Finding the perfect red lipstick is the equivalent of finding your soulmate. OK, maybe not quite, but it’s pretty close, because there is a lot to consider, and depending on how expensive they are, can be a pretty big commitment. When searching for your perfect crimson hue, you might want to take undertones, price point, formula, wear time, and skin tone into account.
Of course, you can wear whichever shade of red lipstick floats your boat. “The truth is, today it’s about choosing a colour that you really love,” said makeup artist Georgina Graham. But if you aren’t sure where to start on finding your perfect red hue, don’t worry, we got you.
To take the confusion out of starting you search, we called some of the best makeup artists in the biz — including Graham, Daniel Martin (Jessica Alba and Meghan Markle’s long-time makeup artist), and Grace Ahn (who counts Lizzo as one of her clients) — to share their favourite red lipsticks and which skin tones they work best on. Their picks range from traditional bullets, trendy long-wearing liquids, and shiny gloss-lipstick hybrids, ensuring there’s an option for whatever your formula or coverage preference. And if your apprehension about red lipstick comes from not wanting to be too intense, makeup artist Michael Ashton provided a few options that add “just enough drama without over powering the rest of the makeup look.”
We took all of the experts’ favourites and rounded them up into the 26 very best red lipsticks broken down by skin tones. One thing is for sure — MAC Ruby Woo lipstick is a definite winner across the board.
