We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A Maybelline SuperStay Liquid Lipstick in a vampy red for when you prefer a darker tone of the classic red lip rather than a vibrant look. This lipstick shade has more maroon and plum undertones which can look *so* elegant.
If you have a cooler-toned, pale complexion, this kind of shade can make you look a little bit more "goth" than if you have a warmer complexion. It features a long-lasting, no-transfer formula with a gorgeous matte finish that'll last all day long (or up to 16 hours!).
Promising review: "It’s so smooth and pretty. It brightens my skin tone, I’m a smooth medium caramel (foundation: Maybelline 332 Golden caramel) and it pops like a dark sweet cherry red wine. Gorgeous. 10/10 would recommend for my melanin folks." —Allura Brown
*Another* promising review: "I really liked this lipstick. Please please please have a light hand when applying. It CAN get a little heavy and cakey 💄💋 Other than that, it’s awesome— the color is beautiful. It lasted on me 8+ hours without wearing off from drinking, kissing (just a peck lol) or eating. The quality I would compare it to the name brand Anastasia or Kylie lipsticks! It also smells amazing."—Silvia Tapia
Get it from Amazon for $7.98.
2. Lip Bar's 'Bawse Lady' Liquid Matte Lipstick has Black reviewers *obsessed* with how this shade looks against their skin's undertones (though it would look beautiful on every skin tone)! This shade is cooler-toned, but not too dark — a perfect blend of cranberry and wine, in my opinion.
This lipstick applies like a gloss, but dries matte. It's got some ~serious~ wear of about 8–12 hours, too. Because of the jojoba oil and vitamin E, your lips will also feel super nourished!
Lip Bar is a Black-owned small business that sells vegan and cruelty free products so you can support small *and* save the animals! Yay!
Promising review: "This is a fantastic lipstick! It’s a balanced, vibrant-but-deep blood red. The applicator is an excellent shape and size — it makes it really easy to place the lipstick accurately in the corners and Cupid’s bow. This is the least drying and most lightweight matte liquid lipstick I’ve tried. It sits even more comfortably on my lips than my beloved go-to Fenty (Uncensored). The finish is a really beautiful velvet matte — it’s not too severe or paint-like — just a lovely sort of vintage look. The longevity is excellent, and I’ve not observed any significant bleeding so far. I am obsessed." —Farah
*Another* promising review: "Both Bawse Lady and Prima Donna are beautiful, brown girl friendly colors. Product goes on smoothly and lasts all day." —Melody
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
3. Shade Ruby Rush in Tom Ford's Matte Lipstick collection is an absolute classic color red if you're going for that signature Taylor Swift lip look. It's definitely pricier than most but it's full coverage, infused with vitamins C and E, and free of parabens and sulfates.
Being a true red lipstick, this means that it has a perfect balance of cool and warm undertones, making it ideal for *EVERY* skin tone!
BuzzFeed editor Maitland Quitmeyer is a HUGE fan and says this: "If I could only wear one lipstick for the rest of my life, it would be Tom Ford's Lip Color Matte in Ruby Rush. It's bonkers expensive but a single tube lasts ages and ages, and it is just the most gorgeous true red and *so* comfortable to wear!"
Promising review: "Best lipstick I have ever purchased! Is very pigmented and covers the lips in one swipe! I was amazed it stayed on the entire night while I went out and not one smudge was on any of my glasses as I was drinking wine. Only lipstick I have tried that lasts all night without reapplying and doesn't smudge onto glasses. Would definitely purchase again." —Furgason
Get it from Sephora for $58.
4. Or the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso is perfect if you're looking for a more affordable shade of true red without feeling like you're splurging *too* much. Reviewers are ~raving~ about how incredibly difficult it is for this lipstick to wear off and how it will NOT transfer on anything.
