How to Find the Best Red Lipstick for Your Skin Tone

Just like a little black dress, the perfect red lipstick is a wardrobe staple. But all reds are not created equal. If you’ve ever spent a Saturday afternoon at Sephora staring at a rainbow of red lipsticks in confusion, you know the struggle is real. So we chatted with our resident beauty guru + makeup artist Anya Zeitlin to get her tips and tricks for selecting the best red lipstick for your skin tone.

“Red lipstick is one if the trickiest shades to wear,” says Zeitlin. “Some people tend to pull more orange and others tend to pull more pink. I suggest taking several red shades and trying them on the back of your hand or your inner arm to see what shade jumps out at you and looks flattering against your skin tone before trying it on your lips.”

Sheer red lipsticks will be the easiest to wear, while more opaque or matte lipsticks are tricker. “Also, more opaque or matte lipsticks usually look best with a full face of makeup—but don’t overdo it on eyeshadow because a red lip is already a bold look on its own,” cautions Zeitlin. Consider trying a more orange-red shade or a more violet-red shade if you don’t like the look of a true red lipstick. “It's a fun way to get the same effect without doing a true red,” she notes.

Because reds look different on everyone, Zeitlin says the perfect shade will vary from woman to woman. But some of her favorite brands for red lipstick include Cle de Peau, Tom Ford, Laura Mercier, ILIA, Chanel, and YSL. Check out five H&D approved red lipsticks below:

No. 1) YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in Le Rouge