MAKEUP EDIT:

10 RED LIPSTICKS THAT ARE AN INSTANT MOOD

Icons, cult buys and the hardest working red lipsticks in the business: this is everything you need to know and the ones to invest in.

WORDS: hannah dunn 11.02.25

A slick of red lipstick has the power to boost your mood, transform your outfit and raise your game instantly. No wonder then that it’s remained a beauty stalwart over the years. A beauty failsafe if you like, to fall back on in times of need (aka, you want to look pulled together, confident, a bit fancy). And despite its reputation as being high-maintenance, red lipstick can actually be one of the easiest, quickest beauty looks to pull off (especially if you like yours blurred, diffused and slightly imperfect – like all the best things are).

From Patrick Ta to Charlotte Tilbury, these are 10 of the best red lipsticks to add to your basket.

1. THE LONG-LASTING RED LIPSTICK

PAT MCGRATH LABS MATTERANCE
SHADE: VENDETTA

The Mother of beauty has delivered the mother of all red lipsticks. Lightweight but richly pigmented, Matterance delivers a hit of colour with just one swipe. With a matte finish, it delivers a velvety texture that doesn’t fade or cake as you wear it – even after eating and drinking. Impressive.

Mother does have a few tips for making it last even longer though – exfoliate the lips before use, apply with a finger to really press the colour into the lip (starting from the middle and moving outwards) and lightly dust setting powder to the finished lip.

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2. THE SATIN RED LIPSTICK

JIMMY CHOO SEDUCTION SATIN LIP COLOUR
SHADE: CHERRY KISS

Almost too hot to use, Jimmy Choo’s Seduction Satin lipstick is designed to be packed in your party bag and applied in public. A glam red with a hint of pink, ‘Cherry Kiss,’ was made for your next night out.

If you prefer your finish to be somewhere between a matte and high shine, then a satin formula is the one for you. This one leaves lips looking – and feeling – glossy, shiny and healthy, delivering colour without drying out the lips. Not to mention the intricate python print imprinted onto the stick. Told you it was hot.

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3. THE MATTE RED LIPSTICK

PATRICK TA MAJOR HEADLINES MATTE SEUDE LIPSTICK
SHADE: WHY SHE’S LATE

Landing an intense, rich red is never easy, but makeup-artist-turned-brand-mastermind Patrick Ta has nailed it with ‘Why She’s Late.’

With a super soft formula, it melts into the lips, while a precision tip and highly pigmented colour means all it takes is one swipe for maximum impact. Perfect for those who love their red lip big, bold and matte.

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4. THE ICONIC RED LIPSTICK

MAC RETRO MATTE LIPSTICK SHADE: RUBY WOO

Ask any beauty insider for a classic red lipstick recommendation and chances are, they'll suggest M.A.C's ‘Ruby Woo’ - the one that made them famous.

And it's no surprise. With a flattering blue undertone, it works with just about any skin tone, while its highly pigmented formula really lasts.

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5.THE EASY-TO-APPLY RED LIPSTICK

YVES SAINT LAURENT ROUGE PUR COUTURE THE SLIM
SHADE: 23 MYSTERY RED

Struggle with application? Yves Saint Laurent’s clever square-tipped design is failsafe. Turned to resemble a diamond, the pointed tip allows you to apply right on the cupid’s bow and fill into the creases.

Plus, it also delivers on the colour. Rich, pigmented, velvety, smooth, long-wearing, it really ticks all the red lipstick boxes.

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6. THE HIGH-SHINE RED LIPSICK

GUCCI BEAUTY ROUGE DE BEAUTÉ HIGH-SHINE LIPSTICK
SHADE: 515 DEVOTION

Thanks to a slanted edge and slim stick, Gucci's Rouge de Beauté glides on like a dream. With 24-hours of moisturisation, c/o a whole load of hyaluronic acid, long-lasting colour and the perfect combo of satin and sheer, ‘515 Devotion’ plumps, smooths and gives you just the right hit of rusty red with a glossy, high-shine finish.

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7. THE LIQUID RED LIPSTICK

DOLCE&GABBANA DEVOTION LIQUID LIPSTICK
SHADE: DEVOZIONE 405

Is liquid lipstick better than lipstick? It’s a good question. When it comes to delivering bold makeup, it can be a stronger option. Often more durable and longer lasting, they’re usually more highly pigmented than other lipstick styles and less likely to transfer.

And Dolce&Gabbana’s Devotion Liquid Lipstick is no exception. Soft and lightweight, it features avocado oil to help lips stay nourished all day, while delivering a high-impact matte finish. Drying down in a matter of seconds, it also promises no transfer for colour that can last for up to 16 hours.

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8. THE SHEER RED LIPSTICK

DIOR ADDICT LIP GLOW
SHADE: DIOR 8

Sometimes, you just want a hint of colour vs. a big, bold red lip. And for those moments, you’ll want Dior Addict Lip Glow.

More of a lip balm, if we’re being totally honest, it promises 24-hours of hydration thanks to its skin-loving ingredients, like cherry oil. But it also delivers a tint of red that works on its own or under a red lip for when you want to up the ante.

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9. THE HYDRATING + NOURISHING RED LIPSTICK

CHARLOTTE TILBURY HOT LIPS SHADE: CARINA’S LOVE

A matte lipstick that also nourishes and hydrates? Sign, us, up. Enriched with a blend of antioxidants and waxes, it conditions and protects the lips, while light-diffusing pigments give the allusion of a plumper pout.

Easily buildable, you can keep layering on to reach your desired effect without any messy bleeding. Our favourite shade? Carina’s Love, a bright, medium red hue.

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10. THE DEFINING RED LIPSTICK

BOBBI BROWN LUXE DEFINING LIPSTICK
SHADE: RED ILLUSION

A lipstick, but with the precision of a pen? Genius. Bobbi Brown have made things incredible easy for even the most heavy handed and eradicated the need for a lip pencil.

With the Luxe Defining Lipstick you can apply a line right to the edges of the lips and use to define the cupid’s bow. To apply to the whole lip, simply colour in the centre and blend outwards.

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