Now that holiday party season is in full swing, you’ve probably already gotten the perfect, sparkling dress with shoes to match, accessorized with a festive clutch or even a reindeer head band. Another winning accessory to bring to any holiday party (or anywhere else!) is a bold and beautiful red lip that complements your skin tone!

A red lip is an easy, classic way to take a makeup look to the next level, especially if bolder hues are not typically in your wheelhouse. Red lipstick has oftentimes gotten a bad rap, with incorrect notions like “red lipstick doesn’t look good on dark skin”, or that “it’s trashy” being told to many young black girls. Not only are those two notions wildly inaccurate, but easy to prove that those beliefs are fake news by rocking a red that’s right for you. Check out the range of red lipstick options below to find your perfect fit.

The Groundwork

Moisturized, well-hydrated lips are a must, whether you wear rouge à lèvres or not, but it is especially crucial when wearing matte liquid lipsticks. Some great lip balms that I have in my collection are Supergoop Acai Fusion Lip Balm, Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm (both available at Sephora) and Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm (available at Cult Beauty). Apply the balm of your choice and let it dry before proceeding with your lipstick application.



Draw the Line Somewhere

To help whatever shade of lipstick you choose to last all night, a complimentary lip liner is essential. Whether you use a slightly darker shade of liner to create an ombré effect, fill your entire lips in with liner to serve as a “base coat”, or line your lips in the same color as your lipstick to provide added definition, a lip liner is a quick and easy way to elevate your lip arsenal. Some personal favorites of mine include ColourPop Cosmetics Lippie Pencils in Bichette, Bossy, Frenchie, and I Heart This (available at ColourPop.com), NYX Cosmetics Slim Lip Pencil in Hot Red, Cabaret, Auburn and Burgundy (available at most drug store beauty counters and at Ulta), and Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil in shades Bad Blood and Blackmail (available at most department stores, Sephora, and Ulta).



Pictured: Ellarie Lip Liner from ColourPop’s website

And now for the (red) meat of this article, some examples:

The True Red – Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Uncensored – $24



This universal red shade is long wearing and will go well with any holiday party ensemble.
 Available at Sephora.

The Vampy Vixen Red (dark red) – Milani Amore Matte Lip Crème in Magnificent ($9)

 

This deep merlot, long-wearing matte red is perfect for embracing your inner vampy side.
Available at Walgreens, CVS or MilaniCosmetics.com

The Dainty Red (light red)- NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella ($27)


This shade of red is not too bright, and not too loud, perfect for the ladies who are just dipping their toe into the land of red lipstick.
Available at Sephora

The Bold Red (bright red) – Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 714 ($18)



This highly pigmented bullet lipstick in a mega-matte finish is great for every skin tone.
Available at Macy’s, Ulta or Sephora.

Honorable Mentions – The Budget Conscious

Rocking a ravishing red pout does not have to break the bank. For some more affordable lipstick options, cruelty-free makeup retailer ColourPop has dozens of reds to pick from, in every formula you could want. For the lipstick traditionalist, their Lippie Stix formula is packed with pigment and comfortable to wear. Some red shades to choose from include Bichette (another true red), Ellarie (a cranberry shade, curated by and named for the beauty YouTuber Ellarie), Poison (she’s a brick…. red!), and Trust Me (a very bright red). I own all of these shades and they have never let me down!

For the long-wear lovers, the Ultra Matte lipstick formula may be more up your alley. Red shades in this line include LAX (a very deep, vampy red), Avenue (a dark blood red), Pearl
Next Door (an oxblood red), and Creeper (a true red).

The Removal

Matte liquid lipstick is great because it can last through eating, drinking, and kissing under the mistletoe, but this longevity comes with a price – the removal. Oil based products are the easiest way to go, whether it’s olive oil from the kitchen cupboard or coconut oil you might have on hand as part of your hair regime. Cleansing oils such as SkinFix Cleansing Oil Wash (my holy grail oil cleanser), will also do the trick, in addition to easily removing all traces of the rest of your makeup too. If you don’t have any of these, many lip balms (like the ones listed above) supplemented with a makeup wipe and patients will similarly get the job done.

Is there a red lip you love that we didn’t mention? Be sure to tell us in the comments below!