The red lipstick guide
Red lipstick, one red at a time
We measured 17,141 lipsticks. 2,668 of them are red. Here's how to tell them apart and find the one you'll love.
How common is red?
About 1 in 6 lipsticks is red
Red is lipstick's most iconic color, but not its most common. There are nearly twice as many pinks and nudes as reds. Still, some brands are synonymous with red: we've counted 95 reds at Dior alone.
So what makes a red red?
Picture every lipstick color laid out on a map. Gray sits in the center. A shade has to pass three tests to be red:
- 1The right direction. Between pink and orange. That slice of the map belongs to red.
- 2Strong color. The further from the gray center, the stronger the color. Too close and red goes soft: nude or brown on the orange side, mauve or berry on the pink side. Lean orange and it turns brown.
- 3Deep, not light. Lighten the same slice and you get coral and pink.
Which red are you?
We can split red into nine kinds. Two things set them apart:
Tap any red for details.
The average red
The reddest red of them all
We took every shade that's red by name, by color, and by what brands call it. Then we averaged them. This is where they meet: the heart of classic red.
#B5252C
Closest real lipsticks · tap for more details
- La Bouche Rouge Paris21 Satin #b5222b ↻
- Natasha DenonaGigi #b7272d ↻
- Chanel Rouge Coco Bloom158 Bright #b8252d ↻
- Dior Rouge999 #b0222a ↻
- L'Oréal Colour Riche193 Le Rouge Determination #b2272e ↻
The famous reds
Where the famous reds really land
We measured the cult reds and dropped them onto the map of nine kinds. Tap a red to see what kind it really is.
Your red
MAC
Ruby Woo
Really a classic red, leaning cherry
$$ · #aa2d34
Closest icon: · ΔE
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- No reds match that yet. Try a brand name.
Plot twist
MAC Ruby Woo is famous as a blue-red. On the map it's a true red, leaning blue-red. The coolest reds of the bunch? Revlon Cherries in the Snow, MAC Relentlessly Red and Maybelline Ruler.
Two Cherries in the Snow
The original Revlon crème (440) is a cool cherry red. The matte (023) borrows the name but not the color: it measures as a vivid raspberry, pinker than anything on the red map, and wears as a deep berry.
The name game
Don't trust the name on the tube
136
"Red" in name only
Of 498 lipsticks with "red" in the name, 136 aren't red at all. Here's what they really are.
2,164
Secret reds
Truly red, but the name never says so. Brands prefer a little drama. These are their favorite words.
Yes, some reds are sold as "coral" and "pink."
Red lipstick dupes
Splurge or save?
Save on the color. Every luxury red has a drugstore match so close most eyes can't tell them apart. Splurge only if the finish, formula, format or case matters to you.
Beyond the color, what to look for
1Finish
Matte, satin, cream or gloss can make the same red look very different on the lips.
Reds skew matte.67% of reds are matte at every price, compared with about 60% of all shades.
Satin rises with price.28% of more expensive reds are satin, against 19% of less expensive ones.
Same tomato red. Different finish.
2Format
The pricier the red, the more likely it's a bullet.In the chart, bullets make up 64% of reds at $ and climb to 81% at $$$$.
Most liquids dry matte.Only 56% of bullets are matte, but 76% of liquids are. Satin liquids exist too, from brands like Revlon and Rimmel.
That makes some dupes harder to find.Luxury reds lean satin bullet, affordable reds lean matte liquid. A liquid may match the color but not the look.
Luxury loves a bullet
3Coverage
Sheer reds change more on you. Opaque reds stay closer to the color in the tube.Sheer formulas let your lip color show through. For a red that matches the tube, look for “full coverage,” “opaque” or “highly pigmented.”
Swatches can look different on your lips.Lighting and editing shift a color swatch. Look for photos from people with similar skin tone and lip color.
One red, three skin tones
Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil 031 Strawberry
Swatch
Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Uncensored
Swatch
4Brand name
Same color, very different prices.Every price tier has plenty of reds. If you're shopping by color, you don't have to start with luxury.
Brands with the most reds, by price
Name size = number of red lip shades. Top 14 brands per tier, 2,668 reds from 298 brands.
5Packaging and extras
A pretty case doesn't change the color.Heavy metal cases, magnets, a famous logo. Nice to own, but you wear the color inside.
Going luxury? A refillable case can pay off.Buy the case once and refills after. A refill usually costs at least 20% less than buying new.
Shopping for a dupe? Match the color, filter for finish and price.
Find a dupe for your red →Got a red in mind? Find it by color.
Pick a red on the wheel, explore the lipstick color chart, paste a hex or upload a photo. We'll find the closest lipsticks across 16,000+ products.
Colors were measured from product photos, so lighting can nudge a single shade a little. The patterns hold. How we measure color · Privacy