Red Lip Look Guide: the Different Types of Red You Need

When I build a red lip look, it means I’m ready for business. 

A red lip look gives me confidence and makes me feel like the boss I am.

Wearing a red lip look is intimidating to a lot of people, because they might be looking at the very bold, saturated reds on the market. You might be intimidated by the hue, as well. If so, here are some tips to steer you in the right direction.

There are a variety of reds on the market that you can explore. From deep, dark reds, to sheer, barely-there shades. In addition to the saturation, you need to find the red lip look with the right undertone to complement your skin color.

Skin undertones

You may have tested out a few different reds and found that they didn’t look right. It could be because you were trying on shades that didn’t match your skin’s undertone. There are three basic tones that have sub-categories within them.

They’re warm, cool, and neutral

Determining your undertone is fairly simple. Do your veins look green? You most likely have a warm undertone. If your veins look blue or purple, then your undertone is cool. If your veins look similar to your skin or are colorless, then you have a neutral undertone.

Determining the right shade for you

When it comes to testing out different reds now that you’ve determined what your undertone is—is the fun part. However, because of COVID-19, you may not be able to swipe lipsticks or glosses right now, so finding that PERFECT shade might be a tad bit challenging.

Here’s a starting point:

If you have a warm undertone, then reds with an orange tint would suit your skin tone well. If you have cool undertones, then blue-based reds will be your jam.

Now that you’ve got a place to start, you need to decide how bold you want to go with your new lippy. You also need to decide on the finish of your new lip color.

What’s the occasion?

Are you looking for something matte? Does it need to be long-wearing? Is it something you don’t want to have to apply throughout the day?

Think about your lifestyle and how much dedicated maintenance you want to devote to your lip color during the day.

If you’re low-maintenance, start with a stain that will give you enough color but won’t be too strong and you won’t have to touch-up often, if at all. Maybe you want to bump up your look for a date night or a girls' night out (when you’re able to get out and mingle, that is). Explore liquid lipsticks that will still give you the longevity you’re looking for but will be drenched with color and will attract attention to your face.

Red lip looks are fun, and finding the right shade is the best part. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find one right away. You can always recruit an expert that will help you find a color that is right for your skin tone and lifestyle with the MOBILESTYLES App. Have fun with it.