The 9 Best Red Lipsticks We've Tried for Confident, Bold Looks

Best Overall

Dior Liquid Lipstick

$47 at Sephora $40 at Nordstrom View on Dior.com

Tested Shade: Forever Dior | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No

We love wearing red lipstick, but it’s no secret how messy it can be. That’s why we appreciate this pick from Dior's pointed applicator—it makes precise application easy, and the liquid formula completely dries down. Contrary to many liquid lipstick formulas that are thick and heavy-feeling on the lips, this one is thin and lightweight, making it more comfortable to wear. 

With just one coat, our tester achieved full, even pigmentation. Once applied, the formula dried down quickly didn’t bleed or feather outside of her lip lines, and didn’t bunch up in the corners of her mouth. Aside from minor transfer when eating and drinking, this lipstick stayed put, making it a great option for those who struggle to keep red lipstick looking pristine.

Best Budget

Maybelline SuperStay Liquid Lipstick

View On Ulta View on Ulta $10 at Target

Tested Shade: Exhilarator | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No

If you’re looking for a budge-proof red lipstick from the drugstore, make this one your go-to. This liquid lipstick formula provides full-on pigmentation, dries down to a matte finish, and, most importantly, doesn’t budge for hours. 

After wearing it through our blotting and transfer tests it remained almost perfectly intact. He experienced almost no transferring or fading, making this a great option for long days or special occasions. The one downside? It feels a bit drying and sticky on the lips–so we recommend applying a thin layer of lip balm before wearing this formula. 

Lamont, tester with a dark skin tone: “After having my dark chocolate nuts and sea salt Kind Bar and a small bag of Fritos chips, no lipstick has come off, even after licking my lips.”

Best Long-Wearing

Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick

$39 at Sephora $39 at Ulta $39 at Ulta

Tested Shade: Elson | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No

Pat McGrath Labs might be most known for its iconic eyeshadows, but don’t sleep on the lipsticks—this one is fantastic. It’s a rich, matte lipstick with a velvety texture that glides onto the lips to provide full, vivid pigment. Our tester noted that while she didn't find the formula moisturizing, it was comfortable to wear and didn’t make her lips look or feel drier. She loved how smoothly the formula was applied and was extremely impressed that the color and texture of the lipstick remained intact even after eating and drinking, . 

While it did transfer a bit during the transfer tests, it maintained a beautiful appearance on the lips and remained comfortable to wear throughout the day. 

Kate, tester with fair skin and cool undertones: “I am really impressed with how light this feels on my lips while also staying in place. It's long-wearing without drying my lips out as I would expect from a long-wearing lipstick.”

Best Pigmented

Tarte Juicy Lipstick

$26 at tartecosmetics.com $24 at QVC

Tested Shade: Cherry | Finish: Satin | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Red lipsticks are inherently bolder than nude lipsticks, but this formula takes bold to a new level; our tester couldn’t believe how pigmented it was in just one swipe. Aside from the excellent color payoff, she was impressed by how comfortable the formula felt and that, despite experiencing a bit of transfer, it still looked great on the lips. 

After eating and drinking and wearing the lipstick for some time, it looked almost perfect except for minor fading in the corners of her mouth. But considering how well this bold pick performed and wore, we’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a super vivid red. 

Bali, tester with warm undertones: “The lipstick had a bit of transfer onto the towel after blotting, but still looked bold and bright on my lips. After eating snacks and drinking from a cup, the lipstick remained saturated and bright!”

Best Hydrating

ILIA High Impact Lipstick

$28 at Amazon $28 at Sephora $28 at Nordstrom

Tested Shade: Tango | Finish: Satin | Cruelty-Free: Yes

It’s true, wearing red lipstick with a matte formula can help keep smudging and transferring to a minimum. But if you prefer more hydrating formulas and don’t mind touching up every so often, this moisturizing lipstick could be your perfect match. 

Our tester found it comfortable to wear and said she could build up the color rather than getting full pigment straight off the bat—a plus if you prefer a more subtle red lip. While it did transfer some during the transfer tests, it didn’t cause much of a reduction in the pigmentation on her lips. 

Best Lightweight

Sunnies Face Matte Lipstick

View on Sunniesface.com

Tested Shade: Hot Sauce | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Matte lipsticks with powdery formulas have become incredibly popular, and this is without a doubt one of the best on the market. The weightless texture looks gorgeous on the lips, and you can build it up for full pigmentation like a traditional matte formula, or sheer it out for a blurred look. 

Our tester loved how soft this formula looked and felt on her lips, and was pleasantly surprised to achieve a rich color payoff in one thin layer. She did experience transfer, especially when drinking from a cup, so you might be better off using a straw and avoiding greasy foods while wearing this one. Aside from that, she was we're seriously impressed with the look, feel, and wear of this lipstick.  

Best Satin

Shiseido VisionAiry Gel Lipstick

$26 at Amazon $14 at Walmart $23 at Nordstrom

Tested Shade: Ginza Red | Finish: Satin | Cruelty-Free: No

If you like a lipstick that falls somewhere between matte and shiny, we suggest trying a shade in this formula. It has a gel texture that glides across the lips with ease, and the satin finish helps ensure it doesn’t feel dry or cakey. 

When we performed the blot test, a lot of pigment transferred onto the tissue, leaving our tester with a less intense lip color than she had before blotting. However, she didn’t experience transferring while eating or drinking, so the product that came off when blotting was likely just excess. She noticed that the color faded a bit as she wore it, but if you don’t mind reapplying, this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. Despite minor fading, her lip look remained even and her lips felt comfortable. 

Best Matte

Makeup Forever Matte Liquid Lipstick

$25 at Sephora $25 at Nordstrom View on Makeupforever.com

Tested Shade: Constantly On Fire | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No

Like most traditional liquid lipsticks, this formula is a bit drying. However, this one is not as drying as other liquid lipsticks. Our tester shared that she found it pretty comfortable to wear. She loved how evenly it applied on her lips, and was very pleased with the level of pigmentation she achieved in one swipe. 

As for transferring, she noted that it was minimal while she was eating, but that the lipstick remained looking great. She did notice some feathering near her cupid's bow and outer corners, so if you tend to experience this, we recommend applying a thin layer with a precise lip brush. Overall, the relatively comfortable feeling on the lips, smooth application, rich pigmentation, and long-wearing formula make it one of our top picks.  

Best for Everyday

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick

View on Sephora $28 at Ulta $28 at Ulta

Tested Shade: Unbridled | Finish: Satin | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sporting a red lip on a daily basis can be a challenge—we highly recommend finding a comfortable formula (or two) to achieve it. We love this one because it’s not drying, has a buildable formula, and doesn’t bleed or feather outside the lip lines. 

It transferred a bit during the blotting and drinking tests, but not so much that it ruined the overall look. You'll likely need to reapply it every few hours, especially after eating a big meal, but considering how smooth and comfortable it feels, we don't mind.