So, we caught up with various beauty bloggers, makeup artists and tastemakers to get their testimonials about their perfect red shade-and have them snap a pic! Keep scrolling to see their favorites. Of course, we wanted to see what a bevy of shades looked like IRL on real women. Ahead, the best red lipsticks on the market for fair and dark skin tones, including some of the most popular shades of all time (think: Ruby Woo and 999), splurge-worthy buys from brands like Dior and Chanel, budget-friendly drugstore picks (hello, 6), and a deep red liquid lipstick that is universally flattering. “After applying, I like to take a bit of concealer and make the bottom and corners super crisp.It prevents bleeding and makes the pout precise.” 'On myself, I apply straight from the tube but on clients, I always use a brush or my finger,' explained makeup artist Lavonne Anthony. Bad color payoff can be whack to say the least-liquids and creams hold the longest. 'An orange-based red make a complexion look tanner and adds a bit of a glow to the skin, while a blue-based red will help punctuate white teeth and puts one’s smile on a proverbial pedestal,' he shared.īeyond considering just undertones, women of color can’t underestimate the importance of pigment quality. According to L’Oréal Paris Celebrity Makeup Artist, Sir John, women of color should steer clear of shades with pink undertones and select those that are orange- or blue-based. Thankfully, the industry is steering more towards inclusivity but that doesn’t make your search the perfect shade any easier.

However, like fashion, cosmetics aren’t one-size-fits all, especially for women of color. A swipe (or two) of the bold hue can give you more confidence, pull your look together, and entice a few DMs. Having a dark complexion was one thing that probably held me back the most because I saw every skin tone just killing the red lip, but never saw the right tone of red on a darker skin tone. In the beauty world, a great red lipsitick is equivalent to the perfect LBD.

Bright red lipstick on dark skin