1. Create a subtle, polished look with a nude that’s two shades pinker or peachier than your own skin tone.
2. Keep in mind: Some formulas look bright in the tube but go on quite sheer.
3. Bold hues work best and last longer when paired with a lipliner. Fill in your entire lip with liner, then finish with lipstick.
4. To add fullness to your pout, apply a coat of gloss over your lipstick.
5. Crimsons will take your look from day to night. Go with a matte formula for long-lasting colour that won’t kiss off.
6. If you love bright tones and want the look of a soft stained lip, apply balm first, then use your fingers to pat on the colour.
Lipstick credits
Natural nudes Sheer Revolution Lipstick in Sheer Walk of Shame, $26, Urban Decay. K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Bitch Perfect, $38, Charlotte Tilbury. Rouge Baume in Milly, $37, Dior. Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Praline Cream, $32, Laura Mercier. Marc Jacobs Beauty New Nudes Sheer Lip Gel in Strange Magic, $38, Sephora.
Fiery corals Be Legendary Lipstick in Fireball Matte, $23, Smashbox. Shine Lover lipstick in 136, $32, Lancôme. Colorlicious Lipstick in Sweet Tangerine, $11, CoverGirl. Tom Ford Lipstick in Flame, $55, Holt Renfrew.
Beautiful berries Pure Color Envy Shine Sculpting Lipstick in Passionate, $34, Estée Lauder. Moisture Renew Lipstick in Berry Rose, $8, Rimmel London. Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick in 112, $52, Clé De Peau. Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick in red-medium, $10, Almay. Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in La Romanesque, $42, Chanel.
Perfect pinks Rouge Automatique Lipstick in 662, $41, Guerlain. Color Sensational Rebel Bloom Lipstick in Hibiscus Pop, $10, Maybelline New York. Pop Balm in Wild Lily, $10, L’Oréal Paris. Be Legendary Lipstick in Magenta Matte, $23, Smashbox.
Classic reds Audacious Lipstick in Rita, $37, Nars. Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Cherry Pop, $21, Clinique. Ultra HD Lipstick in Gladiolus, $12, Revlon. Le Rouge Lipstick in Magnolia Organza, $40, Givenchy. KissKiss Shaping Cream Lip Colour in Rouge Kiss, $41, Guerlain.
Related stories:
How to remove a red lipstick stain
Find the right lipstick hue for you
The best red lipsticks for every skintone
How to apply lipstick
Get the perfect red lip
Subscribe to our newsletters for our very best stories, recipes, style and shopping tips, horoscopes and special offers.
Chatelaine celebrates, inspires, informs and empowers. We know that Canadian women contain multitudes, and we cover all of the issues—big and small—that matter to them, from climate change to caregiving, Canadian fashion and what to cook now.
Subscribe to Chatelaine!
Want to streamline your life? In our Spring 2025 issue, we’ll show you how—whether it’s paring down your wardrobe, decluttering your messiest spaces or spending way less time cooking thanks to an easy, mostly make-ahead meal plan for busy weeknights. Plus, our first annual Pantry Awards.