Written by Sayantani Deb, Makeup & Beauty WriterUpdated on Feb 14, 2024
The products curated for this article are independently chosen by the editorial team. If you make a purchase through the links mentioned below, we may receive a commission. Check out our product research & curation processLipsticks can add a pop of color to your attire. And, nothing better than these best dark red lipsticks that are formulated to make your glam moments vivid and special. According to our makeup experts, lipsticks are the best addition to your makeup kit for creating a bold and bright statement. However, bold lip colors may look especially rough and messy if the formulation isn’t rich and creamy. These bold lipsticks feature the infusion of skin-friendly ingredients to seal in the moisture of your lips for a flawless application.
Another great feature about these lipsticks is the coverage and depth of the color that these deliver with perfection. You can get the color meant to accentuate your skin tone, as these offer a buildable coverage and pigmented texture to enrich the natural color of your lips. Our experts have evaluated all the lipsticks to bring you this list of lipsticks that have great formulation and pigmentation. So, read through this article and explore everything you need to know to ace dark lip looks.
Our top picks
12 Best Dark Red Lipsticks
Adorn your pout with the most bold and beautiful red lipstick from Madame Gabriela and turn heads wherever you go. Its rich color payoff and moisture-enriched formula not only pave the way for a confident, all-odds-defying look but also lend nourished lips that shine bright. Adding to that, it flatters all skin tones and types, looking absolutely stunning on women across generations. The best part? It is infused with manuka honey, shea butter, avocado, sunflower, and rosemary oil, making it a storehouse of skin-loving ingredients that take utmost care of your lips and reverse the damage, if any.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Hydrating
- Powerhouse of rich ingredients
2
Rich Color Payoff
LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Modern Classic Lipstick
This timeless lipstick by Laura Geller in the shade ‘dark red’ takes a modern route as you adorn it on date nights, shows off your hard-working side as you wear it to the office, and brings out your most beautiful features as you apply it on festive occasions. Besides, its non-drying formula delivers intense color in just one swipe and glides on like butter. It is also lightweight and provides full coverage so that you don’t feel the need to frequently reapply it. Well, the velvety-soft texture is the cherry on top that further accentuates your look every time you apply this lipstick.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Soft texture
- High pigmentation
- Creamy formula
Cons
- A little pricey
3
Best Transfer-proof Formula
Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
Featuring a flawless matte finish, this liquid lipstick by Maybelline is a must-have for sprucing up your special looks. The highly pigmented formula of this liquid beauty ensures your lips are hydrated and plump for a smooth application. With the rich coverage of this lipstick, the color stays on your lips in one stroke. You can use this beauty product easily, as it comes with a unique arrow applicator to offer extra control and accuracy.
Pros
- Long-lasting formula
- Transfer-proof
- Richly pigmented
- Smooth texture
- Comes in a variety of shades
Cons
- May not be suitable for dry lips
4
Best Creamy Consistency
Wet n Wild Silk Finish Lipstick
This lovely lipstick by Wet n Wild is an excellent pick to pull off a bold look without making your lips dry and chapped. It’s infused with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, vitamin E, macadamia nut oil, and vitamin A that are highly moisturizing and soothe dry lips. These nutrient-dense additives help stimulate the blood circulation of your lips to keep them fresh and plump. With a rich consistency, your lips are in for a treat, so get the perfect color you want with this silk finish lipstick. When we tested the product, we found that it has a creamy consistency and doesn’t feel sticky on the lips at all.
Pros
- Non-sticky formula
- Creamy consistency
- Affordable
- Offers deep color
- Perfect satin finish
- Moisturizing
Cons
- Doesnt last long
5
Best Cruelty-free Formula
NYX Professional Makeup Shout Loud Satin Lipstick
Equipped with a hydrating formula, this satin lipstick by NYX Professional Makeup is a vibrant pick to grab the spotlight. This lush lipstick is a rich blend of shea and mango butter that retains the moisture of your lips to give a vivid color. With a velvety consistency, this lipstick keeps your lips soft and smooth, so you don’t have to worry about tending to dull and flaky lips. It comes with a built-in primer to make your lip texture even and bright. Be on top of your lip game with this product, delivering perfection.
