The fashion and beauty team tests tons of lip colors each month to bring the best of the rest in our monthly Best in Beauty column. Every season our favorite brands release a new red lipstick, which makes it easy to fall into a red-lip fatigue. One is enough, right? In reality, although red lipsticks may look similar in the tube, they can vary depending on skin tone, the shade’s undertone and the season. Summer reds tend to have a pink/orange undertone, while winter reds veer towards brown-red mixtures like wine. No matter what shade you are searching for, one of the four below is a good place to start.
1) Coral lipsticks are pretty flattering on most complexions. This pink-red option from Topshop delivers subtle, buildable color and a hint of shine.
2) This limited-edition release from Sephora x Craig and Karl (West End Swirl) actually reads more like a burnt orange when worn. The super matte finish is sophisticated and the perfect middle ground between true reds and bright coral options.
3) No conversation on red lipstick would be complete without the highest-selling lipstick in 2014. MAC’s Ruby Woo is the Goldilocks of lipsticks; neither too warm nor too cool, it flatters almost every complexion.
4) If you are reaching for red lipstick to make teeth appear whiter and brighter, a shade with more of a blue undertone is your best bet. The formula of Gerard Cosmetic’s Fire Engine is similar to Ruby Woo but with a slightly cooler undertone.