As much as I love nude lipstick, sometimes we want a lip color that pops — especially through the colder months when accessorizing is best done on the face. But even though I'm constantly searching for ways to experiment with different shades and textures, red lipstick is one product that will never steer you wrong.
The good news: There are tons of red lipsticks on the market. The bad news: There are tons of red lipsticks on the market. When looking for the right one, you have to take into account formula, color, and your skin tone. So of course, we had to come together and find our favorite shades. Ahead, the best red lipsticks — they all have our hearts...for now.
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Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick In Mark Of A Kiss
Charlotte Tilbury's new collection of Hollywood Beauty Icon lipsticks doesn't just feature all-new hues of red and pink but also limited-edition metallic ruby tubes. Our favorite of the bunch? Mark of a Kiss, a muted, warm red that's perfect for a soft matte, blurred lip.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Icon Matte Revolution Lipstick, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Pioneer
This one goes out to all the girls looking for a lip color that will literally last through dinner, drinks, and multiple kisses. It's a rich, flattering red that's not too bright — and it seriously stays on through anything.
Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick, $, available at Ulta
Sunnies Face Fluffmatte Weightless Matte Lipstick in Major
There's a reason we gave these lipsticks a Beauty Innovator Award in 2022 — they're just fantastic. Light and easy to wear yet versatile and pigmented, these lipsticks are still among our favorites.
Sunnies Face Fluffmatte, $, available at Sunnies Face
Nars Powermatte High-Intensity Long-Lasting Lip Pencil in Cruella
Don't be put off by the "pencil" in the name — this performs more like a lipstick than a lip pencil in the traditional sense, and you'll love this vampy, blue-toned lip color. Not only does it last forever on the lips, but the formula is so smooth and easy — you could probably put it on in the dark.
NARS Powermatte High-Intensity Long-Lasting Lip Pencil, $, available at Sephora
Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick in Hustle in Heels
It kind of goes without saying that Maybelline, bar none, has some of the best lipsticks in the game. Easy to wear, great shades, and pigmented as hell — that's all we can ask for. This crayon lipstick is a little less intense than the liquid lipstick from above, but given how buildable these crayons are, you'll still get the payoff you desire.
Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick, $, available at Ulta
MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo
Would it be a "best red lipsticks" roundup without Ruby Woo? Yes, because MAC also has Russian Red for those who find Ruby Woo to be a bit too warm-toned. Nonetheless, it's a classic, beloved by Rihanna herself, for a reason.
MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Lipstick, $, available at MAC Cosmetics
Rouge Dior Forever Liquid in 999 Forever Dior
This lipstick feels like it was designed for a heavy makeout session. It's ultra-pigmented and so matte you'll be thrilled — the brand promises 12 hours of wear. But this weightless formula will have your lips looking so kissable, you may just want to put it to the test.
Dior Rouge Dior Forever Liquid, $, available at Dior
NYX Cosmetics Lip Lingerie XXL Long-Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick in Stamina
NYX Cosmetics owned the matte lipstick space long before other brands were even considering it, so it's no surprise they've created a stellar, blue-based red with Stamina. We love this blue-red shade for so many reasons, but mostly because it looks so good on deeper skin tones.
NYX Cosmetics Lip Lingerie XXL Long-Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick, $, available at Ulta
Revlon ColorStay Overtime Lipcolor in Nonstop Cherry
There's a reason these lip colors have been a mainstay for years: They're actually just that great. The dual-sided tube asks the user to apply a pigment and then apply a conditioning top coat to seal it all in, creating a kiss-proof, transfer-proof smile. And in this vampy, raspberry red shade, you'll have other things to worry about than the upkeep of your lipstick.
Revlon ColorStay Overtime Lipcolor, $, available at Ulta
Wet & Wild Megalast Liquid Catsuit Lipstick in Missy And Fierce
Somehow this liquid lipstick applies like a gloss but transforms into a high-pigmented matte finish that will feel like a second skin. For not a second is this shade budging, even through many a cup of coffee. We're obsessed with this blood-red color.
Wet N' Wild Megalast Catsuit Liquid Lipstick in Missy & Fierce, $, available at Amazon
Bossy Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Courage
Bossy Cosmetics lives up to its name with Courage, a bright orange-red that is perfectly suited for lighter skin tones. Will you feel like you're on top of the world wearing it? Yes. And that's exactly what a red lip should make you feel.
Bossy Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in Courage, $, available at Amazon
YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture Caring Satin Lipstick in Le Rouge
These YSL lipsticks aren't just...lipsticks, they're full of antioxidants intending to hydrate your lips, which you'll want when you're wearing such a stunning, full-coverage satin lip. It's luxe, in the very best way.
YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture Caring Satin Lipstick, $, available at Sephora
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Walk of No Shame
Charlotte Tilbury created the ultimate nudey-red here with this edition of her famous Walk of Shame shades. The Matte Revolution Lipsticks are already beloved for being wearable, beautiful, and performing masterfully — but she took it to a whole next level with this shade. For those not looking for a super bright, shocking red, this is perfect for you.Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick - Walk of No Shame Collection, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
The Lip Bar Vegan Liquid Matte Lipstick in Bawse Lady
The Lip Bar is not only a groundbreaking company in terms of BIPOC beauty representation. The Lip Bar's Bawse Lady is a perfect lip color, one of the best reds currently on the market. You'll never go wrong with this one.
The Lip Bar Vegan Matte Liquid Lipstick, $, available at Target
Violette_FR Petal Bouche Matte in Amour Fou
Refinery29's Most Wanted team reviewed this red lipstick in 2022, and it had us reconsidering our stance on French Girl Beauty. This true blue-red lipstick looked universally flattering on our team. You'll be saying "oui, oui!" when you rock this.
Violette_Fr Petal Bouche Matte, $, available at Violette_Fr
Kosas Weightless Lip Color in Deep Talks
Deep Talks is the most gorgeous brick red that somehow — also as if by magic — feels low maintenance and wearable for every day (or at least two or three days a week). It’s warm but not so warm that it skews orange, and the formula is super-hydrating without sacrificing that velvety semi-matte finish.
Kosas Weightless Lip Color, $, available at Kosas
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Cherry
This tinted lip balm from Summer Fridays isn't nearly as long-wearing or intense as some of the others on this list, but these live up to the "lip butter" name. You'll get a ton of nourishment alongside a ton of gorgeous color payoff. We love this for the days you have to try but don't feel like trying.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, $, available at Sephora
Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Lip Color in Uncensored
Meet your future power red, the one you paint on when you need an extra boost of confidence before a long day at work, and the one you put on when date night rolls around. Aside from its sexy, fire-engine pigment, which stands out beautifully on medium-toned complexions, this matte product stays on for hours. It will last through many kisses, cocktails, and dinners — as a true boss should.
Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color, $, available at Sephora
Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lipstick in Unbreakable
Looking for a shiny glossy lipstick that will go absolutely freakin' nowhere? Enter Urban Decay's Vice Lip Bond. It's truly magical. Unbreakable is a warmer orange-based red than the packaging would have you believe, but it's still an aesthetic nonetheless.
Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lipstick, $, available at Sephora
ILIA Color Block Lipstick in Tango
This long-lasting, full-coverage lipstick is shockingly hydrating. It's perfect for everyday wear, and you'll wish you had a tube of Tango (and the brand's very similar shade True Red) for every bag.
ILIA Beauty Color Block Lipstick, $, available at ILIA Beauty
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