InStyle Editors' Favorite Red Lipsticks for a Bold, Classic Look (2024)

This 12-hour long-wear lipstick packs a pigmented punch. Available in five bold shades of red (including burgundy and rich cherry red), this lippy was the clear winner among the products we tested. According to our tester, it glides evenly onto lips and creates a clean, opaque finish in a single swipe. “This lipstick looks great immediately upon application—it dries quickly, and there’s no smudging or bleeding,” she says. The secret is in the doe-foot applicator: Its pointed tip allows you to seamlessly define the edges and corners of your lips.

Despite being matte, the lipstick doesn’t settle into fine lines or feel dry. Instead, the lightweight formula features dimethicone, which keeps lips soft and comfortable and gives off a powder-soft finish. “The lipstick has little to no transfer, and I would feel comfortable wearing it all day without worrying about it fading,” our tester says. On days when you don’t want a matte look, gloss layers beautifully on top—just bear in mind that the lipstick tends to transfer more easily when topped with gloss.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 5 | Size: 0.2 oz.

For the days you want a red without all the maintenance of a red, we reach for Merit’s hydrating lipstick that slides right on like a lip balm, and with five different plant oils, it feels as nourishing and wearable as one, too.

“I love the Merit lipsticks because they’re truly different from your standard lippies in the sense that the formula is quite lightweight, and doesn’t feel even the slightest bit heavy on your lips,” says commerce writer Bianca Kratky. “It applies more sheer than your typical red, but it’s very easy to build up for a brighter hue. I like to make mine nice and bold, so I just keep going until I achieve the look I want.”

Although fragrance may be a dealbreaker for some, it’s another highlight for Kratky, who says that “it smells amazing and applying it feels like a nice, luxurious moment to myself.”

Finish: Satin | Red Shades Available: 4 | Size: 0.12 oz.

Find bright shades intimidating? We did too, until trying the playful Poppy Red from Guerlain's line of skin-forward, nourishing formulas, and found it far more forgiving than the blinding options we’ve gambled with in the past. Don’t get us wrong, this vivid red colorway is an instant head-turner, but its satiny finish and sophisticated shade give it a versatile edge that makes it fully appropriate for all settings. "Not to mention, it has a heavenly, fancy department store scent I'm wholly addicted to smelling," says Irene Richardson, commerce writer.

Honestly, red lipstick requires a little more concentration to apply (an accidental deep burgundy streak outside your lipline is much more noticeable than a neutral one). Still, we’re obsessed with how this one immediately melts into our skin and applies slightly sheer, making mistakes less noticeable. “I can apply this anywhere, anytime without a mirror (a win since I’m often swatching shades on rickety public transportation), and the balmy texture swipes on like cream cheese, ensuring I step out looking fabulous every time.”

One of the best parts is that it won’t leave behind a red watermark on your partner's lip or a drinking glass. However, the formula may make it fade a little faster than a deeply pigmented matte shade.

Finish: High shine | Red Shades Available: 4 | Size: 1.4 oz.

Legends never die, and it’s just as true with lipstick shades as it is with titans of history. When one iteration of Russian Red goes to lipstick heaven (RIP Retro Matte, you were good to me), a new one arrives just in time (welcome to our lives, MACximal).

Senior beauty commerce editor Kaitlin Clark is a self-described lipstick-hater and only wears them “under duress,” but after being peer-pressured by friends several years ago to just give a bright red lip a whirl, she was stunned to find the needle-in-a-haystack lippie that she didn’t hate. “I love lipstick’s entire vibe—the confidence, the glamour, the colors (the brighter, the better)—but when I wear them, they all feel so chalky it feels like my lips are wearing a wool sweater, and then I end up smacking them together or moving them all around without even thinking or realizing I’m doing it, and I just look weird, like I’m having a lip spasm,” she says.

“My mind was genuinely blown when I begrudgingly tried this matte—the worst—red lipstick, only to find that it was somehow, magically, comfortable to wear and didn’t suck all of the moisture out of my lips within seconds or make me feel like I needed to go get Vaseline. In fact, about halfway through the night, I realized I wasn’t even doing the weird lip movements anymore because it just felt like my normal lips,” Clark says.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 1 | Size: 0.12 oz.

There’s pretty much nothing we hate more than missing out on fun because we’re dilly-dallying in the bathroom reapplying our makeup—or worse yet, finding a picture of ourselves later in the night with a bare naked smile. There’s never a dull moment, however, with Mark of a Kiss on our lips.

“Fine, I’ve been known to get my flirt on while wearing this red velvet shade, but how could I not? The color runs a bit deeper than your typical fire-engine red, adding to its after-hours, sultier appeal,” says Richardson.

She says that even given the matte finish, it doesn’t dry out her skin but instead adds fullness (hint: kissability) to her lips. “In a dark crowded room and with a sparkly drink in tow, I’m sure I stand out,” she adds. We may be scrubbing off the stain at the end of the night, but honestly, it's well worth it for a lip that lasts.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 7 | Size: 0.35 oz.

