Red Lipsticks in Every Budget for Women of Color (Part 1)

I love wearing red lipstick! I wear it almost every day and I always get the same reaction from women:

"I LOVE that color on you!"
followed by
"I could NEVER wear that color..."

Well, I'm a believer that EVERY woman should be rocking red lipstick! I'm here to share with you my favorite brown-skin-friendly reds in every price point, ranging from $3 to $23. I'll also share some of my tricks for a flawless red lip.

First things first. Do NOT attempt to wear a red lipstick without a liner. It will be uneven and the color might "bleed" or move past your natural lip line, and that ain't cute.

My go-to liner is NYX (pronounced "nix") retractable Lip Liner in Dark Red found here. It's a deep, rich red that shows well on brown skin and kind of tones down red lipsticks.

This is the retractable liner, not the pencil liner 

I only line the outside of my lip but you can also fill in the entire lip with the liner. It will make the color last longer.







Now on to the lipsticks! 

$5 and less

e.l.f. Studio Matte Lip Color in Rich Red 

$3

buy this lipstick here

Yep, $3. The only difference in this lippie and the higher priced ones is that you'll have to reapply it more often throughout the day. The color is beautiful, the application is smooth, the texture is a soft matte. This one is definitely a winner, especially for the price!

$5-$10

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Best Red 

$5.49

buy this lipstick here

This is a pinker red than the others. It leans towards fuchsia. The finish is a little more sheer, too. The application is ok, not as smooth as the others. The texture is a soft, moisturizing matte. Overall it is a good lipstick, it's a good starter if you're not ready for a really bold red. 

$10-$15

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red

$13

(my lighting changed, sorry)
buy this lipstick here

THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE RED LIPPIE EVER! This is a true "pin-up girl" red. It goes on like a lip gloss (less is more until you get used to applying it) and dries to the most perfect, beautiful, matte red EVER. It is a true matte with a dry-looking finish, but it isn't drying at all! The best thing is that it lasts for hours and hours, maybe even all day! 

$15-$20

MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo

$16

Buy this lipstick here

The reigning queen of the red lippies, Ruby Woo is a long time favorite and the go to red for many, many women. It is a beautiful red and true matte that wears well on all skin tones. The only bad thing about Ruby is that she is as dry as the Sahara Desert. If there is any dry or chapped skin on the lips, Ruby will magnify it ten times. This can be avoided with proper exfoliating and moisturizing before application. 

$20+

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in F-Bomb

$22

buy this lipstick here

The Urban Decay website describes these lipsticks as "Creamy, badass luxury". Personally, I call this lipstick "sex in a tube." This is the sexiest, most sensual, "look at my mouth" pout you can get. It is smooth, creamy and rich with just a slight gloss. It's a little pricey at $22 but it's worth every penny. 

Do you wear red lippies? What are your favorite colors? Let me know in the comments section below!