Finding the perfect red lipstick is a notoriously tricky task — just ask Strategist contributor Mbiye Kasonga, who searched for years to find the right shade that wouldn’t smudge or skew orange against her skin tone. After multiple failed attempts, she at last stumbled on M.A.C’s Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in the shade Dance With Me. “The cranberry undertones were a deep enough red to ensure it actually looked like a true red against my skin,” Kasonga writes. “I haven’t used another red since I first tried this one, and I never intend to let it go. In short, this lipstick is my ride or die.” Right now, you can snag the lipstick for 30 percent off on the M.A.C website, bringing the price down to less than $20. And while Kasonga assures that Dance With Me suits a range of skin tones, if red’s not your thing, there are 11 shades available, from dark plum to dusty rose; you’re bound to find one that grants you the same “mythological well of confidence” it holds for Kasonga.
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