How to Find the Best Red Lipstick

Whether it's your signature look or a special-occasion thing, at some point red lipstick, in all its gorgeous glory, will likely grace your mouth.

RealSimple.com: Our Best Beauty Secrets and Tips

By Didi Gluck

Well, Red
Let's start with: Red lipstick is a stone-cold classic, say makeup artists (and most mere mortals). Among women who wear lipstick regularly-that would be 71 percent of us, according to a survey by Elizabeth Arden-fully one-third sport crimson (and that number more than doubles over the holidays, reports Birchbox). However, these lipstick-wearers admit that when it comes to finding their perfect shade, red is the trickiest one to ace.

Fortunately, singling out your best scarlet just got a whole lot easier. Click through for tips on how to choose shades, everything from brick to cranberry, with skin-tone-specific color suggestions and-here's where things really get simple-universally wearable hues. (Don't believe there is such a thing? All three of our models here are wearing NARS limited-edition lipstick in Future Red.) All that and application secrets, too.

To buy: $26, saksfifthavenue.com (available through January; also try NARS Red Lizard or Fire Down Below). For Fair Skin

If you have fair skin, consider a shade with a touch of orange in it to brighten your complexion, suggests New York City-based makeup artist Melissa Silver. Think tomato red to coral red. That's not to say you can't go with a dark red, but stay away from deep reds with blue in them, which can appear Goth against an alabaster skin tone. Here's an easy way to gauge what works: Rather than swatch colors on your hand, dab on a fingertip and hold it up to your lip. Or apply the color (if possible) and snap a selfie. If the lipstick looks jarring to you, it will to others, too.

For a more modern effect, skip using a liner, unless you have fine lines around your mouth. In that case, outline your mouth with a nude (skin-toned, not lip-toned) pencil after applying color to keep it from bleeding into the creases.

Shown: L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipstick in British Red, $9, drugstore.com . Other options: Revlon Super Lustrous Pearl Lipstick in Red Lacquer, $8, drugstore.com . Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Color SPF 16 in Red Orange, $10, target.com . (Blouse by Eva Mendes Collection for New York & Company.)

For Medium Skin

Good news for those with medium-toned skin: Basically, anything goes for you, from orange-red (ideal during the summer) to burgundy (in winter), according to Silver. One thing to keep in mind: If your teeth aren't pristine clean, avoid hues with too much orange in them, which will amplify the yellow in your, um, pearly whites.

Shown: Jane Iredale Pure Moist Lipstick in Margi, $25, janeiredale.com . Other options: e.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick in Red Carpet, $3, eyeslipsface.com . NYX Matte Lipstick in Pure Red, $6, nyxcosmetics.com . (Top by Massimo Dutti.)

For Dark Skin

Cool reds, devoid of orange undertones, are the most complementary on dark skin. In general, look for shades with a blue, almost plum, cast (as in, deep cranberry to light crimson). Remember, dark colors can be deceptive in the tube-coming out sheerer than expected-so when possible, test on skin before investing. To deepen the intensity of a sheer shade, try smoothing foundation that is a shade or two lighter than your skin on your lips first. This cancels out the pigment in your lips, and allows more of the color of the lipstick to come through.

Shown: MAC Lipstick in Dubonnet, $15, maccosmetics.com . Other options: NYC New York Color Ultra Moist Lipwear in Sheer Red, $1, newyorkcolor.com . Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Apple-A-Day, $6, ulta.com . (Top by Design History.)

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