I love a great, blue-based red lipstick that is still bright but not insanely bright. I’m not a huge fan of matte red unless it’s a deeper, more muted red (like MAC Viva Glam I).
— Christine
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
I just haven’t found a good one yet. I’ve used this site to find that I need a blue-red, instead of an orange-red, but my husband has asked that I stay my hand on new makeup for awhile! (I’ve been learning a lot and kind of have been going full throttle on experimenting with new products for the last few weeks!)
My favorite red is Mac Red. It’s a beautiful, bright blue-based red with a satin finish that compliments pretty much everyone.
When the rest of my look is polished, like hair and outfit, a nice red certainly compliments like MAC Russian Red or Lady Danger. Otherwise, looking at photos taken I feel very clownish or like the cliche of a wacky substitute teacher LOL
Love: My favorite reds are Viva Glam I and Hearts Aflame (both MAC)
Hate: Feathering! Even with matte, it feathers after a while and gets into those fine lip lines. Primer and lip pencil don’t prevent this.
I am so with you on this! I love the look of red lipstick but no matter what I do, there is feathering and I feel like Bette Davis in “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.” It is so high-maintenance.
Love: Looks great on most women, classic.
Hate: Looks hideous on me. As in frighten-the-horses, scare-the-children hideous. 😉
I love red lipstick. Especially matte red lipstick.
My favorites are MAC Russian Red and Lady Danger. I also love ABH Ruby and Colourpop London Fog.
The one thing I don’t like about the MAC lipsticks is that even though they’re matte, they can still get on my teeth or smudge. I’ve had to retouch those two MAC lipsticks.
The Colourpop lipstick, though technically a satin, stays on amazingly well, so it’s my favorite red to wear, though Russian Red is my favorite shade of red.
I just got ABH Ruby, so I haven’t gotten around to wearing it yet.
I need a blue undertoned red lipstick. Any suggestions? (I used MAC- ruby woo, but I want more charming-more blue undertoned lips)
Take a look at Colourpop’s Ultra Satin lipstick called London Fog. There’s a review of it here on Temptalia. On the downside, you can’t see it in person; on the upside, it’s only $6.
Matte finishes make me look like Morticia. I do better with something glossy, or at a minimum, satin. But I just can’t deal with the upkeep of red. I will wear it out of the house but once it disappears because I have had a drink or something to eat, that’s the end. Even if I wanted to reapply, it’s not something I can just swipe on quickly in public and most ladies’ rooms have inadequate light to do anything. Bad lighting, bad mirrors everywhere. That’s my real rant.
I hate that ladies’ rooms have such bad lighting. I have a lighted compact mirror, but it’s too bulky to carry in a little evening bag, so I use a very slim magnified mirror compact I bought online. It’s not an ideal situation, but the magnification helps.
Love me a good, solid shade of red! It brings my face to life and makes me feel beautiful and just gives me a powerful boost in mood. My favorite formula in a red is either a shiny one that “sets” so it won’t move around, ie; MAC Yoni Crush or UD Cruel, or a true blue-red or deep red matte, ie; MAC VGI or Ruby Woo.
The ones that I’m not so into are ones that have too much slip or are so emollient that they could feather or travel into the corners of my mouth. Either of which is NOT a cute look. And now that I’ve “discovered” my favorite matte lipstick formula, I don’t believe I will be going for a dry-down liquid lipstick with the one exception of DoC Hot Fire.
I’m a public speaker for work, and I love a nice blue based bright red for my shows!
I love how reds make me feel, and how they can affect my mood for the better!
Zero rants here!
I prefer darker, neutral reds – like Chanel’s Rouge Vie or Nars Cruella. I’ve got a weird skintone NC30/35 with strong olive, red, and yellow undertones that just make certain lipsticks with strong undertones just clash. I don’t look great with bright red lipsticks and end up blotting them for a more muted look, but I can definitely pull off a bright fuchsia!
Love: When the color is right (light cherry red for me), there is nothing more dramatic/cheery/classic than red lips. A fail-safe lip pencil is mandatory.
Hate: It can be messy. Spoons, water glasses, etc. But, I work around those things.
Red lipstick provides instant glamour and brightens up the face like no other colour. It suits young and old, as well as every skin tone. On the minus side, you do need a lipliner otherwise it’ll ‘bleed’.