Whether you’re imagining Marilyn Monroe’s bright pout or something left on the rim of a café au lait near the Seine, a classic red lipstick should be noticeable, sophisticated, and a whole lot of fun—and the legendary Bobbi Brown nails it (as always) with Parisian Red. Not only is it a truly striking, fiery red, but it gets major bonus points for its skin-forward formula that harnesses super hydration with monoi de Tahiti oil and a trio of plant, fruit, and seed oils—sunflower, coconut, chamomile—while jasmine flower wax gives it the slip and comfort to wear all night with ease.

Swatching this creamy formula across my lips is a dream, says Kratky, who adds “It's buttery smooth, potent in color, and creates clean lines around the edges so that I don’t need a lip pencil.” Plus, it lasts all day so there’s really no need to re-apply unless you want to indulge your lips one more time in its cushiony, moisturizing feel.

Finish: Satin | Red Shades Available: 8 | Size: 0.13 oz.

“Honestly I initially only picked up this gleaming golden tube because it was serving major eye candy, but my precious red pout hasn’t stopped thanking me since,” says Richardson.

Though it's a brighter shade than she typically wears, Richardson adores how the color doesn’t look clownish against her pale skin. Instead, its slightly orange undertones give ‘em the caviar type of classy razzle-dazzle. “And, when I overlay it with the Gloss à Lèvres lip gloss on top for a shiny finish, mwah, suddenly I’m a Louboutin-wearing, big-curled, Hollywood icon, baby,” she says.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 12 | Size: 0.12 oz.

When searching for a drugstore lipstick with a good color payoff, look no further than Maybelline’s SuperStay Ink Crayon. The creamy matte formula slides on easily—with no bare patches or bleeding outside the lip line—and a fine-tip crayon allows you to trace the borders before filling in in one step. There’s even a sharpener on the end to refine the tip.

As for the shade, senior commerce editor Shannon Bauer says it's a perfect shade for redheads (and as a lifelong ginger, she would know). “Finding red lipsticks for redheads can be tricky because undertones are everything. The undertone of your skin and hair, as well as the undertone of the lipstick need to align,” she explains. Hustle in Heels is a blue-toned red with slightly less kapow than a classic like Mac’s Ruby Woo. “It pairs beautifully with a volumizing mascara and a heavy dose of peachy blush,” Bauer says.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 5 | Size: 0.04 oz.

If you tend to stray away from matte lipsticks because of their drying tendencies, this pick will make you a matte fanatic once and for all. Like its name hints, this lipstick feels like a smooth, fluffy cloud and coats lips in a plush cushion, while the slightly powdery finish gives you a worn-in, effortless-looking red lip.

Caitlyn Martyn, commerce writer at InStyle, loves the buttery soft feel, saying, “Maybe it's a placebo effect, but my lips feel like they are coated in a super smoothing powder.” Rather than settling into fine lines and making lips look dehydrated, this product is formulated with dimethicone, a conditioning agent that enhances your lips' natural shape and wards off dry patches. This makes it a great matte lipstick for older wearers as well. We only wish there were more red shades offered.

Finish: Matte｜Red Shades Available: 1｜Size: 0.11 oz.

Want a budge-proof lip that catches everyone’s attention? Makeup Forever’s newest lipstick leaves your lips looking plush and vibrant. Our testers highlight how surprisingly comfortable the formula feels for a liquid lipstick. “It's obviously a little drying (just the nature of a product like this) but didn't make my lips look like a raisin or appear tight,” says Bauer. Plus, it only took one dip into the tube to fully outline and fill in my lips with saturated color.”

Once dry, the waterproof formula doesn’t budge, making it ideal for your next beach vacation or pool party with your gals. Note: Bauer did find that the red feathered around her cupid's bow, so we recommend using a liner before application.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 5 | Size: 0.15 oz.

When you want a classic Hollywood red lip, you’ll want to grab Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipstick. There’s so much to love about this luxe pick—starting with the glamorous, sculpture-esque packaging—but it’s what’s inside that truly makes it a winner. The rich bullet applies like butter and comes in four red hues (ranging from a dark vampy red to a brighter strawberry stain).

Though mattes have a reputation for cracking and settling into fine lines, our tester raves about how comfortable this one is, mentioning that it feels like a second skin. She also notes that upon application, cleaning up any mistakes was painless, which isn’t always the case when it comes to red lipstick. “With how pigmented the formula is, I was expecting any mistakes I made to smudge and be tough to remove, but it was actually easy to clean up the edges of my lips with a cotton swab.”

While the product isn’t fully transfer-proof, the color remains vibrant, even while eating and drinking. The only downside is that testers found this lipstick slightly drying, so we recommend priming your lips with some lip balm to ensure they stay soft and supple all day long.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 4 | Size: 0.14 oz.

Looking for a bold, long-lasting red lipstick, but don’t want to spend a ton of money? Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick’s vivid color payoff, fully matte finish, and affordable price tag are just a few of the reasons why we think this pick should be in everyone’s makeup bag. As the name suggests, this lippie is similar to tattoo ink, with impressive longevity and rich pigment.

