50 Shades of Red
You might think red is red, but when it comes to lipsticks,
there are so many different shades and hues of reds. Reds have undertones that
compliment certain skin tones, and clash with others. There are reds with blue
undertones, pink undertones, orange undertones, and the list goes on. From
bright vibrant red, to deep vampy burgundy, red lipstick can be the perfect
accessory to any outfit and any style!
Red Lips for Cool Toned Skin
Cool/pale skin tones look best with a bluish toned or pink
toned red. However, these shades of red REALLY pop on warmer/darker skin tones
and can be a great choice if you are really trying to make a bold statement or
add a little WOW factor to your look! The other great thing about bluish toned
reds is they make your teeth look incredibly brighter and whiter!
Recommendations: Tom Ford Lip Color in “Cherry Lush” ($52), NARS
Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Dragon Girl” ($26), Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid
Lipstick in “Outlaw” ($20), Maybelline Super Stay 14 hour Lipstick in “Ravishing
Rouge 065” ($9), CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in “Flame” ($7)
Red Lips for Medium/Olive Skin
Medium, yellow and olive skin tones need to choose reds that
are a little more vibrant in color in order to prevent the skin from looking
washed out. Try to choose a red lipstick that is very warm or orange toned.
Keep in mind that cooler skin tones can absolutely wear these shades of red,
but the color tends to pop a little more on warmer toned skin. Also if an
orange toned red scares you a little, skip to the neutral reds section to
choose a simple classic red that will still work on your skin tone!
Recommendations: MAC in "Lady Danger” ($17), Tarte Tartiest
Lip Paint in “Cray Cray” ($20), Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in
“Electric Orange” ($6)
Red Lips for Dark Skin
Darker skin tones need to pick reds that are very rich in
color to avoid looking ashy.
Recommendations: MAC
Lipstick in “Russian Red” ($17) - this will look like a classic red on very dark
skin tones, NARS Satin Lip Pencil in “Majella” ($26), NARS Semi Matte Lipstick
in “Red Lizard”($28), Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in “Nosferatu” ($20),
Revlon Matte Lipstick in “Really Red 006” ($5)
Neutral Reds for ALL Skin Tones
These shades of red are very classic shades that truly look
great on any skin tone! These colors are a great option if you are new to red
lipstick and want to choose a safe, go-to red to keep in your makeup bag!
Recommendations: MAC in “Ruby Woo” ($17) - an absolute
classic that suits everyone, Chanel Rouge Allure “Passion 104” ($37), Stila
Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in “Beso” ($24), NYX Matte Lipstick in “Perfect
Red” ($6), Boots No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in “Love Red” ($10), Wet n’ Wild
MegaLast Lip Color in “Red Velvet” ($2) – a perfect dupe for Mac’s “Ruby Woo”!
Sheer Red Options
If you are still timid about wearing red lips, or worry that
it will look too bright, you can try some of the more sheer options. These will
still give you a flush of color, but won’t be so loud and will be very low
maintenance compared to the options listed above.
Recommendations: Dior Addict in “My Love 756” ($35), Urban
Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick in “Sheer F-Bomb” ($22), Revlon Just Bitten
Kissable Lip Balm Stain in “Romantic” ($7), Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in
“Candy Apple” ($9), or choose any red lip gloss! Red lip glosses are a great
way to add a sheer layer of red color!
Tips for Application:
- Prep your lips before either with an exfoliator or a regular lip balm. Lipsticks, especially matte textures, tend to be very drying. So give your lips a head start by applying lip balm at the start of your makeup so that by the time you get to your lips, they are nice and moisturized
- Conceal any redness you may have in your face either around the nose or mouth area. If you have redness in your face, it will really stand out even more once you put red on your lips. Neutralize any red areas on your face with foundation and/or concealer so that the only red you have on your face, is your lips!
- Use a lip brush! This will help the color last longer than if you apply it straight from the stick
- Apply a very THIN first layer, rubbing it in fairly well with the lip brush following the natural shape of your lips
- After this step, you can either use a lip pencil if you prefer, or continue with you lip brush to make any shape corrections you may need. I tend to cheat my lower lip by overdrawing VERY slightly. However, keep in mind that with such a bright color, you won’t be able to overdraw very much without it being noticeable
- Once you have the exact shape you want, blot with a tissue and apply a second coat. If you are using a long lasting formula or a lip stain, you may not even need a second coat! But for regular lipsticks, they will last much longer if you apply it in multiple layers, blotting between layers
- Once your red lip is on, double check that you don’t need any extra blush as some people tend to look a little washed out in the face after adding such a bright color to their lips
- Keep the rest of your makeup very neutral, especially around the eyes, so as not to compete with your red lips.
