Finally! The Red Lipstick Shade That's Just Right For You

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There's a clear division of women when it comes to red lipstick. On one side, there's the small crew that has mastered the art of wearing the hue on a daily basis without smudging or even having to reapply during the day — Taylor Swift is their obvious leader.

And then, there's a much larger crowd — an eager but mighty-confused squad of sorts with just one goal in mind: to find the perfect scarlet shade that complements their skin tone and gives their look that punch they've seen stars from Audrey Hepburn to Jennifer Lopez sport on carpets and interviews for years.

For the Latina women in that gang (who have the added complication of having undertones in basically every shade and color), we reached out to Sir John, a makeup artist with L'Oréal Paris who has worked with Genesis Rodriguez and Eva Longoria. He got real and broke it down for us in a simple way, once and for all. This is it! Get ready to switch sides.

For Very Fair Skin
Getty | Gabriel Olsen

For Very Fair Skin

If your skin is snowy like Bella Thorne's, Sir John recommends a raspberry red shade to create contrast and "add a bit punctuation" to your look. Choose shades that look slightly creamy and juicy instead of true, fire-engine reds.

For Fair to Medium Complexions
Getty | Dominique Charriau

For Fair to Medium Complexions

"I love to go with a candy red apple; think about a true '50s red with a slightly orange undertone," Sir John says. "These colors help bring a little warmness to your skin," just like it did here for Jessica Alba.

For Medium to Olive Skin Tones
Getty | Luca Teuchmann

For Medium to Olive Skin Tones

If your skin is tanned and golden, like Zoe Saldana's, a red that has pink undertones instead of coral hues creates "a beautiful contrast on your complexion." Think of reds that swipe soft and not bright when tested on your hand; a red that would look great as a blush, too.

For Dark Complexions
Getty | Jamie McCarthy

For Dark Complexions

Your go-to should be wine shades. "Think merlot and cabernet, and go matte if possible for that cool-girl finish," he adds. Model Joan Smalls is the queen of this look.