Our Best Red Lipstick for Every Skin Tone

We happen to believe that every woman should have a red lipstick in her makeup bag. Red lips are classic, after all, and the color pairs well with just about everything. Whether you want to jazz up a LBD or jeans and a T-shirt, red lipstick should be your go-to makeup product. But which shade of red is the right one for you? The answer: Let your skin tone be the guide, and play around with different finishes until you find one you like best. Follow along with our tips below to help make your decision easier!

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT RED LIPSTICK FOR YOUR SKIN TONE

It’s all about your determining your undertones. If you have fair skin and pink or cool undertones, reach for a blue-based red lipstick. Meanwhile, if you have an olive skin tone and warm undertones, opt for a red lipstick with orange undertones. An easy way to tell what undertones your skin has is by looking at the inside of your wrists. If your veins are blue, you have cool undertones, while if your veins are green, you have warm undertones. When it comes to what finish of red lipstick to choose, take your personal preference into account—whether you pick something that’s matte, shimmery, or shiny, we think you’ll look beautiful.

Our 5 favorite RED LIPSTICKS of the moment

Ready to add the perfect red lipstick to your makeup repertoire? Here are a handful of gorgeous options to get you started!

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lipstick in Matte-ly In Love: If you’re in love with classic true reds and old-school swivel lipsticks, make sure to get your hands on this eye-catching hue. The rich pigment glides on smoothly to create a gorgeous lip look that will last from your morning coffee to after-work drinks.

Best for: all skin tones

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick in Matador: Love a good matte lip? Who doesn’t. Pair a lipstick with a matte finish with a red hue and you have yourself a picture-perfect pout just in time for the holidays.

Best for: cooler skin tones

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lipstick in Matte at Bat: Think you can’t quite pull off red lips? Maybe you’ve chosen the wrong shade for your skin tone. Take our word and give classic red lipstick another chance with this orange-tinted red for a hotter approach to one of our favorite makeup trends.

Best for: warmer skin tones

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick in Stirred: Hey, true reds aren’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get in on this go-to look. Instead of rocking a bright, candy apple red lipstick, consider trying this dustier hue that blends red, nude, and brick together for a more muted red lip.

Best for: all skin tones

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lipstick in Matte-traction Red: Want to rock a bold red lipstick without toning it down or sticking to a true red hue? Try using this slightly more burgundy shade. The darker color is perfect for slightly more formal events. This is your way of embracing red lips at your office party without going overboard.

HOW TO APPLY A RED LIP

Determining which red lipstick will complement your skin tone best—and finding it in your favorite finish—is only half the battle. How you apply your red lipstick is an important part of the process, too. Here’s how to do it right.

Step 1: Prep your pout. Putting lipstick onto dry, flaky lips? Don’t think so! Use a lip scrub to exfoliate dead skin cell buildup from the surface of your lips first.

Step 2: Prime your lips. Use an invisible lip liner as a primer, filling in your lips and then tracing the outside of your natural lip line. This can help to prevent bleeding.

Step 3: Apply your red lipstick. It’s go time, so get to work! Pick up your red lipstick and apply it to your heart’s content.

Step 4: Finish off your look. Red lips are a total statement-maker, so keep the rest of your face simple, fresh, and dewy. To get the look, use a lightweight, glowing foundation, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Foundation. It has a dewy finish that looks fresh off the runway. For best results, apply it with a makeup sponge, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender. Apply a small amount of foundation to the pointed tip of the blender, then use dabbing and rolling motions to blend the foundation onto your skin using the bottom of the sponge. Top off your look with a coat of volumnizing mascara, like the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara. Gorgeous red lips, here you come!

For more tips on picking the right lipstick for your skin tone, check out our article, How to Find the Best Pink Lipstick for Your Skin Tone.