Lovestruck.
Simply put. The best all purpose, every day and special occasion red. Smooth, creamy, doesn't move as long as a primer and liner are used. Pulls cool on me because my lips are naturally pigmented. Looks fabulous against NC15 SF foundation. The trick is to apply with a fine lipstick brush, or else all bets are off and there's going to be red all over your face. A must for a forties look...or really any look for that matter. Russian Red is perfect.

holy SMOKES! This is my all day, every day and twice on Sunday lipstick!
I've always been open to trying out different brands and colours of red lipstick and still am.. but through and through Russian Red takes the CAKE!
As a gal with black hair, VERY fair skin and hazel eyes, this ripe red absolutely finishes off the face. I found that if I use a cheaper lipliner (such as GOSH, available at Shoppers DrugMart #canadiangalhere) all over the lip and use a lip brush for the lipstick, it is good as gold. Speaking of gold, a touch of effect powder (such as GOSH's "Gold" pigment) dabbed in the centre-most part of the pout can do wonders if you're looking to vamp it up a little..
Russian Red was the very first lipstick I ever bought/used (MAC's Politely Pink was also purchased that day) - no regrets!!
Blue-based, in between a satin and a matte, moist and does not feather on me whilst using a primer and liner.
I like to dab a bit of MAC's "Luna" creamy highlighter on the cupids bow to bring attention to the lippy, and also can help reduce the appearance of any shadowy bits on the upper lip.. not that any of us gals have that or anything.. ;)
Back when I had bought it, Russian Red was CAD$15.50, the price has since increased to $17.50 but it's well worth every penny. This will always be a part of my collection!

I think this is a classic red lipstick.
This product made me love red lipstick! I'm half indian with olive skin and it looked gorgeous on.
I was a lipstick noob and MAC was having a random 30% off sale so I thought heck why not buy a proper red lipstick.
Being new to lipstick at the age of 21 (wtf?) I kind of tried to apply it as is, and then stuffed it up and then smeared it. If this goes anywhere off your lips its a disaster! the red doesnt budge from your skin!!! it looks silly. but this is WHY you must have a lipliner. A steady hand helps too.
With the matching lipliner this is pretty perfect. Perhaps it doesnt last totally as long as I'd like(but i haven't tried enough lipsticks for comparison} but after it comes off it provides a nice stain which is good enough for me. I guess any lipstick needs reapplication - its just the nature of the mouth!
it's kind of a staple. if i'm having a bad face day i just put this on (even without other make up!) and I feel gorgeous - and I think that's what make up is all about. Puts a spring in my step.. (and I am not a MAC hype person).....buy it!

I am not a red lipstick girl. But as I grow older, I am prone to try some of the beauty classics.
So, I went to the MAC counter and asked my favourite MA if I could try some of the famous MAC reds.
Russian red was of course among them.
The red is a classic red like Coco Chanel would wear it. Makes me think of glamorous women sipping champagne.
The MA put it on my lips and -voila- I was looking ten years older.
Not that it looked really bad or clownish on me, but downright making me look old and tired.
I guess that means, this is not my shade of red. I could easily see it as the MA put another red lipstick on my lips and this was waaay better. I looked fresh and my teeth looked very white.
So please, try especially red lipsticks out if you can, because even if the majority of women can wear russian red, for some women, it looks downright horrible on their lips. Check out twice, if it really is a flattering red for your type.
For reference: Iīm MAC NC20, BB sand with brown hair, amber eyes and pale skin with a olive-neutral undertone.
Update 19/05/2012:
Having tried and tested many MAC reds, I can give you more details.
I am pale with a strange olive undertone and that makes it hard to find a good shade.
My favorite MA tried several shades on my lips and we were both agreeing Russian Red was not the red for me.
Iīm constantly taken for at least 10 years younger than my age and this lipstick making me look old tells something about what the wrong colour can do to your face.
Mac describes it a s a blueish red and on my lips it looks yellow-undertoned and too dark for my face.
Whereas Mac Red and Ruby Woo, which are also blue-based, worked on my lips and looked like a clear, blue-based red. If I swatched them on my hand, I could not see as much difference between the colours as I could see on my lips.
If you try red lipstick, test
- if it makes your teeth look yellow
- if it makes you look older or tired
- if you can wear it without makeup (sounds strange, but this means it works with your skin tone and not just with your make up)
Donīt let yourself be fooled by swatches as they donīt show in which way the colour interacts with your skin and lip tone.
Contrary to other reviewers, I donīt see, how any red lipstick can work on every woman. For many women, this shade might work. For me, it didnīt.
I highly suggest trying, if itīs possible, before ending with the wrong kind if red shade on your lips.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this lipstick! I've always been attracted to lighter lipsticks because I am so fair, but I'm so glad I went for this one. This is by far my favorite Mac lipstick that I've tried (I've tried four Mac lipsticks). The only thing I don't like about it is it's not much of a day colour for me, otherwise I would wear it all the time. I find it to be not that drying if I put a bit of balm underneath and it lasts for HOURS. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a great red lipstick!

