These 11 red lipsticks look fantastic on Valentine's Day

One of my all-time favorite lip looks is the classic red lip. Whether it’s inspired by Taylor Swift circa 2016 or that quintessential French vibe, this bold look continues to be a major beauty trend this 2020. Despite its seemingly intimidating color, there’s always that one shade of red that can fit into your makeup collection and personal preference. We’ve previously tackled how to find your perfect red lipstick but with so many new products in the market these days, we decided to update our red lippie recos – just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Determine your skin tone

Basing your lip color on your skin undertone is always a good place to start. For warm undertones, the bright orange-red shade of the Althea Watercolor Cream Tint in Strawberry Cream (P490 from Althea Korea) is a must try. 

The Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Boldface (P1,900 from Estee Lauder) or Vengeful Red would be a better fit for cooler undertones. 

Althea Watercolor Cream TInt

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy

A pro beauty tip: Orangey red lipsticks can highlight yellowish teeth, so if warm toned shades fit you better, you may want to try teeth whitening products or other makeup tricks to make your teeth look whiter. Otherwise, blue-toned reds can brighten up those pearly whites in an instant!

Find your finish

Mattes are known for being a bit drying, but you can find plenty of “moisturizing” options these days. The L’Oreal Color Riche Matte in 266 Pure Rouge (P350 from Watsons) is a great example of this, and it’s hydrating enough even on my dry lips. 

Cream lipsticks are certainly more comfortable than mattes, though these are more prone to transferring. One good option is the Maybelline Made for All Lipstick in Ruby for Me (P299 from Watsons) that promises to be universally flattering on different skin tones, as it did with both Gett and Nine when they tested it out. 

Sheer finishes are great for infusing just a hint of red on your lips. If you’re a newbie to red lips, you can start with this finish as it has a subtler effect. One of my go-to’s is the Laneige Two Tone Tint Lip Bar in Apple Jello (P1,150 from Laneige) which doubles as a tint and balm in one. It provides a quick red lip gradation with plenty of hydration. 

Velvet is another strong lip trend, and it is a cross between the matte and cream finishes. They have the longevity of a matte finish and the hydration of a cream lipstick but with a lighter feel. The newly released Happy Skin Lip Mallow in Spicy (P549 from Happy Skin) looks to be a good candidate, with a built-in bonus of SPF.

Choose your (product) type

When it comes to bullet lipsticks, the Tom Ford Beauty Lips & Boys in Warren (P1,960 from Adora) is my shade of choice. This brick red lipstick has a very saturated color, and I love how comfortable it feels on the lips! The entire PV team tried out different shades of this famous line and offered great feedback.

Multitasking products are very in demand right now because of its time and space-saving benefits. The Ellana Lip Drunk Blush in Autumn Martini (P798 with palette, P449 for the refill from Ellana) is recommended for use on lips and cheeks, and it performed well in our cream tint battle. RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek Tint in Beloved (P2,500 via Sephora PH) is another option made of mineral pigments, and it is one of the brand’s most popular products. 

Liquid lipsticks, cream tints, and mousse lipsticks usually come in tubes and typically offer a longer-wearing type of formula. The Bobbi Brown Luxe Liquid Lip Velvet Matte in Your Majesty (P1,850 from Bobbi Brown) is a highly-pigmented yet non-drying option. You can also check out the Colourette Velvetints (P349 from Colourette) which won Best Liquid Lipstick in the first ever Project Vanity Beauty Awards last year! There are 3 shades of red in its lineup: Confetti (true red), RSVP (candy red), and Soiree (strawberry red). 

Swatches, from left: Laneige Two Tone Tint Lip Bar in Apple Jello, Althea Watercolor Cream Tint in Strawberry Cream, Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Vengeful Red, Tom Ford Beauty Lips & Boys in Warren, L’Oreal Color Riche Matte in 266 Pure Rouge, Ellana Lip Drunk Blush in Autumn Martini

Whichever red lipstick you choose this Valentine’s Day (or any other day), just remember to enjoy and have fun! Don’t let yourself feel intimidated by wearing this bright pop of color, or let anyone make you feel conscious about it. Whether you have a date, hanging with your BFFs, or simply just staying at home to watch Netflix (Crash Landing on You ends this weekend!), swipe on a red lipstick today. You might even want to gift yourself a tube or two because of all the V-day sales (looking at you, Sephora). Let us know if you’ve found your perfect red!