Red lipstick is the ultimate statement of confidence and glamour, making it a timeless choice for brides who want to exude elegance and sophistication. However, achieving the perfect red lip takes careful preparation and specific application to ensure a flawless, long-lasting finish. Here are expert tips and secrets to help you nail the perfect red lip for your wedding day. Plus, get inspiration from stunning red lip makeup ideas featured in this article.
Photo: Holly Broomhall, Makeup: Cat Parnell
Photo: Bjarne x Takata, Makeup: Samantha Lau
Choose the Right Shade and Finish
Red lipstick isn’t just one shade—it’s an entire spectrum of possibilities. Find a shade that complements your skin undertone. Blue-based reds suit cool undertones, while orange-based reds flatter warm tones. Neutral undertones can usually pull off both. A professional makeup artist will help you pick a high-quality red lipstick with a perfect color.
Beyond selecting the perfect shade, choosing the right finish is just as essential. It affects texture, staying power, and intensity, shaping the color’s appearance on the lips. The most common options include matte, satin, and gloss, each offering a distinct effect. The Beauty Livery team advises, “A matte finish is the best choice if you want to prevent smudging outside the lip line. But if you’re not a fan of a matte formula, apply a small amount of transparent lip gloss for the perfect glazed red lip.” In this article, we’ve rounded up the best red lipsticks, according to beauty experts.
Photo & Makeup: Shari Kramer
Photo & Makeup: Shari Kramer
Keep It Balanced
If you have decided to wear a bold red lip, opt for subtle eye makeup with soft neutral shades and a classic winged liner or just mascara. This will keep the focus on your lips, avoid overdoing, and maintain an elegant look.
Photo: Pinterest
Photo & Makeup: Carolina Gonzales
Prep Your Lips
“My top tip for wearing any bright lip color is to start with a good exfoliation, followed by a nourishing lip balm,” says Paris-based makeup and hair artist Alesia Solo. “Your lips should be smooth and well-hydrated, especially when using long-lasting liquid lipsticks. It helps prevent dryness and ensures a flawless, even application.” You can start this routine a few days before your wedding for the best results.
Once the lip balm has absorbed, blot away any excess with a tissue before applying your chosen red lipstick. “Next, apply a lip primer all over your lips and along the edges,” says Danish makeup and hair artist Trine Juel. “I’ve been using the MAC Cosmetics Lip Primer for over 10 years—it’s my go-to for creating a smooth base and making lipstick last longer.”
Photo: Pinterest
Photo: Courtesy of Elsa Hosk, Makeup: Samantha Lau
Use a Lip Liner
Red lipstick requires more precision than pinks or browns since its bold contrast against your natural lip tone makes any imperfections more noticeable. Using a lip liner first helps create a flawless base, enhances the color, and prevents feathering.
Choose a lip liner that matches your red lipstick or is slightly darker. “A lip pencil with a darker shade is very useful as it creates dimension and keeps the lipstick in place,” says a professional team of makeup artists at Beauty Livery. Start by outlining your lips in your preferred shape.
Adriana Cardoso, makeup and hair artist at the bridal beauty company Jenny Makeup Land shares her go-to trick: “For a seamless application, swipe some lipstick onto the back of your hand, then run your lip liner through it before outlining your lips. This helps the pencil glide on smoothly, creating a rich base before applying your lipstick.”
Photo & Makeup: Shari Kramer
Photo: Pinterest
Fill in the Outline with a Lipstick
Now, it’s time to fill in the color. You can apply lipstick straight from the bullet, but a lip brush offers more precision and control. “Start at the center of your lips and work outward, concentrating more color in the middle and softly buffing it as you fan out,” recommends Stacey Triplow, a commercial and beauty artist whose work has graced the pages of magazines worldwide.
Photo: Joao K, Makeup: Patrick Ta Beauty
Photo: Pinterest
Blot and Set
Blotting excess product is a must for both lip balm and lipstick. Tanya Bures, professional makeup artist and founder of Page Beauty, explains: “Apply your first layer of lipstick, then blot with a tissue before reapplying. After the second application, blot once more. This layering technique allows the pigment to stain the lips while removing excess moisture that could cause feathering. Also, keep in mind that a matte lip pencil, like the NARS Powermatte High-Intensity Lip Pencil, provides immediate opaque coverage—so there’s no need to blot.”
Photo: Jayden Fa, Makeup: Nikki Makeup
Photo: Courtesy of Fenty Beauty
Clean Up Edges with Concealer
“Red lipstick requires precise application. In fact, it’s one of the trickiest makeup things to master,” says Alesia Solo. “The edges need to be perfectly defined and clean. Always tidy up the edges with a brush and a bit of concealer for a flawless finish.”
Swiss makeup artist Divina Hunziker expands on the concealer part tip: “Choose a concealer that matches your foundation or is up to half a shade lighter. Apply it with a small angled brush starting from the outer corners.”
Photo: Courtesy of Amy Jackson Westwick, Makeup: Kate Glanfield
Photo: Mert Alas, Makeup: Raoul Alejandre for Tom Ford Beauty
Check and Maintain
Red lipstick has a sneaky way of transferring onto teeth. “Avoid over-applying a lip pencil and lipstick, as that’s the main way to get lipstick on your teeth, and no one wants that,” says the Beauty Livery team. Also, to prevent this, use the “finger trick”—place a clean index finger in your mouth, purse your lips around it, and pull it out. Any excess lipstick that could have ended up on your teeth will be left on your finger instead. Before heading out the door, do a final check to ensure your smile is perfect.
Even the best formulas may need a touch-up after hours of sipping, kissing, and smiling. Keep your lipstick and liner close for quick fixes throughout the day, or, even better, have a stylist around you on the wedding day.
Tip: If you don’t want to worry about smudging during the ceremony and first kiss, consider saving your bold red lip for the after-party or a pre-wedding event just like Amy Jackson did during her wedding weekend in Italy with Ed Westwick.
Photo & Makeup: Nikki Makeup
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel Beauty, Makeup: Ammy Drammeh
Meet the Experts
A professional makeup artist and hairstylist, and the founder of a Paris-based boutique mobile beauty team.
A talented Danish hair & makeup artist known for her sophisticated works in fashion, high-end weddings, and beauty.
A professional team of hair and makeup artists based in Capri and the Amalfi Coast, specializing in bridal and celebrity beauty.
A makeup and hair artist at Jenny Makeup Land, a bridal beauty company with a highly personalized approach.
A renowned, award-winning wedding makeup and hair artist based in Southern California and the founder of Triplow Beauty.
A hair and makeup artist with 12 years of experience on the beauty team of the leading Swiss broadcasting company.
A makeup and hair artist and the founder of Page Beauty, an award-winning beauty company based in Southern California.