Pefect, classic red, exactly what I was looking for! And because of its blue-ish undertones, my teeth look like I had them bleached. :)
I don't know if it's a good everyday lipstick, though. Probably not considering that I am still going to school..

If I apply too much, the color does become clown-like. Otherwise, it's a flattering bright red on my lips. It's less dry than Ruby Woo. The color lasts about six hour to seven hours without eating/drinking. I wouldn't buy this again because I honestly don't see myself finishing the tube.

A perfect pin up red lipstick!

I'm a big fan of MAC lipsticks but unfortunately I find this too drying. The color is absolutely beautiful but if I need to reapply during the day it feels really thick on my lips, almost like a mask. I wear it from time to time anyway because it's a perfect red.

I've tried many different kinds of red lipsticks and MAC's "Russian Red" is simply THE BEST. It's classic, glamourous and totally chic. I would reccomend pairing this lipstick with a subtle eyeshadow/eyeliner to keep your look from being over-done.

me: nc 42 skin color
such a bad-ass, in-your-face, and saturated bright bluish red, i LOVE it! with that said, it's NOT an everyday red for me. i guess this color fits in this modern trend of bright lips. but it also is such a classical and retro red.
it lasts long too. even if you wipe it off, a good tint of color is still on your lips. this goes for most red lipsticks, but (especially with this lip color) DO NOT make out with this lipstick on. you and your partner will look like a clown.
the texture is great. it felt pretty good on my lips. unlike many lipsticks, this was reasonably moisturizing. went clubbing with this lipstick on and it lasted throughout the night without touch ups.
i would purchase again if i ever run out. i doubt that will happen, though, since i don't wear this every day.

This is the best blue based red ever! It makes my teeth look super white and gives me a polished and sexy, "finished" look. Its bold without being clowny and obnoxious. Perfect for all seasons and reasonably priced i will re-buy if i ever run out!

My first red! It makes my teeth whiter and my eyes this electric blue! Simply stunning and a classic! I will buy this over and over and over again!

I love the color payoff, it lasts forever. Im NW20 and its very flattering on me. I just have a hard time applying it evenly. I use a lipliner then put it on but maybe the formula is a little tricky? I just purchased about a week ago so ill keep working with it. but gorgeous red for fair skinned for sure

Hate this red....it looks horrifically clownish on my pale, neutral skin. This looks cheap & tacky in a Christina Aguilera-ish way. The formula is awful and dries out my lips. If you're pale and neutral toned, try NARS Jungle Red for a saturated red lip that isn't tacky. continued >>

I love this lipstick!! It's the perfect red in my opinion, and it looks amazing!

After spending a few dollars here and there on drugstore lipsticks, looking for that perfect red (and those dollars add up), I finally caved and bought Russian Red. I've only grown the balls to wear red lipstick in the past few years, and never a bold blue-based red like this one. I was eyeing other red drugstore lipsticks, but the good Revlon reds (I'm looking at you, Revlon matte) are sold out everywhere I look for them. Today I finally cracked my no-buy and got Russian Red; it was like meeting my soul mate in the form of a lipstick. I'm a warm-toned NC 30, and I was always afraid that such a loud red would be too much, too bold. Well, it is too much...not in a bad way, but this is not a lipstick for the shy. Texture-wise, it is amaaaaazing. It is semi-matte, but does not feel drying, it is the most lightweight lipstick I've ever worn in my life. It is not sticky, feels like silk, and has reminded me again why MAC lipsticks are among the best value out there for the price.

This is my go-to red lipstick. Classic, slightly vintage, bold. I love it and I always get compliments on it. I think if I ever get married, this would be the lipstick I would wear. It is great for going out or fancier looks, and if you have that sort of style I'd imagine you could pull it off any time. I find it to be much less drying than a lot of other matte lipsticks by MAC. One downside is that it doesn't wear off very evenly, especially when eating, so re-application and touch ups are often necessary I find.

I bought this lipstick when it came out with the wonder woman collection and i wish i could 2 because i love the packaging! I love matte lipsticks so russian red and ruby roo are my 2 favorite red lipsticks! This one is definitely not as drying as ruby roo, but lips should definitely be moisturized first. Super opaque and bold. And it lasts ALL DAY. I love this lipstick.

I prefer matching lips and cheeks, so I look for lipsticks and stains that can be used on both features. It’s a pleasure to apply this product to the lips and cheeks due to the creamy texture. It’s a blue-based matte red that’s highly flattering on pale pink skin such as mine. Because of the cool base of the red, it enhances blue eyes nicely. This product is highly versatile; it wears wonderfully applied at full opacity or as a slight stain. The imperceptible vanilla scent dissipates after a few minutes of wear.
It wears unevenly after eating, making touch-ups necessary though out the day. However, due to the color, application, and versatility of this product, the fact re-application is necessary after eating is forgivable.