16 Best Red Lipsticks Your Makeup Bag Needs, According to Allure Editors

Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, jojoba oil | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Nine

Best Liquid Lipstick: Poundcake Cake Batter Liquid Lipstick in Red Velvet

Why We Love It: Just about every Allure editor has the Poundcake Cake Batter Liquid Lipstick in their makeup bag. This two-time Best of Beauty Award winner is a staff favorite for its rich pigment, no-budge staying power, and impressive conditioning properties (thanks, to avocado oil and vitamin E). If you usually ditch lip liner (same), Allure associate digital beauty director Sarah Kinonen says its easy-to-maneuver doe-foot applicator makes crisp, precise lines.

Tester Feedback: "When I'm in the mood for a liquid lipstick, I reach for the Best of Beauty-winning Poundcake Cake Batter Liquid Lipstick in Red Velvet," says Kinonen. "It's a super-pigmented, suede-like formula that goes on opaque but dries down into a comfortable, long-wearing matte. Every time I've worn this bold shade I've gotten hit with compliments — it's just so good!"

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, vitamin E | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Six

Best Splurge: Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin Velvet Matte Lipstick in 001

Why We Love It: If you want the perfect shade to match your favorite Christian Louboutin heels, look no further than the luxury label's Rouge Louboutin Velvet Matte Lipstick in 001. Sure, it's pricey, but Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says its rich, velvety, true-red shade is well worth the investment. On top of its stunning ruby red shade, this lipstick bullet glides smoothly onto your lips while plumping them with hydrating hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and pansy extract. This lipstick provides transfer-proof wear for up to six hours, but Hussein says to give this lipstick a minute to set in place before eating or drinking.

Tester Feedback: "I never leave my apartment without this lipstick," says Hussein. "Its angled tip makes it so easy to apply without lip liner — I've even applied it on a moving train without messing up. It needs a moment to dry down and set in place, but once it does, its formula turns into a powder-like matte finish that won't budge through the greasiest of pizza slices."

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, pansy extract | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Five

Best Candy Red Lipstick: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso

Why We Love It: The Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso is another Allure Best of Beauty Award Hall of Famer. Its candy red shade, matte finish, and creamy formula are so good that one swatch is enough to make you a die-hard fan of this liquid lip product, just like our editors. While most liquid lipsticks need an added layer for vibrancy, one coat of this liquid lipstick is all you need for an opaque finish.

Tester Feedback: "The Stila Stay All Day Lip Stain in the Beso shade is the red lipstick that made me fall in love with red lipstick," says Lexi Herrick, Allure's director of audience development. "I cannot possibly exaggerate how long-lasting this lipstick is — it feels scientifically impossible. I have worn this lipstick from dawn to midnight without it fading. It's virtually transfer-proof and has a smooth, forgiving application. It's extremely vibrant and mattifying, and a staple in my makeup routine!"

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, avocado oil | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Three

Best Blue-Tone Red Lipstick: Fenty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in The MVP

Why We Love It: Allure commerce editor Sarah Han said it best: "All hail the Rihanna Red — or, in other words, the Fenty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in The MVP." This blue-red liquid lipstick's cool undertone compliments a wide range of skin tones. With this lipstick, dryness is a total thing of the past due to its whipped, creamy texture.

If your lips are prone to dryness, Han recommends prepping your lips beforehand with a generous layer of lip balm or mask. "Right before I slick on a layer of The MVP, I wipe off most of the balm, keeping a hint of it for that cushioning goodness," she says.

Tester Feedback: "I may never perform at the Super Bowl but I’m of the firm mindset that you don’t need a special occasion to don an attention-grabbing red," says Han. "I’m a frequent liner delinquent (I forego them most of the time) but because the applicator has a pointed tip, I’m able to precisely outline my lips with a little bit of patience. A formula as velvety and pigmented as this one is worth the extra time — and confidence-boosting results."

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Two

A Classic: Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in 99 Pirate

Why We Love It: Every shade of the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lip Colour is rich in all senses of the word, but our team is particularly enamored with 51 Légendaire, a brick red shade that errs warmer in tone. No matter which shade of this matte lipstick bullet you swipe on, you're guaranteed a high-quality color payoff that won't dry out your lips, thanks to the inclusion of jojoba oil and shea butter in its formula.

Editor Tip: If you have a shaky hand when applying lipstick, you can always clean up your look with cotton swabs and a dab of lotion. To find more tips and tricks for applying lipstick with shaky hands, head here.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, shea butter | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: 10

Best Long-Wear Lipstick: Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lipstick in Unbreakable

Why We Love It: Red liquid lipsticks can seem scary, but the Urban Decay Vice Bond in Unbreakable is anything but that. It's a comfortable, easy-to-wear formula that lasts up to 16 hours — it can even handle the greasiest of pizzas. The beauty of this innovative formula is its high-shine, gloss-like finish that has the staying power of a true-matte lip product.

