The 21 Best Red Lipsticks for Every Skin Tone

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

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

This is a TikTok favorite, and for good reason. It's the color of cherries, stays put through dinner and drinks, and feels weightless while you're wearing it. 

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.

We're not sure what dark magic Maybelline conjured when it came to whipping up this formula, but we're believers: this stuff doesn't move until you want it to. The formula dries down to a gorgeously matte finish, and it's un-budgeable. 

It's chic, it's metallic, and damn, is it pigmented. This matte option glides on as smoothly as a gloss, but leaves a sumptuous matte finish. Added bonus:  you'll save money on home decor, because this is practically a mini sculpture. 

It's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' go-to red, and that's good enough for us! It also happens to have 6 hour wear and is infused with vitamin E and avocado oil to help lips soft. 

You've see this iconic shade before, but never like this. Dior's newest liquid formula is nearly weightless, but has immense color payoff for a bold, bright pout. And once it's one, it's on—we're comfortable declaring this one as transfer-proof. But our favorite thing about this release? The pointed applicator, which helps you create a perfect vermilion line with the precision of a liner. 

Beauty icon and makeup artist Violette has been inspiring the masses with her French girl beauty tips for years, and now, she's given us her signature red to keep. This liquid looks as beautiful dappled on with your finger as it does applied precisely, and it dries down to the hue of a red rose petal. 

This shade was inspired by the 1920s and its flashy flappers, and its tube would look gorgeous in any shelf. And it's semi-matte finish means it's versatile, so you can wear it with sweats or silk.

If you tend to avoid bold shades because your lips have cracks and dry patches, this is the choice for you. It's formulated with jojoba, castor, and sunflower oils to keep your pout hydrates while you rock it.

If you're on a vampire movie kick and feel like cosplaying, this creamy formula provides sexy, bloody berry hue that follows suit. Apply multiple coats for a bold lip, or smudge it out with your finger for a subtle stain.

Wine lips aren't always a bad thing! This liquid glides on to produce a deep, dark, Merlot hue, and it lasts for—wait for it—24 hours. That's a bender we can get behind.

Sure, it might sound like this is strictly for subtle looks, but only if you want it to be. This nourishing option is totally buildable, so you can keep it simple with one swipe or layer it on for a glossy, full-coverage finish.

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. 

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

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.