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 [1] on a daily basis without smudging [2] or even having to reapply during the day — Taylor Swift [3] 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 [4] 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 [5] and Eva Longoria [6]. 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
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.
Try:
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Satin Radiance Lipstick in Rouge Vermillon [7] ($37)
Try:
Bobbi Brown Lip Color Shimmer Finish in Raspberry Shimmer [8] ($27)
Try:
Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick in Illicit Raspberry [9] ($32)
Try:
Laura Mercier Lip Parfait Creamy Colourbalm in Red Velvet [10] ($25)
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 [11].
Try:
Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Candy Apple [12] ($6, originally $8)
Try:
Nars Semi Matte Lipstick in Jungle Red [13] ($27)
Try:
Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick in Amazing [14] ($30)
Try:
Estée Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Scarlet [15] ($26)
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.
Try:
NYX Matte Lipstick in Bloody Mary [16] ($6)
Try:
CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick in Garnet Flame [17] ($8)
Try:
Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in Hot Red [18] ($1)
Try:
Mac Lipstick in Ruby Woo [19] ($17)
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.
Try:
Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Prayer [20] ($21)
Try:
Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge in Merlot [21] ($31)
Try:
Urban Decay UD Gwen Stefani Lipstick in Rock Steady [22] ($18)
Try:
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Night Crimson [23] ($32)