13 Lip Colors To Switch Up Your Holiday Pout

Whether you want to be prepared in case you end up meeting someone underneath the mistletoe or you’re scoping out the perfect hue to gift the makeup lover in your life, there’s no better time of year to embrace holiday lip colors. After all, there are so many celebrations to attend, and you couldn’t possibly wear the same shade to them all! Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best lip colors to paint your pout with this season. If you’re ready to add one to your next holiday makeup look, keep reading for 13 lip colors to wear for the holidays and our lipstick pick to match.

LIP COLOR #1: RADIANT RED

There’s no denying that red lipstick is a holiday classic. There’s just something about a fiery pout that warms our hearts as much as roasting chestnuts by the fire. It’s also pretty much the perfect way to round out any Christmas makeup look you could want to wear.

Find your perfect red hue by matching your lipstick shade to your undertones. If you have warmer undertones, opt for a red lipstick that has orange undertones. If you have cool undertones, stick to a blue-based lipstick. If you’re not sure what your undertones would be classified as, flip your wrists! If your veins are blue or purple, you have cool undertones. If they’re green, you have warm undertones.

For an orange-based red lipstick…use the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in I Don’t.

For a blue-based red lipstick…use the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in I Am Worth It.

LIP COLOR #2: PRETTY IN PEACH

There will be parties and gatherings where you would rather have your eye makeup be the star of the show—and that’s totally OK. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice wearing an equally eye-catching lip color. Opt for a pretty peach hue on your lips, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Plump and Shine Lipstick, Sheer Lipstick in Coconut Plump.

LIP COLOR #3: PLAYFUL PURPLE

If you want to have a little fun with your lip color this holiday season, we recommend adding a purple lipstick to your collection. Purple makeup is a serious trend for winter, and there’s no better time to wear it than to a holiday party! Give this party makeup option a try with the help of the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in I Enjoy.

LIP COLOR #4: POPPING PINK

While your mind might be set on hues of red and green for the holidays, never underestimate the power of a popping pink lipstick! Make your lips the center of your festive makeup look and stand out from a crowd of reds with a hot pink lip. Our pick is the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Les Macarons Scented Liquid Lipstick in Framboise Frenzy.

LIP COLOR #5: GLISTENING GOLD

As the song goes, everyone wishes for silver and gold. And while we may not have silver on our wish list, this holiday season, we’re penciling gold lipstick into our letters to Santa. We love the idea of gold lips—especially for New Year’s Eve! Swipe on the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in Pure Gold for a lip look that’s metal-worthy.

Editor’s note: If you’re not sure how to rock such a bold hue, head on over to our article, How To Wear Gold Lipstick, for a step-by-step guide on pulling off this statement lip color.

LIP COLOR #6: CAPTIVATING CHOCOLATE

Take cues from everyone’s favorite winter beverage—hot chocolate—and paint your pout in a rich, chocolate brown lipstick. If you have pale skin, it’ll serve as a bold lip option, whereas if you have a darker skin tone, it’ll be a beautiful nude. Give the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Les Chocolats Scented Liquid Lipstick in Box O Chocolate a try.

LIP COLOR #7: MADLY IN MAUVE

By now, you probably know that mauve lipstick is one of the hottest lip colors at the moment—and for a good reason. With a number of variations of the shade, it’s easy to wear this hue as part of a neutral or bold lip look. If you’re ready to give it a try for yourself, swipe on the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Les Macarons Scented Liquid Lipstick in Mon Caramel.

LIP COLOR #8: BEAUTIFUL BURGUNDY

Perhaps you’re a fan of sticking to the classics. This red-meets-purple hue will never go out of style for the holiday season. If a burgundy lip color is right up your alley, paint your pout with the L’Oréal Paris Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick in Stirred.

LIP COLOR #9: RICH ROSE GOLD

It's no secret that the holidays are the perfect excuse to give a glitzy lip color a try. If gold isn't quite your thing, consider another on-trend metal hue: Rose gold. Top your pout with the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in Rose Gold to get the look.

LIP COLOR #10: SPARKLING WINE

You may have loathed your mom for pouring non-alcoholic sparkling wine in your glass during the holidays when you were younger, but you have to admit, it sure did have a pretty color. Take cues from the nostalgic drink and wear a sparkling, metallic wine lip color. Swipe on the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in I Fascinate—then pour yourself a glass.

LIP COLOR #11: SNOW WHITE GOLD

Consider taking some lip inspo from the winter weather outside and top off your pout with a coat of sparkling white gold. This clear, glitter-packed lip look is perfect if you want your eye makeup to be the star of the show, but still want your lips to have a bit of holiday flair. Give the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in White Gold a try.

LIP COLOR #12: BOLD BLACK

If you dare to go bold, you may have a black lip on your radar. Yes—black. Black lipstick happens to be one of the biggest makeup trends at the moment, thanks to its edgy and eye-catching aura. If you’re unsure about testing the waters with a black pout, check out our article, Can You Pull Off Black Lipstick? Yes!.

LIP COLOR #13: ENVY-WORTHY ESPRESSO

On the note of bold and daring lip colors, espresso is a nearly black-brown color that’s perfect for those who want a trendsetting look without committing to an onyx pout. Simply swipe on the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in I Dare and let your lip makeup be the center of your look.

HOW TO HELP MAKE YOUR LIPSTICK LAST

Once you’ve chosen a holiday lipstick, it’s time to learn how to put it to use. Follow our tutorial below for helping make your lipstick stay put. Then go stand under that mistletoe—you’re ready for a holiday kiss!

Step 1: Exfoliate your lips. Nobody wants to have cakey, dried out lips at a party. That’s why it’s important to prep your lips before applying lipstick. Start by using a lip scrub to gently slough away any dead skin cells on the skin's surface. Try using the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish & Soften Cocoa Scrub.

Step 2: Apply primer. Just as primer can help create a smooth base for foundation, it can do the same for your lipstick, too. Apply a lip primer once you’re done exfoliating to create an even canvas and allow your lipstick to wear more evenly. If you don’t have a lip primer on hand, just dab on a tiny bit of foundation or concealer in a pinch.

Step 3: Use lip liner. Before applying your lipstick, outline your lips with lip liner. Lip liner can help prevent your lipstick from feathering outside the lines. Use the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner or L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lip Liner, depending on your lipstick finish.

Step 4: Drink through a straw. This may sound silly, but trust us on this one: After all the hard work you just went through to get the perfect lipstick application, chances are you won’t want to ruin it in two seconds. When you drink something straight from a cup while wearing lipstick, you can expect to see some color on the cup rather than your lips. A simple lipstick hack to combat this issue is to use a straw—a paper one, of course. Oh, the things we do for beauty…

Next up: Once your pout is perfectly played up, don’t forget to pay a little attention to your mane, too. Read all about the best holiday hairstyles in our article, 10 Party Hairstyles To Wear For Christmas and New Year's.