Fuschia. FUUUUSSSCCCHIA. Ok- hot pink.

We know that Pamela rocks the nudes. Soon we will learn about Lyn’s favorite reds. But for me, I can’t resist the siren call of a solid fuschia.

It all started a few years ago- I was having dinner with my dear friend Nico, and afterward we popped into Macy’s to check out the MAC counter. Feeling bold after a few cocktails, I tried on a limited edition shade called Rare Exotic. I loved it, but worried I might look crazy with such a bold color. Nico insisted that I buy it. She’s a really good friend. Right after that I dropped a cupcake on the ground, ate it anyway, and she never told anyone. But this, friends, is where my fuschia addiction began.

MAC Mattene Lipstick in Rare Exotic. Photo via Temptalia.com

The heartbreak in this story is those fatal words: limited edition. See, not only is this color the perfect hot pink with blue undertones, the formula is perfection. It’s a satin matte finish, doesn’t dry out your lips, and one swipe lasts the whole night. I have about a half an inch of product left, and weep a little every time I use it.

Never fear: I have some other fuschias that can carry me through. My closest backup is Urban Decay‘s Menace (comfort matte), or it’s sister Anarchy (cream). Both of them are bright, in your face fuschias with a blue undertone, which is my favorite type of fuschia. Urban Decay knocks it out of the park on their matte formulas- they are richly pigmented, don’t dry out your lips (especially if you use a lipliner or primer underneath), and the colors pack a punch all night long. The cream formulas are also aces, though slightly less long-wearing, but good to carry in your purse for touch ups.

Anarchy, photo via Urban Decay

Menace, photo via Urban Decay

On the drugstore end of the spectrum, I usually have a stick (tube?) of Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in my purse or car for emergencies. It’s a nice sheer hot pink, so it’s a little easier/daytime wearable, plus the formula is moisturizing, leaving a subtle wash of color behind. This is under $10 and an easy gateway product into the world of bold lips. Plus, it’s kinda minty!

Smitten, photo via Revlon

The last pink that I reach for regularly is a surprise to me- I recently grabbed the Sephora Collection Color Last Lipstick in Forever Fuschia (obviously)- it’s actually a really great dupe for Urban Decay’s Jilted, which is also a favorite, but this is a little cheaper. Oddly, it smells like Jolly Ranchers, but it fades after a little bit. The formula wears nicely, is bold but not super crazy bold, and is great for touch ups.

Forever Fuschia, photo via Sephora.com

As usual, I compulsively buy hot pink lipstick with my own money. I have a whole drawer of them. It’s fine. What are your go-to hot pinks?? Also, there seems to be some debate on how to spell “fuschia”, but this is how Alexa told me to spell it.