Editor Tip: For a matte finish, try pressing your lips together after applying this formula to minimize its shine.

Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil | Finish: Shiny | Available Red Shades: Three

Best Brown-Tone Red Lipstick: Armani Beauty Lip Power Long-Lasting Lipstick in Majestic

Why We Love It: The Armani Beauty Lip Power Longwear Satin Lipstick is a long-wearing formula that delivers extreme pigment in just one swipe. This deep red, Majestic, gives a dark cherry vibe to lips. This 2022 Best of Beauty winner features a drop-shaped tip that gives precision when applied to the cupid's bow.

Editor Tip: Just like the rest of your skin, your lips need sun protection. We recommend swiping on an SPF-infused lip balm before applying any lipstick — here are our favorites.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Four

Best Cherry Red Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipstick in Cinematic Red

Why We Love It: The Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipstick in Cinematic Red is the brand's ode to classic, old Hollywood cherry reds. Its angled tip makes lip liner obsolete and its stunning bullet case is just as eye-catching as the shade itself. Trust us, if you're going for a Marilyn Monroe-inspired look, this is the lipstick to have on hand.

Editor Tip: To make your lipstick last longer, New York City-based makeup artist Troy Surratt previously told Allure to apply your lipstick straight from the tube, blot with a tissue, then swipe it on again. "Blotting will create a base, and the second coat adds shine and coverage," he said.

Key Ingredients: Orchid extract | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Eight

Best Pink-Tone Red Lipstick: Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment in Dragon Girl

Why We Love It: Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment in Dragon Girl is another liquid lipstick Kinonen has in her makeup bag. She reserves this pick for days when she wants a no-budge, lightweight, pink-forward liquid lipstick. This siren red shade's staying power is unmatched and can withstand any drinks, food, and possible French kissing that comes its way.

Editor Tip: If you're on the hunt for a new nude lipstick, we suggest trying this lipstick in the dusty rose shade American Woman, an Allure Best of Beauty Award winner.

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, sodium hyaluronate | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Six

Best Orange-Tone Red Lipstick: Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick in Obsessed

Why We Love It: By now, we all know that Pat McGrath's lipsticks are of elite quality. Like all of the brand's Matte Trance Lipsticks, the packs a powerful pigmented punch with just one swipe. That's all thanks to its bi-phase formula, which transforms from a cream to a powder that locks in place. The shade Obsessed is a gorgeous orange-red shade that's guaranteed to compliment a wide range of skin tones.

Editor Tip: Fun fact: Taylor Swift, also known as the queen of classic red lip looks, is a major fan of Pat McGrath's Matte Trance Lipsticks — much so that she created the Taylor-Made set, which includes Siwft's favorite (and currently sold-out) red lip shade, Elson, along with the PermaGel Ultra Lip Pencil in Vengeance.

Key Ingredients: candelilla wax | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: One

Best for Dry Lips: Guerlain KissKiss Tender Matte Lipstick in Kiss Rouge

Why We Love It: Matte lips that aren't dry? That sounds impossible without prep, but it's achievable with Guerlain's KissKiss Tender Matte Lipstick in Kiss Rouge. This cushiony formula has a matte finish with the skin-conditioning feel of a lip balm. Like all Guerlain products, it's infused with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and rose petal extract to ensure your lips stay smooth and hydrated throughout the day.

Editor Tip: For an added moisturizing boost, swipe on the Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning Guerlain KissKiss Bee Glow Lip Balm before applying this lipstick.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, rose petal extract | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Eight

Best Matte Red Lipstick: Gucci Beauty Rouge à Lèvres Mat Matte Lipstick in Goldie Red

Why We Love It: Yes, this list is filled with matte lipsticks, but if you want a truly no-shine, velvet formula, Gucci Beauty's Rouge à Lèvres Mat Matte Lipstick is your answer. This ultra-matte lipstick has a flower petal-smooth formula that stays in place without feathering, bleeding, or fading. Each shade is full of rich, vibrant pigment, but the true show-stopper in this line is Goldie Red, a bright fiery shade that's bound to catch some eyes.

Editor Tip: For the most precise red lip, New York City-based makeup artist Vincent Oquendo previously told Allure to work backward. "Apply lipstick, then liner in the exact same red or a little deeper to create the shape," he said.