Pros
- Cruelty-free
- Nourishing ingredients
- Hydrating formula
- Softens your lips
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Inefficient packaging
6
Best Lightweight Formula
NARS Cosmetics Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
Whether you’re looking for a velvety matte finish or upgrading your lip essentials, NARS’s lip pencil is meant for slaying gorgeous looks. Owing to the nourishing infusion of vitamin E and emollients, it sits on your skin softly. These moisturizing additives help strengthen the natural barrier of your lips to protect them from the damaging effects of environmental stressors and sun damage. So, achieve dramatic looks with this beauty that is meant for creating intense looks.
Pros
- Comfortable to wear
- Glides smoothly
- Offers rich color
- Pigmented formula
- Lightweight
Cons
- A bit pricey
7
Best Smudge-proof Formula
Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick
Give your lips a youthful appearance with this longwear liquid lipstick by Smashbox. It features a rich infusion of primer oil complex to even out your lips. The luscious blend of jojoba, apricot, and sunflower oils makes this liquid beauty a must-have lip care to soothe dry and chapped lips. With a lightweight formula, it sits on your lips gently without making your lips feel heavy or rough. Our beauty experts loved how comfortable it is to wear all day long.
Pros
- Cruelty-free
- Nourishing formula
- Smudge-proof
- Quick to dry
- Lasts longer
Cons
- Inefficient packaging
8
Best Vegan Lipstick
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay’s Vice Hydrating Lipstick is an excellent addition to upgrade your lipstick collection. It is fused with the richness of aloe vera and avocado oil to make your lips soft and moist. With the pigmented texture of this hydrating lipstick, you can enhance the natural tone and texture of your lips effortlessly. The shiny matte finish of this dark red lipstick complements your innate charm and sparkle in a single swipe.
Pros
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Smooth consistency
- Non-sticky formula
- Creamy finish
Cons
- Inadequate packaging
9
Best Gluten-free Lipstick
Aromi Maroon Liquid Lipstick
You can ace feisty looks with this liquid lipstick by Aromi. This vegan lipstick is formulated with candelilla wax that smoothes out the texture of your lips naturally. Featuring a lightweight formula, it doesn’t weigh down your lips. This matte lipstick ensures you get decent coverage and depth to get picture-perfect lips. What stands out about this product is that it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals and keeps the skin healthy and nourished.
Pros
- Doesnt smear
- Satin finish
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Doesnt last long
10
Best Non-comedogenic Formula
ILIA Beauty Color Block Lipstick
Handcrafted to create high-impact color, ILIA Color Block Lipstick is meant to transform your lip statement. This deep red lipstick is a smooth blend of castor seed oil that is highly effective in healing dry and cracked lips. Apart from its restorative properties, it also offers superior coverage to make your looks refined and polished. Get beautiful-looking lips with this lipstick that covers your lips evenly. With this luscious texture, it won’t disappoint you.
Pros
- Non-comedogenic formula
- Dermatologist-tested
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Suitable for sensitive lips
- Moisturizing texture
Cons
- May need frequent touch-ups
11
Best Talc-free Lipstick
Kosas Cosmetics Weightless Lip Color Nourishing Satin Lipstick
Kosas Nourishing Satin Lipstick works like magic on your lips to make your makeup look alluring. With a scrumptious addition of botanical butters, it glides smoothly on your lips and gives them a smoothening effect. This lightweight satin lipstick offers a soft finish to make your delicate looks stand out. Featuring a clean formula, it’s free from harsh additives, including mineral oil. So, give your lips the best care and color effortlessly.
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Talc-free
- Doesnt contain silicones
- Gluten-free
- Phthalates-free
- Lightweight texture
- Creamy texture
Cons
- Slightly expensive
12
Best Pigmented Formula
CTZN Cosmetics Code Red Vegan Lipstick
The creamy lipstick by CTZN is designed to create dreamy looks. Owing to its highly pigmented formulation, it boosts the appearance and color of your lips instantly. This lipstick features a velvety texture that makes your lips soft and fuller. With its full coverage formula, it evens out your lips to give them a flawless finish. You can also use this product to create a natural-looking blush on your cheeks.
Pros
- Carmine-free
- Vegan
- Offers rich color
- Highly pigmented
Cons
- May smudge
How to Choose the Best Dark Red Lipstick?
