Red lipstick is a forever-iconic beauty staple that no woman should be without.
Much like a pair of killer heels, it has the power to dramatically transform your appearance for evenings and is undeniably sexy. But it’s important to choose the right red hue for your complexion, or else your whole look will be off.
When choosing the perfect shade of red for dark skin, you should look for intense colours, such as brick red and berry tones, or reds with blue undertones.
We’ve listed our top choices below to ensure your red pout is on point.
Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint
RiRi sent the beauty world into full-on hysteria when she announced a “universally flattering” red lipstick, Stunna Lip Paint. This vivid red hue is guaranteed to standout on every skin tone – just check the #stunnalippaint hashtag feed on Instagram for proof – and is outstandingly long wearing. It dries to a soft matte finish and, thanks to the precision sponge applicator, is a breeze to apply.
NARS Audacious Lipstick in Bette
Red’s sassier sister plum-red will look beautiful against dark skin. The hydrating formula of this NARS lipstick ensures a buttery smooth application in a single swipe. With a long-lasting matte finish, it is the ideal choice for those who don’t have time for regular touch-ups.
MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo
The blue undertones in MAC’s Ruby Woo are just the ticket for medium, olive and dark complexions. This cult lipstick is also the perfect size for carrying in your evening clutch bag. It boasts a long-wearing formula and provides a completely matte finish.
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Red Carpet Red
Another universally flattering option, Red Carpet Red is a slightly dark hue with blue undertones that become enhanced when applied to deep skin tones. We particularly love that this lipstick is made in the shape of a lip brush for a mess-free finish. Its matte-finish formula also has luminosity to give your lips a lovely 3D effect.
Chloe Lewis Beauty Reeva Red
This luxurious but inexpensive lipstick comes from TOWIE star Chloe Lewis’s fairly-new makeup range, Chloe Lewis Beauty. Reeva Red not only offers the ultimate scarlet hue for pale, warm and dark skin, but also conditions the lips with vitamin and sunscreen. The silky satin-finish feels light and fresh on the lips and is easy to wear in every situation.
Urban Decay Cream Vice Lipstick in EZ
Because of the richness of striking orange-red colours, they will stand out well on deep tones and give a flattering contrast. Urban Decay’s Cream Vice lipsticks are addictively creamy and provide full pigmentation in just one swipe. If you really want your pout to pop, then the EZ hue is ideal.
Too Faced Melted Matte in Lady Balls
The Melted Matte formula from Too Faced is a lipstick lover’s dream come true. It applies like a gloss but dries to an ultra-matte finish, providing a super easy way to achieve opaque lips. Not for the faint hearted, Lady Balls is a vibrant true red that really pops against warm and deep skin tones and is easy to pull off.