I love a creamy red lipstick that doesn’t look harsh and I especially love those that fade (as all lipsticks fade and wear away on me) evenly so I’m left with a nice, even stain and not that red ring around my lip line and nothing on my lips. Two that I rely on are UD F-Bomb (the “old” version) and MAC Red Necessity (discontinued, sadly!)
I also love F-Bomb, it’s one of my favourite reds. I also have the old version.
I live for red lipstick! Bite Gazpacho is my favorite HE. For less expensive lipsticks I love Wet ‘n Wild Stoplight Red, NYX Eden and Perfect Red and Colour Pop London Fog. Only Rave here!
I LOVE red lipstick! It wasn’t until my friend mentioned that she felt her eyes stood out with bold orange pink lips that awoken my color theory brain in relation to makeup. I then realized that the scary reds I had been avoiding might be nice with my green eyes. Since then my collections of reds has grown… alot. Favorites include- Bite Sour Cherry, Dose Kiss of Fire and Los Anjealous and recently Nars Annabelle. The only issue I have is that I have relatively big lips, so even a little bit of overdrawing with the reds makes me feel like Miranda Sings.
It has to be an orangey- or brownish-red to look good on me, and definitely can NOT be matte! My best red color is Nars Banned Red, which is a softer kind of color, more nude-reddish-brown than just bright red.
I love a good red lip ,, especially in the fall /winter months , I think warmer reds look best on me but weirdly I seem to gravitate towards slightly cool tones .
As far as finish I love when any lipstick is creamy full coverage , that leaves my lips looking smooth , plump and hydrated and lasts. , is that too much to ask ? Lol….
The two that come to mind is “Garconne” from Guerlain’s Rouge G collection , and Ruby Copper from
Shisedo’s Rouge Rouge collection .
Both reviewed on this site.
When you eat with it on and get CLOWN MOUTH!
Only rave from me. I love red lipsticks, all finishes, both warm and cool reds. UD F-Bomb is a favourite, as well as MAC Red, MAC Russian Red, Ruby Woo, MAC Ruby, Besame makes a lot of lovely reds, and the list goes on and on.
I think red lipsticks just make me feel happy, I do know I smile when I see a good red lipstick swatched here
I adore cool and blue based reds. ADORE THEM. They’re my power colour.
But…stuff bleeds on my lips. :S I make it work, but I wish that it didn’t since my life would be a bit easier.
There is nothing more classic than a beautifully applied, stunning red lipstick. I find it to be so empowering. Give me MAC’s Russian Red any day. Another red that I love is Revlon’s Certainly Red.
Rave: A great red lipstick that suits the wearer brightens any face and is so chic. Especially when paired with a black and white outfit
My favourite reds are: Clarins Joli Rouge Red Terra, Beseme Red and MAC does some sterling reds.
Rant: – no rants – just love the shade.
Only love once you find the right shade!
Miska + red lipstick of virtually any shade = L.O.V.E.
I think Milani makes some real kick ass red lipsticks. Both the regular and the matte lipsticks (tube version, can’t speak for the liquid formula) absolutely rock. They have some serious staying power and I can wear them without lip liner. Affordable DS brand to try out to find your shade of red. The smell doesn’t bother me but it may be a dealbreaker for some. I have so many red shades from this brand amongst others.
I love the idea of red lipstick and love it on others, but I do not rock it all that well. My skintone is super fussy and I vastly prefer pink reds and fuschias. If I had to choose a red, it would be one that is balanced in temperature and not too bright. NARS Mysterious Red is a good example. Darker reds, earthy reds, ultra cool blue reds, ultra warm reds do not do all that much for me.. disappointingly. MAC Red Balloon, Bite Radish.. throw some pink in it and it’s like flipping a switch.. but yeah they are not reds.
Matte all the way. Too much slip = too much mess and too high maintenance.
People who seem to wear red well, also suit a very structured lip. I don’t know why, but I don’t. To prevent feathering, I outline the very outer perimeter with the clear OCC lip pencil. I typically will also use a matching lip pencil, but then I use the tip of my finger to blur the lip pencil line slightly.
Dolce n Gabanna has the best red lipsticks. So nany selections.
