The 10 Best Red Lipsticks For Every Skin Tone
Words by Maya Avram
No make-up staple exudes the bold elegance of a red lipstick. The right shade will enhance your natural complexion, with cool reds brightening fair skin, neutral reds harmonising olive undertones and deep, warm reds popping beautifully on dark skin. To help you navigate shades from corals to burgundies, consider this the ultimate guide to finding your next signature red.Â
The Best Red Lipsticks for Fair Skin
Cool or neutral reds enhance fair complexions. Shades like Clé de Peau Beauté’s Dynamic Ruby or Tom Ford’s Flaming enhance the skin’s natural radiance, while satin or hydrating finishes keep lips luminous and soft.
Guerlain Rouge G Ultra-Care Satin Lipstick
Shade: Rouge Vibrant (True Red)
Finish: Satin
Guerlain’s Rouge G delivers both form and function. First, the iconic mirrored case doubles as the perfect in-purse accessory, while the hydrating formula (infused with lily flower and sweet almond oil) ensures lasting comfort. The shade Rouge Vibrant is a universally flattering true red that will offer a subtle yet commanding finish.
Clé de Peau Beauté The Precious Lipstick
Shade: Dynamic Ruby (Jewel Red)
Finish: Satin
The Precious Lipstick from Clé de Peau Beauté in Dynamic Ruby is the ideal choice for those with fair skin thanks to its cool undertones. The deep hue – inspired by the radiance of precious gems – offers an elegant contrast that makes a bold yet refined statement. The best part? It’s formulated with nourishing lakesis extract, Aqua in Pool and genuine diamond and 24K gold powders, delivering up to 10 hours of moisture and a luminous finish.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Lipstick
Shade: Pop (Cherry Red)
Finish: Satin
Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Posh Lipstick has amassed a devoted following since its launch, and it’s easy to see why. Pop, a vivid cherry-red, carries a cool, blue undertone that flatters fair skin by brightening the complexion and enhancing natural rosiness. Meanwhile, a host of nourishing ingredients – including a pomegranate and jojoba complex, as well as avocado, coconut and rosehip oils – keep lips moisturised and plump, from day to night.
Tom Ford F****** Fabulous Lip Colour
Shade: Flaming (Petal Red)
Finish: Soft Matte
Striking a playful balance between red and rose, Tom Ford’s F****** Fabulous Lip Colour in Flaming is the perfect daytime red. The petal-red hue carries a whisper of cool pink that brightens fair skin, while its supple, soft-matte texture (reminiscent of plongé leather) lends a hint of luxury to your everyday edit.
The Best Red Lipsticks for Olive Skin
Olive skin carries both cool and warm undertones, making it more neutral than fair or deep complexions. This versatility invites experimentation with a spectrum of reds, from Armani’s Splendid – a true red that glows on olive tones with a hydrating satin texture – to Byredo’s Scarlet River, a deep hue that lends polish and dimension through its high-shine vinyl finish.
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick
Shade: So Red (Blood Orange)
Finish: Satin
This neutral-toned red is the ultimate choice for those with olive skin – a complexion defined by subtle green and golden undertones. The hydrating formula, enriched with skin-loving antioxidants, imparts a delicate sheen that catches the light beautifully, enhancing tan skin with a deep, luscious finish.
Byredo Liquid Lipstick Vinyl
Shade: Scarlet River (Brick Red)
Finish: Glossy
Byredo’s Liquid Lipstick Vinyl in Scarlet River is a warm, brick-red lipstick that pops on olive skin. Its glossy finish amps up the drama, while the formula’s shea butter and vegan oil blend keeps lips smooth, supple, and comfortable. Highly pigmented and long-wearing, it creates a bold yet effortless look that enhances the natural warmth of a mid-tone complexion.
Armani Lip Power Vivid Color Long Wear Lipstick
Shade: Splendid (Deep Red)
Finish: Satin
This balanced red from Armani is a perfect match for olive skin. The rich hue harmonises with mid-tone complexions, offering depth and warmth that enhance natural definition. The Lip Power Vivid Color Long Wear Lipstick’s creamy texture glides effortlessly across the lips, delivering a luminous finish that stays supple and vibrant thanks to a blend of protective oils.Â
The Best Red Lipsticks for Dark Skin
Prada Beauty Monochrome Soft Matte Lipstick
Shade: Granato (Garnet Red)
Finish: Soft Matte
Those with deep complexions shine in bold, bright shades like Prada Beauty’s Monochrome Soft Matte Lipstick in Granato. Translating to ‘garnet’ in English, this hue offers a modern twist on the precious stone, vivid yet refined. Its minimalist formula, built from just three pure pigments, creates a softly diffused matte finish, while bifidus extract and jojoba oil ensure a weightless glide and lasting comfort.Â
Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick
Shade: Ma Biche (Burgundy Red)
Finish: Powder
Westman Atelier’s Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in Ma Biche is a deep, warm burgundy that strikes a balance between red and wine. The shade holds its pigment beautifully on dark skin, neither pulling too blue nor too orange, and complements the complexion with natural depth. The brand’s Hydro-Suede blend, with hyaluronic acid and meadowfoam oil, ensures comfortable wear and imparts a softly full, lived-in finish.
Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv The Diamond Serum Lipstick
Shade: French (Coral Red)
Finish: Glossy
On darker skin, Estée Lauder’s Re-Nutriv The Diamond Serum Lipstick in French takes on a quietly radiant depth. The coral-red shade glows against melanated skin, balancing undertones while its reflective finish adds light and dimension to the lips. Behind the colour lies the brand’s Re-Nutriv skincare science – a hydrating formula powered by ceramides, nourishing oils and the Diamond Radiance Complex to moisturise, smooth and soften with each wear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike your skin tone, which changes with the seasons, your undertone – the subtle hue beneath the surface – remains constant. Finding yours is the key to effortlessly colour-matching your red lipstick, ensuring it enhances your complexion rather than overpowering it.
Undertones fall into three families: cool, neutral, and warm. The easiest way to uncover yours is the white T-shirt test. In natural light, slip on a plain white tee and observe your veins: if they appear pink or blue, you likely have cool undertones; if they skew golden or peach, your undertones are warm. A mix of both points to neutral, the most versatile of all, which harmonises effortlessly with nearly any shade.
Yes, but the key is matching the undertone of the red lipstick to your skin. Fair complexions with cool or pink undertones shine in blue-based reds (so, ruby or cherry). Olive skin, with green or golden undertones, is best complemented by balanced or slightly warm reds – think corals, carmines, or bricks that don’t pull too orange. Deep complexions glow in deep, warm reds like garnet, oxblood, or berry tones, which add depth without harsh contrast.
For lasting wear, start with lip care: gently exfoliate, then apply a touch of lip balm. Next, define and fill your lips with liner to anchor the colour before applying your red of choice, layering as desired to build coverage. If you’re going for a matte finish, press translucent powder between coats to lock in the pigment. For gloss, skip the powder and reapply as needed to maintain shine.
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