THE BEST RED LIPSTICKS ACCORDING TO YOUR SKIN TONE
Crimson, brick, cherry and ruby... what do these colours have in common? You guessed it, they all form the little black dress of your make up wardrobe: red lipstick. Instantly elevating your look, red lipstick enhances, uplifts and oozes glamour every time it’s swiped. But how do you pick the best red lipstick for your skin tone?
Like the deciding factor between ‘too much’ and ‘just enough’, learning which tone and texture works with your complexion’s colouring is paramount when picking your go-to red lipstick.
So, whether you have fair, medium or deep skin, we’ve collated a list of the best red lipsticks for your skin tone – so you can avoid swatching, swiping and reapplying!
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- The Best Red Lipsticks for Fair Skin
- The Best Red Lipsticks for Medium Skin
- The Best Red Lipsticks for Dark Skin
- Red Lipstick FAQs
BUT FIRST, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE YOUR UNDERTONE
YOU HAVE A COOL UNDERTONE IF:
- Your skin has a slight pink or blue tint
- Your veins look blue in natural light
- Silver jewellery tends to look best on you
YOU HAVE A WARM UNDERTONE IF:
- Your skin has a slight yellow tint, which could be described as peachy, golden or olive
- Your veins look green in natural light
- Gold jewellery tends to look best on you
YOU HAVE A NEUTRAL UNDERTONE IF:
- Your skin has an equal balance of pink, blue and yellow tones
- Your veins have a combination of blue and green in natural light
- Both silver and gold jewellery looks good on you
Now your undertone is sorted, let's move onto the fun stuff... finding your perfect red lipstick.
THE BEST RED LIPSTICKS FOR FAIR SKIN
A red lipstick for fair skin should complement the natural flush tones your complexion already has. This should also be the same for your undertone. For example, red lipsticks for a cooler undertone should have cool-hued blues and purples in the base, while those on the warmer end should go for shades with an orange undertone (think tomato red.) Look to celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Emma Stone and Taylor Swift for inspiration.
2
73.45€
5
RRP: 40.00€Current price: 30.00€
45
25.90€
27.12€
THE BEST RED LIPSTICKS FOR MEDIUM SKIN
Being a more versatile skin tone, those blessed with medium skin can wear both blue toned reds as well as warmer versions. However, lipsticks with a coral tint can make your complexion look slightly dull – especially if you run on the cooler end of the undertone spectrum. Rust red, copper and brick all complement a medium skin tone best. Consider Sophia Varga, Eva Mendez and Rihanna as your make up mood board.
3
27.12€
138
38.00€
151
27.10€
16
31.60€
THE BEST RED LIPSTICKS FOR DARK SKIN
Those with a deeper complexion can wear any and all shades of red. From muted, orange-y hues to bold and bright brick, red lipsticks for dark skin tones can range across all undertones, textures and finishes. Look to Lupita Nyong’o , Kelly Rowland and Alek Wek for different ways to wear red.
40
40.68€
2
39.55€
12
31.64€
1
90.40€
RED LIPSTICK FAQs
How do you wear red lipstick properly?
As it’s such an impactful colour, the best way to wear red lipstick is to first prep your pout. Begin with exfoliating your lips with a mask and moisturise with a conditioning lip balm. Once this has sunk in, define your lips with a lip liner in a shade that matches the lipstick you’ve chosen. Finally, apply your first layer of pigment, blot with a tissue and reapply another layer. This method ensures that the red lipstick stays in place for longer and won’t fade with your first sip, kiss or bite...
At what age should you stop wearing red lipstick?
We believe that red lipstick should be worn at whatever age! There is no age limit to wearing this striking hue...
How do I make sure red lipstick doesn't smudge?
Apart from blotting your lips between layers of application, another way to ensure your lipstick won’t smudge is to either set it with translucent powder or spritz your setting spray strategically onto your lips.
And there you have it! A run-down of the best red lipsticks for your skin tone. All that’s left to do is to pick your favourite shade and add it to your basket...
Rina is Cult Beauty’s Junior SEO Copywriter and has always had a passion for beauty and skin care (rich moisturisers are her obsession). What started as a love for The Body Shop and their famed Born Lippy lip balms (in ‘Watermelon’ of course!), she is now more interested in finding products with proven effectiveness instead of broken promises. A loud and proud VIEVE fan, Rina owns nearly every item of the range and recommends the brand to anyone who will listen... When she’s not intently reading ingredient lists, you can find her either immersed in multiple true crime podcasts or co-hosting her own parenting one, with an *extra* hot cappuccino in hand.