I have never worn a true red lipstick out in public in my life. I just can’t, all I can see are clown lips on my face.
I love red lipsticks on everyone else. I think a red lip looks sexy, glamorous and powerful, whether orange or blue based. On top of that I have never seen anyone else sporting a red lip that made me think of clown lips. That’s just the way it is…maybe in my next life? Lol!
Rant: Probably the most high maintenance color. Frequently, even with lip liners and primers, it will leach into my lip lines. I need to carry a concealer and lip brush to do touch ups, powder or powder foundation alone does not work.
Rave: By far the most sophisticated, powerful lip color. I have several I really love. I look better in cool toned reds so Elizabeth Arden, “Red Door Red” which is neutral to cool is my favorite. It comes in a moisturizing lipstick, lip liner and a gloss. Rimmel Kate Moss #107 is a beautiful cool toned red for a drugstore option. I also love MAC Ruby Woo which is a recent purchase and MAC Viva Glam 1.
I wear red lipstick every single day. Seriously. It’s my favorite and a lot of people tell me they like how I look when I wear red. I opt for semi-matte or really matte finishes, it sounds stupid because we’re talking red lipstick but when it has a lot of sheen it feels too in your face, it doesn’t look as casual. I definitely own more than I need but there’s a different shade of red for days and outfits. However I hate that I have to line my lips, you’d think you wouldn’t have to but it makes such a difference, it doesn’t smudge and it lasts longer, even if the formula is good, make it even better by lining your lips first.
My current favorites are Pinch of Colour in Sophia, Mac Russian Red and Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Madrid. I think muted colors are better for a daily basis, something like Mac Ruby Woo would be too bright and with what I’m very pale and wear it with almost no makeup, it can make me look washed out.
I love blue- base red! I have to wear black for work and I always feel like it goes well and makes a classic look (I am fair brunette with green eyes, cool undertone). I have a fair few but my favourites are MAC Red and Colourpop London Fog. The former is a slightly better colour, but the colourpop simply holds better to my lips and is less high maintenance. I use MAC lipliner in a cherry red. Considering the price of the Colourpop one I have no guilt about being on my second tube!
I’ve never met a red lipstick I didn’t like. The only bad things I can say about them is that some tend to get on my teeth if I’m not careful, and they can stain clothing.
Nothing but looooove. Though overtly hooked on brown reds, like the blues, oranges, pinks, purples (reds) etc. almost as much. Red is def the big player, by a long shot, in my stash. Seldom meet a red I dislike, and I see the tiniest gradations. Now yesterday’s CT light warm nudes all look pretty similar, bec not into them.
Red lipstick is such a classic look. I love orange reds and pink reds as colors in general but London fog is the only blue red I’ve tried if it is a blue red. I suspect blue red may be my color I’m a neutral.
I’m learning how to apply and it does look good if I go though the steps, primer, pencil – brush on -blot-reapply and gloss. Red makes my lips look really small so I must overdraw a tiny bit.
I just got Bite Beaty liquid Candied which I can skip the gloss part. BUt I haven’t had the nerve to wear any of it out. Especially London fog it smears and stains so bad.
Red makes your teeth look so white!
Red is a tough one for me. Definitely not the blue-base that you favor. I like my reds on the browner side ideally, but an orangey red can be ok if it’s not too light. Red is probably my least fave lip color though.
Got a new one today w/ Ulta order, from the 20 coupon. Loved it on you, Ms C, and if I’m not mistaken, think you rated it A+. Nars Shirley. New red lip, great day. Going to reread your review right now.
What can I say? It brings spice to the entire face. Been cool too Ned I guess I’m supposed to wear the blue based one but have tried cherries, even vampy with wine and they really make a difference. Love them all! Then berries and plums! ?
Pink reds, all day, all night, all year round. I wear a coral-red on occasion and I have ONE orange red that looks flattering on me (NARS Heat Wave, ilu) but my favorite shades of red on myself are all in the range of almost fuchsia and infamous for turning garish pink on people to blue based, color crayon red. I generally prefer really bright reds over deeper ones, though I have a couple draker reds I still feel great in (Estee Lauder Red Ego,NARS Jeanne, Beaute Masochist)
My favorite red Lipstick is Beso by Stila it is amazing. 🙂