Nothing says sexy quite like red lipstick. A bold red lip is a classic makeup staple that every woman should have in her collection, because red lipstick not only commands attention, but it is extremely versatile and elegant. Red lipstick has the power to take almost any outfit or makeup look up a notch, and it can easily go from day to night. As with anything makeup related, every woman can pull off red lipstick, but the key is to find the perfect shade for your skin tone. 

Before we jump into the lipsticks, let’s talk about how I do the rest of my makeup on days when I wear bold lips, because bold lipstick makeup is a little different from nude lipstick makeup. Before applying foundation I make sure that my skin is extremely moisturized with a hydrating primer. My skin tends to get pretty dry sometimes, so it’s imperative to make sure that my skin is nice and prepped for my full coverage foundation. When wearing red lipstick, I like to keep my make up nice and “minimal” with flawless foundation, highlight to give a slight sun kissed appearance, contour, and a flirty lash. I like to keep my eyes light to keep the focus on my lips. 

Now, lets get into the 5 best lipsticks for every skin tone.

Holy Grail: MAC RUBY WOO – A classic, bright-red matte lipstick that every woman needs. Ruby Woo is a great staple red.

Super Pigmented: JUVIAS PLACE LULU – A liquid lipstick that glides on smoothly, is extremely pigmented, and doesn’t crack or crumble. 

True Red Lip Stain: FENTY STUNNA LIP PAINT UNCENSORED – A universal red for all skin tones that isn’t too cool or too warm, that dries down to a lip stain. 

Blue Based: COLOURED RAINE CHERRY BLOSSOM – A darker, sultrier red that has all day staying power and doesn’t wear down to a pink color like some red lipsticks do.

Affordable: COLOURPOP LIPPIE STIX TRUST ME – A close dupe for Ruby Woo, but with a more moisturizing formula and for a fraction of the price.

Now that you have a list of 5 beautiful red lipsticks to get you started, it’s time to exfoliate your lips and apply one of these beautiful shades in three easy steps. 

LINE

To get started you want to line your lips with a lip liner one shade or so darker than your lipstick color. Start lining your lips at the Cupid’s bow on your top lip and the center of your bottom lip. Lining your lips at the cupid’s bow and the bottom center first make it easier to connect the lip line neatly. 

APPLY

Apply 2-3 layers of lipsticks onto your lips to ensure full coverage. It’s important to exfoliate your lips before applying matte lipstick, because if not you run the risk of exposing chapped and cracked lips and ruining the over all look of your makeup.

CONCEAL 

To complete the lipstick application, clean the outer edges of your lips with a minimal amount of concealer. Using concealer to clean up your lipstick makes your lips appear more plump and defined. 

Now you’re all set with the perfect red lipstick.