The 12 Best Red Lipstick Shades for Every Skin Tone

To say this shade is a classic would be an understatement. It's been a red-carpet clutch staple for years, and for good reason: its creamy matte finish looks fab on just about everyone. 

For ladies with warmer skin tones, the fiery orange undertones in this matte will add an extra glow to your complexion. 

Rihanna said she'd give us a universal red, and damn, did she deliver. But the best part about this scarlet option is the applicator you apply it with, which is shaped to provide extra precision on your vermillion line and the "m" of your top lip. 

This creamy pencil a staple for cool girls of every tone thanks to it's poppy red finish, and the fact that it won't budge through dinner, drinks, and the like.

Ruby Woo gets all the hype when you think of MAC's iconic lipsticks, but we're partial to Russian Red, which has blue undertones that look flawless on both fair and deep skin tones (and they make your teeth look whiter.) 

We'll call this a French red: Effortless, chic, and suited for both formal and fun situations. 

This electric cherry shade will pop on deeper skin tones, and will last through even the longest date night. 

The Hollywood sign comes to mind when we imagine this red. It's classic and glamorous, and looks particularly flattering on fairer skin tones. 

Tom Ford's formulas are creamy and comfortable, and this red is the vampiest of the bunch. Even after it wears away, it leaves a sexy stain that stays put. 

As if this hot red lipstick couldn't get chicer—look at that case—it also happens to be subtly scented with one of Kilian Hennessy's most intoxicating fragrances. 

It only takes one coat of this warm red shade to give you a warm red pout, but the precision tip is what makes this the perfect addition to your on-the-go kit. (And the casing is pretty enough to leave on your sink for the indefinite future.) 

You know that chic blood red shade you see on the soles of Christian Louboutin's iconic shoes? Now, you can have the same color on your lips for a big night out.