These Are The Best Non-Red Holiday Lipsticks

Listen: I live and die by a red lip. However, since red is typically the signature color of the holiday season, it's at this time of year that I yearn for non-red lipstick alternatives; an unexpected, somewhat wild pair of smackers that won't blend into the holiday background.

Granted, for the unseasoned lipstick wearer, colors like green, white, and gold can feel a little bit intimidating. However, once you've found that perfect alternative shade, the strategy to pulling it off is really no different from wearing a crimson or a pink: Exfoliate your lips, line them if you please, and then cover them with a juicy, off-the-beaten-path lippie of your choice.

The best part of saying "No Reds Allowed" this holiday season is the fact that many brands seem to be in line with this mentality. Several holiday lip collections have been released with interesting alternatives to the classic red, and some don't even include a single shade of crimson lipstick at all (like the OCC Asphalt World line you'll read about below). So go ahead, get creative this holiday season — after all, just because everything else is red doesn't mean your lips have to be.

1. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

OCC Lip Tar Asphalt World Collection, $15 each, occmakeup.com

In order to give you an idea of just how awesome these lippies are, I'll tell you a secret: I was supposed to write this article a few weeks ago, but I held off until the OCC Asphalt World collection was released on Nov. 27, simply so they could be included. When I saw the patinaed olive-gold shimmer Derelict (above) and the mauve taupe with silver shimer Disintegration, pictured below, something about them just screamed "Very important holiday lip situation."

2. Kat Von D

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipsticks, $21 each, sephora.com

Kat Von D's Studded Kiss collection have been a beauty favorite for awhile now and, with its rich pigments combined with serious sparkle, it's not hard to see why. Try going full Christmas goth by wearing Nayeon (above) to dinner with your conservative auntie to see how she reacts, or go for a more subdued metallic look with the sparkling bronze Gothica, pictured below.

3. Jeffree Star Cosmetics

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks, $18 each, jeffreestarcosmetics.com

Jeffree Star became a cult favorite in the beauty world, particularly with his impossible-to-get-your-hands-on formula for Unicorn Blood, a deep rusty red liquid matte. Luckily, some of the coolest non-red holiday shades are still in stock, like the true Christmas green Mistletoe (above), and the snowy white Druglord, pictured below.

4. Melt Cosmetics

Melt Cosmetics Ultra Matte Lipsticks, $19, meltcosmetics.com

Melt Cosmetics is known for its highly-pigmented, stay-all-day formula. I use their bright, blue-red Belladonna II on a regular basis, but when I want to branch out for something a little different, Melt has got me covered in that department, too. These shade of soft, beige-pink Sext, above, and the deep purple-brown Catsuit, pictured below are a great non-red choice for the holidays – plus, they'll stay put during all of those indulgent holiday meals.

5. NYX

NYX Wicked Lippies, $6, nyxcosmetics.com

NYX lipsticks come in unique shades, have nice color payoff, and are affordable enough to buy several to experiment with. So why wouldn't you check out their Wicked Lippes collection, particularly the flashy gold Mischievous and silver Stone Cold to add to your holiday repertoire?

6. ColourPop

ColourPop UltraMatte Lipsticks, $6, colourpop.com

ColourPop's Ultra-Matte Liquid Lipsticks come in a variety of incredible colors, and have the added benefit of being an awesome formula for an incredibly low price point. Instead of crimson lips this holiday season, try a blackened violet like ColourPop's Guess (above), or Scrooge their rich rosy pink with a festive holiday name, pictured below.

7. Bite Beauty

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick Duo, $14, sephora.com

Bite Beauty is a new favorite of mine, as the shades are super vibrant and offer a lot of moisture the process. This Luminous Creme Lipstick duo in Tangerine and Lingonberry is a two-for-one deal that serves up some unexpected winter shades, making it the perfect double-sided alternative to the classic Christmas red.

If you've decided to ditch the reds, crimsons, rubies, and scarlets this holiday season, these are some wicked options to put on your Christmas cookie-loving lips instead. When in doubt, go for something unexpected — and maybe even leave your unique mark on someone's cheek under the mistletoe.

Images: staras/Fotolia; Courtesy Brands