Promising review: "I'm not going to lie, I bought this because this is the lipstick that the lovely and amazing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wears! It does what it says...it stays on all day and it doesn't come off. Because of this, it's imperative to get it exactly right when you put it on which isn't easy because its very gloppy right out of the tube. Any mistakes will be there all day (a lip liner might help). Once its on, it looks great but is definitely matte. A layer of lip balm makes it shiny." —LalaB
*Another* promising review: "Best long-wear lipstick I’ve ever had. It doesn’t “stick and peel” like other liquid lipsticks. This one dries after a minute and does not stick to surfaces or skin unless you are eating something greasy or with fat. It does not smudge on its own - you have to try to force it out from your lips in order to smudge onto a small part of your finger or face. It also leaves my lips in a neutral balance, neither drying or moisturizing it. And it doesn’t chap my lips either! I’m planning to buy more of this brand with other colors. I did go ahead and buy a lip primer and it helped increase the long-wear from 9-10 hours to literally the whole day (from early morning to midnight!)" —C07
Get it from Amazon for $22.
5. Shade Red-y To Party in Clinique's Pop Reds collection boasts a feather-resistant formula to keep bleeding at bay and your lips looking as bold as ever! You can even use a touch of the lipstick on your cheeks for a beautiful blush.
It's 100% fragrance free, it's allergy-tested, *and* has squalane and pomegranate to help nourish your lips.
I have been searching for the perfect red lipstick for a really, *really*, long time. I have a much cooler complexion, which means the usual classic red looks that have orange undertones make me look like a literal clown. I also don't really like many with super rich blue undertones, because it starts to feel too vampire-esque for my taste. In comes this lovely shade. I do think it has a bit of an orange undertone, but it's closer to a True Red, so it complements my skin tone really well. I literally stood in the aisle for half an hour swatching all of the reds from this collection and found this one to be the one that worked best for me! It's also *super* hydrating and glides so smoothly. I don't have any issues with bleeding, but I do think it transfers more than other lipsticks I've had. PRO TIP: I actually like to dab translucent powder on top to matte it out and help it last a bit longer!
Promising review: "For years I've said one day I would but I knew I'd need a bit of help because I'm absolutely horrible at picking colors for myself. I had a wonderful clerk help me at Ulta and lo' the perfect red! It wears like a dream! It's not drying and doesn't get that patchy crease mess going on. I even did a workout with it on just to see how it would last! Sipping water through a straw also wasn't an issue. My color is Red-y to Party and my husband described it as a clean red, nothing garish. Classic. Beautiful pigment. I couldn't be happier." —RedManicure
Get it from Ulta for $20.
6. NYX Professional Extra Creamy lipstick in Snow White will leave your lips feeling velvety, soft, and oh-so-luscious. It's smudge *and* wear resistant so you can rest assured your go-to look will last for quite a while.
NYX Cosmetics is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty free brand, meaning they do not test their products on animals! This shade comes in a blue-toned pigment, making it ideal for fairer complexions.
Promising review: "NYX Cosmetics has another winner with Snow White. This lipstick is highly pigmented and has a lot of blue in it, making it a deep, almost brick-toned red on my lips. The finish is satin, so just a little sheen but not too much." —Lisa Tufano
Get it from Amazon for $4.
7. Fenty Beauty's Uncensored Stunna Lip Paint is a customer-favorite because of its bold pigment and just overall ability to instantly make you look fabulous. This baddie is yet *another* true red, so you can rest assured knowing it'll look fantastic on you.
Promising review: "My deep dark skin beauties that can't find a true red to save our lives no matter how much the brand promises that its a universal red, it never seems true red on our lips. Well ladies, look no future! Omg they did it! I love this product. It's a deep, beautiful, true red even on the deepest DARKEST brown skin tones. I receive so many compliments and people asking what I'm wearing. I FEEL LIKE THAT BADDEST BI$$$ WITH THIS SHADE ON LOL!!!! Get it nowwwww!!!" —Bobbie T.
8. A deep ruby red from AJ Crimson Beauty in shade Ruby Who, which I think is a clever play on the ever-popular Ruby Woo by Mac. It has blue undertones which, you guessed it, means it works really well for all skin tones!
This lipstick is creamy, velvety, and ultra-matte. It'll stay true-to-color for hours and you won't have to deal with any pesky feathering with this formula!
AJ Crimson Beauty is a Black-owned small business that sells vegan and cruelty free makeup products.
