A red lipstick is a classic pulled together look. I don’t know about you, but when I think of red lipstick I think of a classic sharp true red like a Mac Ruby Woo. And that color does look good on some people. But it does not look good on everyone. I bought Ruby Woo a few years back because the internet said it is a color that looks good on everyone. When I tried it on I knew immediately that I’d never wear it anywhere because I looked like Ronald McDonald. Red is not really a color I’d choose over a neutral but if I were to wear a red I’ve collected some red options that fit me better than Ruby Woo or any other true red. While makeup is about being creative and doesn’t have rules, I think there a few ways to find the red that would fit you best. And there are ways to wear it that look polished and go well with your facial features.

Choosing a Red Lipstick Shade

• Know your undertone to find the colors that work best for you. Are you cool or are you warm?
• Based on your answer to number one your color may not be true red. Because of your undertone and your coloring you may not be as saturated or bright. You may even be too warm or cool for the color you were going to wear.

Reds that work best for me..

These are not what you would think of when you think of red. They all look brown (which has a lot to do with the lighting and my camera quality) but there is a red tint to all of them. If you google the colors you will be able to see the red in them better. On me they all have just enough red that I can handle without looking like a circus. Sometimes a red leaning color rather than a pure red is more harmonious on some skin tones and undertones. And it comes off as a wearable red and not brown or any other color as it appears to be.

Clinique Black Honey $25 has been around for decades and went viral on tik tok a few years back. It is supposed to be a color that looks good on everyone or on most skin tones. It is a sheer deep burgundy red that gives just a hint of color. It is easy to wear and it feels like a lip balm.

Revlon- Rum Raisin $6.48 and Glass Shine $8.97 are both a peachy muted red color. The glass shine is just a sheered out version of the original Rum Raisin in the Superlustrous line.

Revlon – Raisin Rage $6.48 is a deep raisin red it is a creme formula from the superlustrous line.

Revlon – Toast of New York $6.48 is a warm brick red color from the Superlustrous line.

The Revlon lipsticks are good choices for a good price especially if you do not like lip products with flavor or scents. They are both flavorless and scentless and are comfortable to wear.

Wearing a red lipstick

• A wear tip (an unusual one at that) is to keep in mind the shape of your facial features. If features are smaller and sharper you can use lip liner it will harmonize with your sharp features. Lip liners define and sharpen. If your features are softer, your can blur out the color and may need a softer red or a sheer red. What I mean by soft is round fuller lips. Or soft can just be a coloring without a lot of contrast or saturation. You can buy a sheer red gloss that is cool or warm according to your undertone or you can sheer it out by layering a chap stick or a clear gloss with the lipstick.
• Use the lipstick to stain your lips by rubbing a little bit in the middle and then blending it out.
• Use a lip liner to transition into the red or to tone it down.
  • Suggestions for lip liners that go with red are ..red lol duh right? , your favorite neutral, brown, or even a plum.

Here’s an article that I read with tips that makeup artist Pat McGrath recommends for Red lipstick application..

https://graziadaily.co.uk/beauty-hair/makeup/pat-mcgrath-red-lip/

True reds will always be a classic, but these unique shades prove that red lipstick can be anything but predictable. Which of these not-so-classic reds are you tempted to try?