The best red lipstick to suit all shade and finish preferences

Finding the best red lipstick that flatters your face and feels great to wear is akin to finding the key to the most versatile and timeless piece of makeup you may ever own.

Yet, despite being continuously touted as a supremely easy makeup look, and jostling for space alongside the best mascara in many women's desert island beauty bags, the red lipstick club can feel a bit... exclusionary. 

We hear about women whose makeup with red lipstick look involves simply swiping on their signature red and, job done. If that's you, more power to you. But for the rest of us, who feel we've never quite got it right, even the best red lipstick can make us feel self-conscious, as if our mouths are screaming for attention. Not to mention the paranoia around smears on our teeth and smudges on our chins (how do they get there?).

So, we're here to help with our expertly-tested edit – because truly, there is a red lipstick for everyone. Our experts have tested dozens of reds in their time in the name of beauty journalism, and therefore know which lipsticks are worth spending your hard-earned cash on. From true reds to blue reds, ahead are their in-depth reviews of the best of the best. 

The best red lipstick, as chosen by our beauty experts 

Name a more iconic red lipstick than MAC Ruby Woo... We'll wait. There is a reason this classic product is MAC's bestselling red lipstick. The timeless true red shade suits almost everyone and its blue undertones makes your teeth and eyes appear brighter. While it may not be the cheapest buy on our list, it's far from the priciest. Plus, one application will see you through the night so it's a pretty price-savvy buy too. 

The original Retro Matte finish has a fairly traditional, grown-up lippie texture. It makes a statement and while you can feel it on the lips, it isn't overly drying or draggy. More recently, MAC has also cleverly released three other textures to pick from, a creamier Powder Kiss lipstick, plus two liquid lipsticks if you prefer—one as matte as they come, one more hydrating and weightless. Truly there is something for everyone in the Ruby Woo cannon.

When Maybelline says "super stay" they really aren't playing with us. The Superstay Matte Ink is already a well-loved favorite of ours for truly budgeproof wear, and this is a bit like it's high-shine sister – vinyl is exactly the word for its effect. Despite its high-shine finish, though, it yields very little transfer, which impressed us when we road-tested it. There are a few reddish tones on offer, but we settled on the blue-red shade Wicked, which would look cool on most if not all skin tones. 

The only drawback of the shiny finish is a kind of sticky feeling that we did really notice while we wore this particular number – but it's a small price to pay for something that lasts pretty well with minimal transfer, even when you're sipping on a G&T or icy lemonade. 

Rouge Dior is the French house's classic red lippie, so it won't surprise you to read that the shade is timeless, the packaging luxurious and the finished look sophisticated and grown-up. What you may not have realized is that this particular crimson shade, 999, is available in not one but four finishes. There is sheeny Satin, creamier Velvet, subtly reflective Metal and self-explanatory Matte. Offering their suits-all red lipstick in this pick and mix of finishes is such a canny move by Dior you wonder why more brands don't do it. 

That aside, this is on the luxury end of the price spectrum, but the quality does reflect that, with plant extracts of red peony and pomegranate flower offering softening lip care and pigment that sits beautifully on the lips for hours. Extra eco-friendly bonus points to Dior for offering refillable packaging too. 

If you are a confident red lipstick wearer who wants to make a powerful statement that lasts all day, this ultra-matte high pigment offering from make-up artist Tilbury could be the best red lipstick for you. 

This shade, Berry Lucky, is a sexy and deep reddish-rose that's got nighttime glamour written all over it. We also love the limited edition Love Flame, a burnt orange-red. Like Charlotte Tilbury's universally-flattering nude lipstick, the colour payoff for this product is fantastic, with a modern true matte finish. 

Naturally, this does mean that you will feel it on the lips, but as ultra-mattes go this is about as comfy and light-feeling as they come. The slim bullet makes for easy application and, as with all Charlotte Tilbury products, it'll look great when you whip it out of your bag. 

