The Best Red Lipsticks Of All Time

As much as we cherish neutral shades of lipstick for everyday wear, there’s nothing quite like a bold red to get you in the celebrating mood. A trusty red lipstick has been an essential part of beauty arsenals for centuries, from Marilyn Monroe’s iconic hue to Rihannah’s bare-eyes-and-bold-red combo, there are countless ways to mix and master the classic shade. As we look to celebrate Chinese New Year and reign in the Year of The Ox, we couldn’t think of a better makeup look to recreate than the bold red lip.

From cool-toned reds to crimson hues, here are our picks of the most flattering reds to suit everyone.

CHANEL Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour – 99 Pirate

It’s impossible to not include a classic Chanel red in the line-up - this classic red shade has the most velvety of textures.

DIOR Rouge Dior Lipstick – 999

If you like your formulas creamy and silky, then Dior’s ticks the boxes - plus it’s surprisingly long-wearing for a not-matte lipstick.

M.A.C. Retro Matte Lipstick – Ruby Woo

MAC’s Ruby Woo has been a fan favourite for years. Cool-toned, it especially suit pale complexions.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY Matte Revolution – ROSE WISH

Matte, but velvety and supple, and richly pigmented - Charlotte Tilbury’s legendary formulas do it all.

REVLON Super Lustrous Lipstick – Fire and Ice

Super pigmented and layers easily, once applied, this Revlon lipstick locks onto your lips for hours on end. No wonder it’s a best seller.

FENTY BEAUTY Stunna Lip Paint – Uncensored

Each and every shade in Fenty’s “stunna” range was handpicked by Rihanna. If that alone doesn’t convince you this is the perfect red, it’s also one of the most long-lasting products, promising up to 12 hours of wear.

YSL ROUGE PUR COUTURE – N°1 LE ROUGE

A favourite among makeup artists, YSL’s Le Rouge is a classic red that suits most skin tones.

PAT MCGRATH LABS MatteTrance Lipstick – Rebel Red

If there is one thing we can all agree on, is that anything from Pat McGrath is an absolute hit, and the same goes for her best-selling Rebel Red lipstick.

HOURGLASS Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick – I CRAVE

A lighter alternative to typical lipsticks, Hourglass’ ultra-smooth, creamy formula goes on super pigmented with a weightless feeling.

TOM FORD LIP COLOUR – Cherry Lush

This Tom Ford lipstick will leave your lips feeling supple and conditioned, while also delivering rich, long-lasting colour.