5 Red Lipstick Alternatives on a Budget

It's a new year and great time to try new things. Last week I cleaned out my vanity drawers and took stock of my makeup. I realized I had a lot of red lipsticks but I really wanted to try something different. I popped into Ulta and picked up a few non-red shades to sample. I like to wear peachy and pink colors with my 60s looks. I usually wear NYX Stockholm, which will forever be a favorite.

Here are 5 alternatives to red lipstick to try. Since they're all $6 and under, you can sample a few hues from these brands and see what you like.

Wet n' Wild Megalast in "Don't Blink Pink" 
Wet n' Wild Megalast Matte lipsticks (in addition to NYX matte) are my tried and true go-to lipsticks. They have some gorgeous reds in the same colors as high priced brands with great staying power. Some people don't care for the dryness than comes with matte lipsticks but I slick on a little lip balm and it does the trick.  I don't typically go for pink lips but I thought it would be fun to try something totally different so I went with Don't Blink Pink. This is a bold pink with high pigment and solid smooth application. I still don't know if I like this color on me but I think it would be amazing on darker or olive skin tones.

Wet n' Wild Silk Finish in "Sunset Peach" 
If you don't like the dry matte formula, try the silk finish formula for a creamier texture, wash of color and a light shimmer. This is a great sheer peachy coral for daily wear.

Elf Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in "Pink Umbrellas" 
As a teen, I wore so much lip gloss, you could see yourself in the reflection of my lips. These days, I tend to stick to matte lips but I thought I'd give this a try. I absolutely love this beautiful lightweight color! It adds a little natural looking blush to a colorless lip and its light, creamy and sheer, not sticky like a traditional gloss.

NYX matte lipstick in Indie Flick 
I can go on and on for days about NYX cosmetics. I've never tried anything from them that I don't love. With the quality of MAC and the price of ELF, you gotta love NYX. Indie Flick is my favorite lipstick of all time. This bright orange/coral appears exactly as it is in the tube with a deep, heavy pigment and light feeling formula. These lipsticks have great staying power and aren't as drying as Wet N' Wild. With a great price, you can try the whole range of colors.

NYC Expert Last in "Coralista" 
NYC is the brand I always turn to when I've misplaced something or I'm out of town and forgot to pack my liquid liner. Although NYC is a really cheap drugstore brand, these lipsticks are highly pigmented with a nice creamy texture. They have pretty good staying power as well.