Red Lipsticks for Every Skin Tone + Undertone

Darlings, finding the perfect red lipstick for your skin tone is a science! Red lipsticks can have a wide range of overtones and undertones from blue, to berry, to brown, and each can look very different on the lips depending on your skin tone. By analysing the tones that are present in your skin, you can discover which red lipsticks will be the most flattering for you to wear.

In this guide, discover the different undertones of red lipstick and learn which will look best on your skin tone.

Red Lipstick Undertones

What is an Undertone?

Undertones are the subtle, varied tones that are present within a colour. Every colour is made up of different tones, and the way that these tones interact influences how a colour looks to the eye. Undertones are usually categorised as warm, neutral, or cool, and knowing the undertones of your skin and your red lipstick can help you to create a harmonious look that pops on your complexion.

Cool, Blue-Toned Red Lipsticks

Darlings, if you have a cool undertone in your skin, I recommend reaching for a cool-toned red lipstick with blue undertones. Cool undertones often have blue, red, or pink hues. If the below apply to you, you are likely to have a cool undertone:

• The veins in your wrist are blue or purple.
• Your skin burns easily in the sun.
• Silver jewellery suits you more than gold jewellery.
• Red lipstick tends to look pink on you.

Blue-based red lip shades are extremely flattering for a cool-toned complexion and can help teeth to appear whiter. Discover my best blue-toned red lipsticks from my NEW! Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipstick collection that you need to try:

Warm-Toned Red Lipsticks

For warm undertones, I recommend a warm-toned red lipstick like an orange or chilli red to complement the warm tones in your skin. If you have a warm undertone, your skin is likely to appear golden, peach, or tan. Does the below apply to your skin tone, darling? If so, you may have warm-toned skin.

• The veins in your wrist are greenish blue.
• Your skin tans easily in the sun.
• Gold jewellery suits you more than silver jewellery.
• Red lipstick tends to look orange on you.

Warm red lip shades are perfect for igniting your makeup look with a fiery pop of colour! Discover warm-toned red lipsticks from my NEW! Hollywood Beauty Icons Lipstick collection, as well as my classic Walk of No Shame shade for a rush of cosy, rosy red.

Red Lipsticks with Neutral Undertones

People with neutral undertones can pull off both warm and cool red lipstick shades, but they look best in vibrant, true reds. When skin has a mixture of warm and cool tones, its colour is balanced out resulting in a true, neutral undertone. Here’s how to tell if your skin has a neutral undertone:

• The veins in your wrist are blue with hints of green or purple.
• Your skin tans in the sun but is also prone to burning.
• Gold and silver jewellery suits you equally.
• Red lipstick looks true to colour on your lips.

The true red lip shades that I recommend if you have a neutral undertone in your skin don’t swing orange or blue; they stay neutral in tone to deliver classic red lip colour. Discover neutral red lipsticks from my lipstick collection that will look sensational on your neutral skin tone.

Find the perfect lipstick shades for you

Discover The Most Flattering Red Lipsticks for your Skin Tone

Every red lipstick that I create is designed to look magical on every skin tone, darlings! However, everyone has their signature red that just pops like no other once swiped onto the lips! Different skin tones will suit different shades of red more than others – here are some tips on how to find the perfect red lipstick for your skin tone:

Red Lipsticks for Fair Skin

Fair skin tones look mesmerising in brighter shades of red. A pale complexion can sometimes be overpowered by deep red lipsticks, but a bright red lipstick can help to lift and enliven the look of fair skin. Softer, more muted shades of red can also look very flattering on fair skin. Delicate reds have a more understated look which makes them easy to wear as an everyday lip look for fair skin.

Red Lipsticks for Medium Skin

Medium skin tones will naturally suit a mid-toned red lipstick. Due to the in-between nature of a medium skin tone, red lipsticks that are too light or too deep may miss the mark. Instead, I recommend wearing a rich red that isn’t too pink, too brown, or too berry. Depending on your undertone, a mid-toned orange or blue-red will complement your medium skin tone flawlessly.

Red Lipsticks for Tan Skin

Tan skin tones exude warmth and often have a naturally golden appearance, so a warm-toned red lipstick with hints of orange will look extremely flattering. Other warm tones that look fabulous on tan skin are coral, scarlet, and warm-brown reds. Cool tones in tan skin often appear olive and are best complemented by a rich wine or berry-toned red.

Red Lipsticks for Deep Skin

Deep skin tones are naturally rich and can wear bolder shades of red like burgundies, bright reds, and jewel tones with ease. With deep skin, it’s important to use the right lip liner to create the perfect, dimensional red lip. Deep brown, purple, and red lip liners like my Lip Cheat in Foxy Brown or Berry Naughty are perfect bases for a red lipstick look for deep skin; they provide definition and help to complement even lighter shades of red lipstick with deep skin.

Red Lipsticks that Suit Everyone, Everywhere

Darlings, my NEW! Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipsticks are designed to be universally flattering and instantly beautifying! While your skin tone and undertone will influence which red lipstick looks best on you, each of these shades are expertly formulated with the perfect colouration for every skin tone. Are you a Hollywood Vixen or a Fame Flame? Are you a vision in Cinematic Red? Maybe you’re searching for the Mark of a Kiss or want to add some Pizzazz to your makeup look! Whichever shade suits your style is the shade that will make you look and feel your most beautiful and confident!

Discover Charlotte’s Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipsticks

Darlings, now that you’ve learnt my tips and tricks for choosing a red lipstick for your skin tone, discover my Lipstick Finder and let my expert beauty-tech be your guide! In a few magical moments, you’ll be matched with a shortlist of perfect red lipstick shades especially suited to your skin tone!

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