The original Stunna Lip Paint from Rihanna's eponymous makeup brand, this is an incredible universal red lipstick that was designed to suit absolutely everybody (which in our experience, it does). First of all, we have to mention the packaging: reminiscent of a nail polish bottle, it looks seriously cool.

The formula – which you shake before applying – goes on wet, then dries down to a budgeproof matte (but not too matte or flat) finish. It packs some serious pigment, so your red will be making a statement – it's not for those who want something with a soft effect, so if that's what you're after, look to something like Clarins Joli Rouge. If you're concerned about having to top up your red lipstick, this is a great one to rely on for long days or evenings out. We love it!

Liquid lipsticks tend to fall into two categories—velvety yet smudgy or inky and a touch dry. This, however, breaks the mould. It paints on and sets down like a weightless ink and offers similar transfer resistance, but has an unusually soft sensation on the lips. This is due to the formula's composition, which Lancôme describes as a water-in-oil emulsion and to us feels like a rare gift—comfortable, high pigment colour that won't quit. 

This shade is a little deeper and richer than your average, bright, Hollywood red; making it a good call for glam evening looks. But thanks to that matte-ish texture, it works very well with casual daytime styling too. The teeny-tiny heart-shaped wand makes precision application easy-peasy, and the sweet little bottle is light and spill-proof for your handbag. 

This is a real middle of the pack multitasker, but you'd be wrong to call it a jack of all trades. It lays on a lot of pigment in one or two swipes like traditional full-cover lippies but glides on smoothly like a sheenier, moisturizing formula. 

Look-wise, this is a fairly rich and seductive berry red, with cool undertones that work on most skins and a nice glossy finish that will flatter thinner or lined lips particularly well. The best thing about this is how comfortable it feels, not just initially but several hours after application. Despite a generous colour payoff and budge-proof properties it won't dry out or travel around your mouth as you eat or drink. Lip power indeed. 

The Joli Rouge lipstick has been a firm favorite of ours at woman&home for years, and for 2023 it's had an eco-friendly makeover. Now, you purchase a refillable case and your shade of choice, then when your signature shade has run out, you need only replace the lipstick cartridge. 

If you tend to dislike the heavy, powdery feel of traditional matte lippies, this could well be the red lipstick for you. The new and improved moisturizing formula is packed with hydrating ingredients including camelia oil, shea butter, and candelilla wax. The slippery and soft textured bullet glides on and gave lips a flattering sheen. 

This particular red will really pop on dark or olive skin tones but will look striking on any face; style it with minimal makeup elsewhere and a casual navy jumper for a modern look. As with any sheenier lipstick, we did find that it needed a few re-applications through the day or night – especially after eating and drinking – but it's so comfy and easy to apply that you're unlikely to mind doing it all that much. 

The striking packaging – an extremely slim bullet with a sharp tapered end – catches your attention from the get-go here, but what sets this apart from other reds is the unique pigment that makes this red... well, red. Hourglass has created its own vegan substance, Red O, a pigment that involves absolutely no animal products (unlike many traditional red lipsticks), which we think is pretty cool. Did we mention that the case is also refillable? 

Then there's the application and wear. The Confession lipstick's slimness allowed for more control and precision when we applied it, and we were impressed with how comfortable it feels to wear – no uncomfortable chalky feel here whatsoever. It lasts fairly well though does require a little topping up throughout the day, but with a lipstick so chic we're sure that, like us, you really won't mind doing so.

We are huge fans of Victoria Beckham Beauty here at w&h. Not just as a hangover from the Spice Girls obsession of our youths, but because the products are genuinely excellent. This lipstick doesn't just have a fun name, it also boasts a deeply nourishing formula packed with plant-based waxes and oils, plus plumping jojoba, and nothing the clean beauty brigade doesn't approve of.

This spicy red has an almost coral tinge that speaks to balmy evenings but works equally well on a dark night teamed with your best cashmere sweaters. Like Hourglass, the slimline bullet makes applying precisely without a brush nice and simple and the colour payoff is excellent for such a soft and moisturizing formula. It would be remiss not to mention how gorgeous the packaging is too—sustainable and ultra-desirable in VBs signature horn print. 