The precise applicator makes for an efficient application without the need for a lip liner, as the tip allows you to accurately line your cupid's bow and corners—sans mishaps. Our tester mentions that it also feels smooth and comfortable, and once dry, it doesn’t budge. “After my lips dry, there is little to no transfer when I eat or drink,” she says. Just make sure to let your lips fully dry before rubbing them together, otherwise the end result will feel clumpy.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 7 | Size: 0.14 oz.

If you’re just dipping your feet into the luscious red lipstick pool, we recommend opting for a universal red (i.e. one that looks impeccable on every skin tone). And there’s no better hue than MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo—if we can’t convince you, over 4,000 makeup lovers at Nordstrom have raved about the rich color. MAC is known for its vivid lipstick shades, and has clearly nailed the perfect red tones.

Upon application, InStyle commerce editor Mary Honkus finally understood the hype. “Despite being matte, it doesn’t settle into my lip cracks at all,” she says. “Plus, the color is rich without being too overpowering.”

While the formula is on the drier side, the matte finish ensures that this color stays looking fresh and bright all day. But to combat any dryness, Honkus recommends applying a lip balm on top.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 3 | Size: 0.14 oz.

Take the term "juicy lips" to another level with Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lipstick. Formulated with shea butter, maracuja oil, vitamin E, and grapeseed oil, the pigmented bullet acts like a balm to instantly hydrate your lips and leave them looking brightly glazed. Our testers love how easily it applies: “It only requires one light coat for the color to fully saturate lips,” one says.

This lipstick is perfect for those who like a little shine rather than a matte finish. While it does transfer a bit, your lips still maintain vibrancy. “The color stays bold, bright, and in place on my lips with minimal smudging after eating and drinking,” says our tester. But be mindful of where you store it, because it can become very melty if left in the heat.

Finish: High shine | Red Shades Available: 2 | Size: 0.07 oz.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna The Fill Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick feels weightless on your lips—so much so that you’ll forget your lips are cherry red until you look in the mirror. This lip rouge flows easily on the surface of your lips, instantly coating them in luscious pigment. “I love the light and smooth feel on my lips,” our tester shares.

Plus, it only requires one full swipe for lips to be completely coated in an even, semi-matte red finish. While this lippy does fade when eating and drinking, it doesn’t smudge, so you won’t need to prime your lips with a liner. “I’m impressed this didn’t bleed at all; sometimes without liner, I’ll get some feathering, but this is solid,” our tester says.

Aside from its vivaciously bold and lightweight formula, the product also comes in sleek refillable packaging. Once you finish a bullet, choose among three scarlet hues, then pop into the metallic case and you’re ready to pucker up and apply!

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 3 | Size: 0.134 oz.

Whether you like to go bold on the daily or reserve it forspecial occasions, everyone needs a signature red lipstick—and ILIA makes a great one. Its Color Block High Impact Lipstick delivers a vibrant color payoff with minimal effort. Our testers highlight how easy the lipstick glides over their lips: “The [rouge] is very soft, and the moisturizing components make it easy to apply,” says one tester.

Plus, the formula never feels tacky or cakey, even when reapplying throughout the day. Not to mention, the lipstick is also clean—free of phthalates, formaldehyde releasers, oxybenzone, and octinoxate—and cruelty-free, so you can feel extra good about your purchase.

Finish: Satin | Red Shades Available: 1 | Size: 0.14 oz.

Beeswax is a popular ingredient in clean lipsticks that works to moisturize lips—but unfortunately, it’s not vegan. In Uoma Beauty Badass Icon Matte Lipstick, lesser-used mango butter replaces beeswax to create a lip product that is just as nourishing and better for the environment. The creamy bullet hydrates your lips while delivering a subtle matte finish that is sure to become a staple in your makeup routine.

Compared to other red lipsticks that need to be layered to provide vibrancy, our tester says one swipe of this one is all you need for the ideal color. Despite the hydration factor, this lipstick eventually does settle into fine lines (because it’s matte), so be sure to prep your lips with a lip balm to prevent that from happening.

Finish: Matte | Red Shades Available: 4 | Size: 0.12 oz.

There’s no such thing as too many red lipsticks (take it from someone who has over a dozen and counting). With five vibrant red shades to choose from, Smashbox checks every box in terms of undertones and brightness. Featuring cool tones, warm tones, burgundys, and scarlets, the legendary lipstick range has something for everyone.

With a gorgeous satin finish, it highlights your lip's natural shape and plumpness thanks to the formula laced with peptides and ceramides—ingredients that will keep your lips comfortable and nourished. “It is easy to apply, and feels smooth, light, and moisturizing,” our tester raves. While this lipstick is long-lasting, it’s not totally transfer-proof, so you’ll probably need to reapply after eating.

Finish: Satin | Red Shades Available: 5 | Size: 0.14 oz.