet n' Wild brand lip colors in a perennial favorite: red!  I love a red lip, especially with a neutral or smoky eye, or pinup-styled.  I'm on a personal quest for a great red and I've purchased a couple of reds recently in my hunt.

Both are Wet n' Wild.  The top picture highlights why you should ALWAYS use lip liner, especially for reds.  I had some definite bleeding which was completely avoidable, had I but used a lip liner.

Products used:

• Wet n' Wild Mega Last in Stoplight Red
• Wet n' Wild Silk Finish lipstick in Cherry Frost

Stoplight Red is a slightly warm-toned rich red.  It took a bit of building up to get it to the color you see in the picture.  Obviously as stated I would have greatly benefited from using a lip liner.  Not only would it have stopped the bleeding I experienced but overall would have made the look more polished and longer-lasting.  With a red or dark lippie, I believe the best way to get the most lasting, best color payoff is to layer.  Apply primer (I see no reason you couldn't use the same primer you use for your lids on your lips, but there are also lip-specific primers; I plan on picking some up!) and/or lip balm (not gloss or your color will slip right off!), line your lips first, then apply one layer of color.  Blot gently, apply a layer of translucent powder if desired (this will help your lipstick last and last and last...), then apply another coat.  Repeat until you reach your preferred saturation of lip color.  Wet n' Wild are generally very pigmented so I doubt you'd need more than two coats.  Mega Last lipsticks are mattes and as such can be drying, which is the reason for applying a bit of lip balm before application.  I personally don't find them drying, however.  If you want a demi-matte or even glossy finish as in my photo, apply a bit of your favorite gloss and gently press your lips together to distribute it.  For a demi-matte look, blot after applying gloss.  Don't rub your lips vigorously together or you'll end up with a mess and undo all the work you did with layering!  Wear was very good, I did have some rub off when I was drinking but not much.  I'm sure you'd need a touch up after eating though.  My biggest peeve with the Mega Lasts is that the lipstick doesn't retract completely.  If you're careful with the cap, this isn't a problem though.

Cherry Frost is a gorgeous vivid red with shimmer.  I love this color!  For some reason, red lipsticks generally make me self-conscious (and that's why I'm on the hunt for great reds) but this one was a stunner!  Applied with a light hand, you can get a nice stained look or you can layer as described above for a more saturated red.  I have two coats of lip color applied (but not layered, I was lazy) in the above picture.  The Silk Finish line is very moisturizing and I'd describe it as a creme finish vs. the Mega Lasts, which are mattes. The shimmer is not at all like the "frosts" some of us may remember from the 80s, but a fairly subtle sparkle.  It adds a little something to what is already a gorgeous shade.  Wear wasn't spectacular and you'd definitely have to re-apply after eating or drinking so keep an extra in your purse.  The Silk Finish lipsticks are a measly $0.99 each so buy one to keep in every room, your car, your purse, next to the computer... 

Wet n' Wild has made HUGE strides from what I remember in grade/high school and are now on par with many high-end brands.  Pigmented and gorgeous.  For $1.99 (Mega Last) or a shocking $0.99 (Silk Finish), these are a budget hunter's absolute dream!