Our 30 All-Time Favorite Red Lipsticks

July 20, 2022

By: Ariel Wodarcyk | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

There’s nothing more classic than a bold red lip. The universally flattering beauty staple can transform your look from no-makeup makeup to polished glam with just a single swipe. But with so many shades to choose from, including blue-based pinky reds, blazing oranges and deep brick hues, it can be hard to narrow down the best red lipstick for you. To remove some of the guesswork, we’ve rounded up 30 of our all-time favorite red lipsticks below.

1 / 30

Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Power Longwear Satin Lipstick in 404 Tempting

This rich berry red shade makes a dramatic statement on all skin tones. We love the comfortable, oil-infused formula and luminous satin finish.

2 / 30

NYX Professional Makeup Lip Lingerie XXL Matte Liquid Lipstick in 27 Fuego

If you’re a fan of liquid lipstick, you’ll love this vivid, long-wearing formula. Fuego is a punchy, vibrant red that’s transfer-proof for up to 16 hours.

3 / 30

Valentino Beauty Rosso Valentino Refillable Lipstick in Ethereal Red

The slick red and gold tube is almost as gorgeous as the classic blue-based red lipstick it houses. Bonus: The packaging is refillable, so you can re-up on your favorite shade without having to buy a whole new product.

4 / 30

YSL Beauty The Slim Velvet Radical Matte Lipstick in Fatal Carmin

This boldly pigmented semi-matte lipstick comes in a super narrow tube and has such sharp edges, you’ll never need to worry about a lip liner. Fatal Carmin is a deep, blue-based red.

5 / 30

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 714

Urban Decay recently reformulated their Vice lipsticks to become even more long-wearing and pigmented. Despite the fact that these shades don’t budge, they’re surprisingly comfortable for all-day wear.

6 / 30

L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in Luminous Coral

Formulated with 60% oils, this high-shine moisturizing formula gives your lips a pop of red-orange color. It feels like a lip gloss, but it’s housed in a lipstick tube.

7 / 30

The Lip Bar Liquid Matte in Bawse Lady

Bawse Lady, a blue-based cherry red, has been The Lip Bar’s bestseller for the past five years. No wonder: I’s matte, richly pigmented and lasts all day.

8 / 30

Maybelline New York Color Sensational Matte Lipstick in Divine Wine

This dramatic berry shade is enhanced with honey nectar and shea butter for a comfortable matte finish. It stays put for up to 12 hours and leaves the prettiest stain as it fades.

9 / 30

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Lip Crayon in Little Chili

Cozy up this upcoming fall with this spiced brick shade. The narrow crayon shape makes touch-ups a breeze and eliminates the need for a separate lip pencil.

10 / 30

YSL Beauty Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm in Rouge Studio

Swipe on this blue-based red lipstick for a dose of hydration and shine. It’s composed of 65% essential oils for sheer, glossy color.

11 / 30

Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Drama Ink Liquid Lipstick in French Touch

This liquid lipstick glides on with a plush, semi-matte finish and has a petal-shaped applicator to define the edges of your lips. French Touch is a warm, deep red that will complement golden undertones perfectly.

12 / 30

NYX Professional Makeup Shine Loud High Shine Lip Color in Rebel In Red

If your goal is to stand out, reach for this candy apple red. The dual-ended product comes with a transfer-proof lip color and a clear lip gloss for a mirror-like sheen that lasts all day.

13 / 30

IT Cosmetics Pillow Lips Lipstick in Stellar

Stellar is the definition of a true, classic red. This shade will enhance your summer glow well into fall. The cream formula glides on comfortably and smoothes the appearance of lip lines.

14 / 30

Giorgio Armani Beauty Ecstasy Shine Lipstick in 300 Play

This red-hot coral shade feels like a moisturizing balm but has the color intensity of a lipstick. The high-shine finish lasts for up to eight hours.

15 / 30

Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Cream Lipstick in 132 Caprice De Rouge

This lip color is ultra-creamy and ultra-fiery. We’re partial to the shade Caprice De Rouge, a bold, orange-toned red.

16 / 30

Maybelline New York SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Individualist

For a flawless matte finish that stays put for up to 16 hours, reach for this velvety liquid lipstick. The precision applicator makes it easy to color inside the lines, and Individualist is the perfect orangey-red.

17 / 30

L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour in British Red

Swipe on this classic red bullet for a ‘50s movie star-inspired lip. The matte formula is enriched with vitamin E and argan oil to soften and moisturize your lips.

18 / 30

Mented Cosmetics Red Matte Lipstick in Red Rover

This rich plum shade is perfect for dark skin tones looking to experiment with different reds. All Mented Cosmetics lipsticks are vegan, cruelty-free and made in the US.

19 / 30

Lancôme Color Design Lipstick in 378 Wine Party

Wine Party, a soft, creamy, fall-ready merlot hue, is the perfect shade between a red and a berry.

20 / 30

NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam

This ladybug-red shade has a unique mousse-like consistency that feels creamy and comfortable on the lips. It dries down to a powdery matte finish that lasts all day.

21 / 30

L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Satin Lipstick in Blooming Rose

Infused with nourishing oils, this bright, blue-based red manages to moisturize your lips without sliding off or feathering into lip lines.

22 / 30

Kosas Weightless Lipstick in Fringe

This warm-toned brick shade is perfect for fall, especially on medium and dark skin tones. The formula is packed with mango seed and shea butter to nourish your lips in the cooler, drier months.

23 / 30

YSL Beauty Water Stain Lip Stain in Ruby Wave

This sheer, blue-based pinky-red gives lips a just bitten look. Apply one coat for a sheer wash of color, or layer it for bold, glossy pigment.

24 / 30

Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Maestro in Redwood

You only need one swipe of this liquid lipstick’s doe-foot applicator for vibrant, opaque color. The velvet matte formula lasts for up to eight hours without cracking or settling into lines.

25 / 30

Glossier Generation G in Zip

It’s tough to find a lipstick that’s sheer and matte rather than shiny, which is why we love this unique formula. Zip is a subtle coral tint that you can layer for more intense color payoff.

26 / 30

NYX Professional Makeup Liquid Suede Cream Longwear Lipstick in Kitten Heels

This velvet matte lipstick is a true red. It leaves lips feeling moisturized all day, and with a quick-drying formula, you won’t have to worry about lipstick transfer.

27 / 30

Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Longwear Liquid Lip Color in Red-Hot

We call it the perfect red gloss; this liquid lipstick is transfer-proof and made to last all day. For an instant shine, shake before applying.

28 / 30

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Liquid Lipstick in Ma Cherie

This cheerful orange-red will light up any makeup look. The formula is seriously smudge- and transfer-proof for up to 16 hours.

29 / 30

Maybelline New York SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick in Check Yourself

The precise shape of this lip crayon makes it easy to define and sculpt your lips, even on the go. Check Yourself is the perfect muted shade for those who are just dipping their toes into the world of red lipstick.

30 / 30

YSL Beauty Tatouage Couture Velvet Cream Liquid Lipstick in Rouge Faction

Saturate your lips with creamy matte color with this luxe lip stain. Rouge Faction, a poppy pinky-red, has blue undertones that will make your teeth appear whiter.

Photo: Chaunte Vaughn