Christmas is the ideal season to embrace a bold and festive red lip, but selecting the wrong shade can leave you feeling less than merry. If you've ever struggled to find a red that truly suits you, the secret lies in understanding your skin's undertone, not in your application skills.
Understanding Your Undertone is Key
According to celebrity makeup artist Amy Rostas from Cult Beauty, the first step to lipstick success is identifying whether your skin has a cool, warm, or neutral undertone. Cool undertones are characterised by pink or blue tints in the skin, with veins appearing blue in natural light; silver jewellery typically looks best. Warm undertones show yellow, peachy, or golden tones, with green-looking veins and a preference for gold jewellery. Those with a neutral undertone have a balanced mix, with veins appearing blue-green, and both silver and gold jewellery are flattering.
The Best Red Lipstick for Fair Skin
For those with fair complexions, Amy Rostas advises matching the lipstick to your natural flush. "A red lipstick for fair skin should complement the natural flush tones your complexion already has," she explains. She recommends cool-toned reds with blue or purple bases for cooler undertones, such as the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Hollywood Vixen (£29). For warmer fair skin, an orange-based tomato red, like the Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in Le Rouge (£45), is ideal.
Flattering Reds for Medium and Dark Skin Tones
Those with medium skin tones have a wider palette to explore. "Those with medium skin tones have more variety as they suit both blue toned reds as well as warmer versions," notes Rostas. However, she cautions against coral tints which can dull cooler complexions, instead championing rust, copper, and brick reds. Her picks include the NARS Explicit Lipstick in Rendez-Vous (£35) with rose-brown undertones and the warm MAC Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick in Chili (£25).
For deeper complexions, the options are virtually limitless. "Those with a deeper complexion can wear any and all shades of red," Amy states confidently. From muted orange hues to bold bright bricks, dark skin tones can carry off any texture or finish. Standout recommendations are the bold PATRICK TA Major Headlines Matte Suede Lipstick in That's Why She's Late (£28) and the glossy Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix in The Mvp (£23).
With this expert guidance from Amy Rostas, you can confidently select a red lipstick that enhances your natural beauty, ensuring your Christmas makeup is nothing short of spectacular. Remember, the perfect red is out there for everyone; it's just about finding the one that harmonises with your unique skin tone.
