An Ode to Dark-Red Lipstick—These 11 Shades Are Undeniably Cool, Classy, and Elegant

Beauty editors wearing dark-red lipstick
(Image credit: Alyssa Brascia; Aniyah Morinia)
Jump to category:
Kaitlyn McLintock's avatar
By
last updated
Contributions from
in Buying Guides

I think everyone can agree that there's nothing more classic than red lipstick. However, the specific shade of red changes everything. For example, crimson lipstick gives me a distinct old-Hollywood vibe, and fiery orange-red shades scream summer, connotating boldness and energy. Meanwhile, dark-red lipstick feels undeniably elegant. I'm talking about shades like ruby, oxblood, and merlot.

Like a rich glass of red wine, these lip colors are bold, alluring, and worth investing in. They instantly take any makeup look from zero to 100. Wear them with a full face of makeup or against bare skin for a French-girl effect, and they're sure to make you look polished, powerful, and put-together. Ahead, see the best dark-red lipsticks to add to your collection, according to beauty editors.

The Best Dark-Red Lipsticks, At a Glance

The Best Dark-Red Lipsticks

Best Overall Dark-Red Lipstick: Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in Tiger

Merit's Signature Lip Lightweight Lipsticks are incredibly comfortable to wear for hours on end. It contains plant-derived squalane and sunflower seed oil for long-lasting moisture, as well as vitamin C and papin enzymes for smoothness.

The shade Tiger is a stunning brick-red shade that's beloved by multiple Who What Wear beauty editors, across a range of skin tones. Apply one layer for a smooth, sheer effect, or build it up for full color saturation. Either way, the satin finish is so flattering.

Best Affordable: Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Voyager

This lipstick is a favorite of former Who What Wear beauty editor Shawna Hudson. It comes in so many shades, but Voyageur, an expensive-looking oxblood color that has a brown-purple undertone, is her top pick. "This liquid lipstick is so easy to apply thanks to its applicator and smooth formula," she says. "The super-saturated lip color lasts for 16 hours, so you don't have to worry about smudging or having to touch it up throughout the day."

Best Luxury: Hermès Hermès Rouge Hermès Matte Lipstick in 85 Rouge H

Are Hermès lipsticks expensive? Yes, absolutely, but I'm convinced there is no better formula on the market if we're talking about full-coverage, velvety formulas. Both the texture and the color scream luxury. This shade, Rouge H, is a rich merlot. Honestly, it's one of my most treasured lipsticks ever.

Best Glossy Finish: Chanel Rouge Allure Ultrawear Shine Lip Color in Spell

Jamie Schneider wearing Chanel lipstick in Spell

"Let me tell you: it doesn’t dare budge," Schneider says. "The photo here was taken after drinking a full cup of morning coffee, if that tells you anything about its impressive long-wear!"

(Image credit: Jamie Schneider)

Best Satin Finish: Makeup By Mario SuperSatin Lipstick in Forest Hills

Best Matte Finish: Violette_FR Petal Bouche Matte in Amour Fou

"The color of this lipstick calls to me like a siren song. It was formulated to look like a crimson rose petal, so it's deep and dark and pretty much perfect. Sometimes, I'll apply one swipe and blend it out with my fingers for a light wash of color. Other times, I'll layer it until it's bold and opaque. Either way, it creates the prettiest effect. It does dry out my lips if I wear it long enough, but the color is well worth it in my opinion."

Best Balm: Simihaze Super Slick Mini Lip Balm in Clay

Sometimes we want to wear a lip balm rather than a traditional lipstick. The good news is you can get the same dramatic, high-pigment effect from one...as long as you're using Simihaze's Mini Super Slick Tinted Lip Balm. It's a moisture-boosting lip balm infused with rose oil for a soothing effect, and the gorgeous red-brown shade, Clay, is Brascia's favorite.

Alyssa Brascia wearing simihaze lip balm.

Here, she's wearing it with Makeup By Mario's Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil in Dark Chocolate ($26) and Valentino's Puffer Complex Lip Plumper Gloss in Moonlight Crush ($38).

(Image credit: Alyssa Brascia)

Rose Inc. Satin Lip Color Refillable Hydrating Lipstick in Poised

"It's no secret that I've been a longtime fan of Rose Inc's incredible line of products, including its ultra-hydrating lipsticks," says Who What Wear associate beauty editor Maya Thomas. "The shade Poised stands out to me the most. It's a deep brick red that I can imagine myself wearing all fall long. The lipsticks are incredibly hydrating and long-wearing and have a unique formula powered by a medley of swertia chirata extract, hyaluronic acid, and, most surprisingly, mustard sprouts to keep the lips looking full."

Aniyah Morinia, editor of branded content, wears Maed lipstick.

Aniyah Morinia, editor of branded content, wears Maed Signature Lip Pigment Matte Liquid Lipstick.

(Image credit: Aniyah Morinia)

Gucci Velvet Matte Lipstick in 509 Rosso Ancora

"I was obsessed at first swipe," say Schneider, when talking about Gucci's Velvet Matte Lipstick in Rosso Ancora. "The velvety matte finish! The rich, cranberry scarlet hue! The embossed bullet! I mean, I can’t think of a lipstick more luxe. I also adore how buildable it is; just one layer will give my lips more of a subtle berry flush, while two or more deepens the intensity for a stunning, dark red."

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Matte Confidence

I've been a fan of Milani lipsticks for years. They're super creamy and blendable, they deposit bold color, and they never dry out my lips. Plus, they're super budget-friendly. Basically, I think they're incredibly underrated, especially for a drugstore product.

best-dark-red-lipsticks-289918-1690480057774-main

Beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock wearing Milani's Color Statement Lipstick in Matte Confidence.

(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)

How We Chose

As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best dark-red lipsticks for this roundup, we leaned heavily on our testing experience and considered several factors, including price, wear time, and pigment. As beauty editors, we're aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.

Why Trust Us

Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.

Explore More:
Kaitlyn McLintock
Kaitlyn McLintock
Beauty Editor

Kaitlyn McLintock is a Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. She has 10 years of experience in the editorial industry, having previously written for other industry-leading publications, like Byrdie, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, and others. She covers all things beauty and wellness-related, but she has a special passion for creating skincare content (whether that's writing about an innovative in-office treatment, researching the benefits of a certain ingredient, or testing the latest and greatest at-home skin device). Having lived in Los Angeles, California, and Austin, Texas, she has since relocated back to her home state, Michigan. When she's not writing, researching, or testing beauty products, she's working through an ever-growing book collection or swimming in the Great Lakes.

With contributions from
Latest
You might also like
View More ▸