Promising review: "Where have you been all my life? This is the perfect blue based red for WOC! The formula is fabulous, smooth, opaque, applies even and is not overly drying like most mattes. This is the best Red I’ve ever worn. It also doesn’t turn orange (I have acidic skin which turns reds orange or pink). I will stock up on as many as I can!!!! Thank you AJC!" —Lisa Austin
*Another* promising review: "I love this shade! It's beautiful and highly pigmented and once it's on, it stays on. It doesn't smudge or smear once it dries and it is surprisingly lightweight for a matte red." —Rachael
Get it from AJ Crimson Beauty for $22.
9. Wet n Wild's 'Missy And Fierce' shade from the Megalast Liquid Catsuit collection has a lovely blue-ish undertone, making it ideal (obviouslyyy) for literally every skin tone! It goes on like a regular lip gloss, but will dry into a highly pigmented matte finish. Your other lipsticks just won't matte-r.
Promising review: "The color is absolutely stunning and it's [cool] how cheap these lipsticks are and they are not sticky at all! After they're dry they're transfer resistant." —Lexie
*Another* promising review: "If you are a brown skin woman who is wondering if this color will look good on you ..it does!!!! Love it and it lasted all night." —Dimples
Get it from Amazon for $4.98.
10. Haus Laboratories Le Monster Matte Lip Crayon in shade 1950 volunteers as tribute if you're looking for a super long-lasting, creamy-to-matte, easy-to-apply bold red lip. Plus, it's by Lady Gaga — how fun is that?!
Promising review: "This is my first HAUS Labs purchase and I am floored. I am a die hard liquid matte lipstick user, but I am being converted by this lip crayon. The texture is out of this world. I feel like I could wear it all night and not need to touch it up. I appreciate the crayon form as it allows me to line my lips before filling." —Casey
*Another* promising review: "I'm not a red person, but I do not regret buying 1950 at all. It's matte but doesn't feel dry on the lips. Product is A LOT more buttery and smooth than I expected, it doesn't tug and glides on easy. It's beautiful, I will be buying more." —Wendy Sanchez
Get it on Amazon for $18.
11. Shade Electra from Kosas' Weightless Lip Color collection is a semi-matte lippie in a lovely cool-toned red that'll provide some seriously bold pigments while simultaneously improving the look of your lips thanks to the plant oils!
I just *chef's kiss* can't express how much I love this color! It's another cooler-toned lipstick, which means it works really well with my skin tone! It applies SUPER creamy and leaves a lovely velvet-y feeling behind. I love that it's not completely matte because it has this subtle gloss to it that feels almost luxurious in a way. This could easily be my go-to red lip! I will say, when I applied it the first time, there was a teeeny bit of feathering and bleeding on my lip line. This could easily be solved with some lip liner! Also, it's cruelty-free so that's always a plus in my books!
Promising review: "This is honestly the best lipstick ever! it feels like butter and your lips are nourished i feel like I'm wearing ChapStick but it's a lipstick and it last all day and leaves your lips nourished." —Jasmine V.
12. And finally, Kuckian Liquid Velvet Lipstick in shade Dinner At 8 comes in a matte finish and is probably the deepest classic red you'll find. It's vegan, cruelty-free, *extra* long lasting, and oh-so-chic. Reviewers are gloating at how it literally will NOT. COME. OFF.
The formula is 100% vegan and cruelty-free! It'll last up to 12 hours, is transfer proof, and they even provide two applicators to ensure you get clean lines.
Promising review: "I've recently started getting into liquid lipsticks, and I definitely see the differences in quality. This one lasts me roughly eight hours before needing a touchup. It's not sticky and doesn't smear or bleed. I can scarf down a pizza and know my lips still look on point. The color is very nice as well." —Abraham
*Another* promising review: "I would pay for this lipstick over and over again. The red is an absolute true red and just pops on my olive tone skin. On top of that I just looooove the formula! It doesn't feel like you have anything on your lips AT ALL. There's no dryness or texture or crumbling. It does stay on through drinking with no problems but will come off if you eat something greasy. I love it just because it feels so great on and the color is intense." —HotmamaTexas
Get it from Amazon for $16.
You, feeling yourself in your new signature red lip.
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