1. Check the Formula
One of the most important factors to consider before buying the best dark red lipstick is checking its formulation. By using lipstick with smudge-proof and transfer-proof formula, you don’t need to worry about staining and streaks. Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick features a transfer-proof formula so you can keep your lip game up easily. You should also prefer moisturizing formulas so that your lips can look naturally bold and beautiful. NYX Professional Makeup Shout Loud Satin Lipstick is formulated with nourishing ingredients to keep your lips soft and fresh.
2. Read the Label
Another important factor to consider before buying the best dark red lipstick is ensuring the ingredients are hydrating and nourishing. You can consider rich ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, jojoba oil, vitamins A and E, aloe vera, etc. Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick is packed with nourishing ingredients to ensure your lips are soft and plump. You should also steer clear of lipsticks that contain parabens and other harsh chemicals. Aromi Maroon Liquid Lipstick is an excellent pick that doesn’t expose your lips to a lot of chemicals and keeps them moist and smooth.
3. Assess the Longevity
Pulling off a lovely look is easier when you don’t need to worry about frequent touch-ups. Going for lipstick with a long-lasting color takes care of your lip worries all day long. You don’t need to bother much about the coverage and color depth once you get it right. Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick sits on your lips nicely and offers long-lasting color so you can keep touch-up worries at bay.
To enhance the longevity of lipstick, our contributor Maya Adivi, a certified makeup artist, suggests, “There are a few methods to get lipstick to last. First, make sure that your lips are well-hydrated and free from flaky skin. Apply a lip primer or lip liner all over your lips to create a base. Then, apply your lipstick, blot it, and add a second layer. This will help a bullet lipstick last longer. Another option is to choose a liquid lipstick, as those are pretty much smudge-proof.”
4. Know Your Skin Tone & Undertone
It's important to understand the undertones of your skin and lipstick before choosing a dark red lipstick. The veins on your wrist can help you identify your skin's undertones — if the veins are blue or purple, you have cool undertones. If your veins are green, it means you have warm undertones.
Our contributor Maya Adivi says, “The right lipstick for your undertone can make your skin look healthy and even, whereas the wrong one can make you look sallow, blotchy, or tired. That's why examining your undertones and choosing a harmonious shade is so important.”
People with fair skin and cooler undertones should choose cool-toned lipsticks. Berry tones and deep burgundy colors may help your lips look more beautiful. Whereas, if you have warm undertones, pick lips shades with warm undertones. Some of the best picks are red, orange, and peachy shades.
On the other hand, people with dark skin and cool undertones should choose shades of wine red and chocolate-brown. Whereas orange-red and brick-red lipstick would look great on people with dark skin and warm undertones.
If you have a medium skin tone and a cool undertone, go for lipsticks with blue undertones. Those with warm undertones may pick bright orange-red lipstick.
How to Use a Dark Red Lipstick?
Step 1: Exfoliate your lips and apply lip balm evenly on your lips.
Step 2: Use a lipliner to accentuate your lip shape.
Step 3: Start by applying the lipstick from the center of your lips.
Step 4: Move towards the corners gently.
Step 5: Remove extra lipstick with a makeup wipe.
Contributor: Maya Adivi, Certified Makeup artist, Click here for blog
Conclusion
Getting a vivid lipstick shade adds a dash of sparkle to monotonous looks. You can also create unique makeup looks by using dark-colored lipstick. These best dark red lipsticks are a great addition to your makeup essentials as these amplify your overall appeal effortlessly. With a rich and creamy consistency, these feel soft and delicate on your lips. You can build the color and coverage to your liking. So, strike a pose as these beauties make you pout and party-ready!
Why Trust Pinkvilla
Sayantani, our in-house makeup enthusiast, loves dark and bold makeup looks. She feels dark lipsticks complete the makeup collection and keep your sparkle game up for special events and occasions. Her love for dark red lipsticks is undying, but streaks and dryness prompted her to look for rich and creamy formulas. After hunting down the best ones, she loved the nourishing formula of Wet n Wild Silk Finish Lipstick. It’s non-sticky and keeps her lips moisturized, besides offering a deep red color. And she can’t stop talking about it!
Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!
Author BIO
Sayantani is a certified hair and makeup professional turned writer with 2+ years of experience in the same genre. Ap More
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