Key Ingredients: Beeswax, dimethicone | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Eight

Best Drugstore: Maybelline New York Color Sensational Ultimatte Slim Lipstick in More Ruby

Why We Love It: After winning a Best of Beauty award in 2021, the Maybelline New York Color Sensational Ultimatte Slim Lipstick has quickly become Trakoshis's favorite drugstore option. It features kaolin, silva, and nylon-12, all of which absorb excess oil and provide that no-shine look. Plus, this shade More Ruby, never transfers, making it an all-time must-have of Trakoshis's.

Editor Tip: "This product comes in slim bullet-shaped packaging and the formula basically feels like a stick of butter (in the best way possible)," said Trakoshis in her review of the lipstick. "The pigment just glides onto my lips, leaving them with a matte, but never dry finish. It's as moisturizing as a balm but as matte as a liquid lipstick."

Key Ingredients: Kaolin clay, silva, nylon-12 | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Three

Best Universal Red Lipstick: MAC M·A·Cximal Silky Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo

Why We Love It: Few lipsticks have earned the instant name recognition that MAC's Ruby Woo (which is a mainstay in our editor-in-chief, Jessica Cruel's, makeup bag) has. "There are a few shades that are universally flattering because of their bold colors," makeup artist William Murphy says. “They break all of the rules because they're so saturated and eye-catching that they're good for all skin tones.”

Editor Tip: This classic, universal red shade is so popular amongst MAC shoppers that it's also available in a liquid lipstick format as well.

Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Nine

Best Poppy Red Lipstick: Uoma Beauty Badass Icon Matte Lipstick in Sade

Why We Love It: Uoma Beauty's Badass Icon Matte Lipstick bears the name of one of the most iconic singers — Sade. Her signature red lip is one that we've been obsessed with for ages, and it's one that makeup artist Lisa Eldridge favors on melanin-rich skin tones. “[This is] a beautiful, bright poppy red with a creamy formula that delivers a hefty dose of color in one swipe," she says.

Editor Tip: To give your lip look a glow-up, try Uoma Beauty's Black Magic Hypnotic Impact High Shine Lipstick

Key Ingredients: carnauba wax | Finish: Matte | Available Red Shades: Five

Frequently Asked Questions

Before we dive in, let's get this out of the way: anyone can wear whatever red lipstick they like, full-stop. "The right red is the one that makes you feel good," Los Angeles-based makeup artist Fiona Stiles, whose clients include Margot Robbie, Gabrielle Union, and Lily Collins, tells Allure.

However, you can expedite finding a red lipstick you love by considering your skin tone and your skin's undertone. New York City-based makeup artist Diane Kendal previously told Allure that red shades with blue undertones give cool-toned, fair-to-light-medium complexions a more radiant appearance and even make teeth look whiter. For warm, medium skin tones, Kendal suggested orange-red shades — "Intense, yes, but they make olive skin glow by bringing out its golden tones," she says. As for deeper skin tones, she recommended red hues "with a lot of pink," which she said works beautifully against dark complexions.

We all love the look of freshly-applied lipstick, but after a few hours (or drinks), things can start to look messy. But, don't fret, because there are quite a few ways to make your look last for hours on end. Back in the day (2010 to be exact), New York City-based makeup artist Peter Phillips previously gave Allure editors a few tips on ensuring any lip look stays put — and these hacks are still used by our staff to this day.

• Prep your lips: Your results will only be as smooth and seamless as the actual skin on your lips. To smooth your skin pre-lipstick, try using a lip scrub or a damp washcloth to buff dry flakes. "Pat on a clear lip balm and give it a few minutes to sink in, then blot with a tissue," said Phillips.
• Use setting powder after applying your lipstick: Makeup artists and Allure editors alike abide by this tip, especially when it comes to smudge-prone shades like red. Phillips recommended dabbing a light amount to lips to secure your lipstick in place without drying out your skin. "Close your mouth, smile, and then dust a little face powder on your lips with a fluffy brush," he says. “Don't reapply lipstick, or it could get cakey.”
• If matte lipsticks are too dry for your lips, use a satin-finish option instead: Since many long-wearing lipsticks are matte and can dry out your lips, Phillips prefers satin-finish, pearlescent lipsticks. "The shine is created by pearl pigments and not by the texture, it's not as moist as a creamy lipstick and will therefore stay on longer," he said.

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best red lipsticks, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from makeup artists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

More Allure editor-approved makeup coming in 3, 2, 1…

• 12 Best Waterproof Eyeliners for Tear-Proof Makeup Looks
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Just Dropped a Gel Version of Brow Freeze and I'm Obsessed
• 13 Best Lighted Makeup Mirrors for Flawless Application
• These Foundations Wear Beautifully on Mature Skin

Done reading? Now, watch beauty mogul Huda Kattan's everyday beauty routine:

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