The classic red is a staple of any lacquer addict’s collection and I’ve never looked further than Rimmel for a pocket friendly red polish that wears for days. I first struck gold with Heart on Fire but the Lycra Pro range has since been phased out (or more likely rebranded as Salon Pro) and I had to find an alternative. Of course, the first place I looked was the Rimmel stand and I found Rock N Roll, a very worthy replacement. More recently, I also got my hands on Mars and Raw as Night from the Rita Ora 60 Seconds line. So, how do they stack up against each other…
Heart on Fire
Heart on Fire was the first Rimmel Red I ever used and I can remember being overjoyed that I’d found a perfect red polish that was opaque in two coats and didn’t make a mess. As I mentioned, it’s not available anymore (although you can still find it in those stores that always have beauty odds and ends) so it’s here more for comparison’s sake. It’s your standard classic red nail polish – quite vampy but not too dark.
Mars
(Boots 12ml/£4.49)
Mars is very slightly lighter than Heart on Fire. It’s from their Christmas collection so you can see why it leans more towards that traditional bright red shade. It’s a very nice formula which really glides on to the nails.
Rock N Roll
(Superdrug/Boots 12ml/£4.49)
Rock N Roll is the closest dupe for Heart on Fire and the darkest of the four. Because it’s the darkest, it’s automatically my favourite! If I had to whittle this selection down to just one, it would be Rock N Roll.
Raw as Night
Raw as Night has more of a crelly finish than the others and with a hint of coral about it. The price tag is smaller on this one but you’re getting a little less product for your money and I don’t find it as hard wearing as the polishes from the Salon Pro range. It’s no biggie since Raw as Night is a quick drying polish formulated with on-the-go ladies in mind so it’s always handy if you’re in a rush. Personally, I would always go with the Salon Pro shades and a quick drying top coat.