While we have picked this shade out as the best red lipstick for those on a budget, this is really a shout-out for the entire NYX Professional Shout Loud lipstick range. These creamy and quenching lippies are unusually impressive at their price and punch well above their weight for comfort and pigment payoff. One of the reasons this brand produces one of the best beauty advent calendars every single year. 

This particular shade is a timeless blue-toned scarlet, so much like Ruby Woo is universally flattering, but unlike its MAC Cosmetics rival, it has a lightly glossy satin finish. This makes it a bit less intimidating for red lipstick novices, although does mean you'll need to keep an eye out for top-ups. That's pretty standard stuff for any sheeny lippie, so really there's little not to recommend here. This is a comfortable, glamorous, bargain buy that really lives up to its name. 

This is red lipstick for people who don't like red lipstick. Mostly, it's a lip balm (one of the best lip balms at that), but with the sheerest hint of a red tint to lightly glaze over your lips in a quiet cool-toned red. Naturally, as a balm, there's more lip care here than colour, with plant waxes and softening shea butter. The formula is 100% natural and the cute little twist-up stick is light enough for any bag or pocket. 

You'll need to build it up a fair bit then top it up often to achieve anything approaching an opaque red shade, but opacity isn't really the point of a balm. If you want the most easygoing of lip products that feels lovely to wear and you can swipe on whenever without using a mirror, consider this red for you.

How we tested the best red lipstick

When testing red lipsticks for this feature, we ensured that we chose from a range of price brackets to ensure that we found the best buys from drugstore shelves to high-end department stores, as well as some of our longstanding favorites for good measure. During the testing process, we took all of the following factors into consideration. 

• Finish
• Formula – traditional bullet, liquid, or stain
• Type of red shade – is it a true red, or more blue or orange?
• How long-wearing it is 
• Key ingredients
• Packaging
• Price

How to pick the best red lipstick shade for you

To find the best red lipstick you have to open your mind and accept that it may feel a bit weird at first. Consider non-traditional textures you may have overlooked. Red glossy lips are still red lips, as are those painted in liquid long lasting lipsticks, and even lip balms if they have a sneaky red tint. 

The most important part of finding the best red lipstick, however, is picking a shade. We tend to think of red lippy in a classic, pillar box hue, and if that doesn't look quite right you may give up there. But actually, this colour is far from one-dimensional, and shades run from summer sheer cherry to damson berry for fall makeup looks.

"Red is really an umbrella term for a huge range of deeply nuanced hues, from pinkish watermelon to orangey geranium to fire engine red to oxblood," Rachel Felder writes in Red Lipstick: An Ode to a Beauty Icon. "There truly is a rainbow within the colour family, with ample options to suit literally everyone. Although there are some general rules most women follow, finding the perfect shade can take some trial and error, plus ample time at the makeup counter. In addition to one’s colouring, it’s worth keeping in mind what clothing you’ll be wearing it with, where you’ll be going, and even the season and climate." 

Max Factor's UK makeup artist ambassador Caroline Barnes agrees that a number of factors play into how a shade actually looks on. "Orange reds are good with warmer skin tones, and that's a more modern red so you could wear it with a T-shirt, casually," she tells us. "A classic Hollywood red suits everybody. Be aware that any kind of red tones in makeup will amplify pink undertones in your skin; that’s why when you’ve got a paler complexion people like to go for the bluer reds." 

But while rules can be helpful in narrowing down your shade, don't write off one you love because your skin's undertone doesn't fit the profile. Every expert agrees the best way to answer the question 'what colour suits me?' is to use your own eye. "Ultimately, anyone can carry any lipstick off—you either put it on and go 'oh yes' or 'oh no'," says Barnes. "It's gut instinct and if you think it makes you feel good then it's for you."

After that, it's about perseverence; they say it takes three wears to feel completely at home in a red lip, so take this advice, pick a lipstick from our lineup of all-time greats, and remember to fake it till you make it. Every signature red starts somewhere.