Holiday Ready: 18 Best Red Lipsticks for the Festive Season

A red lipstick is more than just makeup; it’s a festive season essential that can instantly elevate your look, whether you’re having a casual day or getting ready to dazzle at a holiday party. It’s the perfect accessory, effortlessly pairing with casual outfits or adding the final touch to your glamorous Christmas dress.

But let’s be honest—finding the perfect red lipstick is not easy, especially when you want a shade that complements the magic of the season. Whether you’re a lipstick aficionado with a collection of reds or someone searching for that one go-to shade to light up your holiday celebrations, our curated list of the best red lipsticks will help you find your next festive favourite. After all, nothing says Christmas cheer quite like the perfect red pout!

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Best Effortless Red Lipstick

Nudestix Nudies Matte All Over Face Color Blush in Picante

Channel Sofia Richie Grainge with this warm orange infused red multi stick. Dab it across your lips and cheeks like Sofia for a flush of colour or apply it straight to your lips for a vibrant summery look.

$48.00 – 7g

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Mecca Max Pout Pop Sheer Lipstick in Mood Booster

A juicy natural red that leaves the lips feeling hydrated and soft. Mood booster is a warm red with an ever so slight coral undertone.

$23.00 – 2.8g

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Benefit Benetint Lip & Cheek Tint

Not many beauty items can claim constant popularity for nearly 50 years but Benefit’s Benetint definitely can. This buildable berry red tint is so natural looking that it can be applied flawlessly without even looking in a mirror. 

$42.00 – 6ml

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Kylie Beauty Tinted Butter Balm in 420 Moving On

A high shine balm enriched with jojoba oil to soften and nourish dry lips. With one swipe, Moving On leaves a subtle rosy tone across the lips, and in just three, a luxuriously rich red is created.

$29.00 – 2.4g

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Espressoh Aroma Light Lipstick in Ragu

As its name suggests, Ragu leaves a sheer tomato toned red across the lips. This satin finish lipstick is made with Espressoh’s signature coffee infused formula and can be layered for a more intense finish.

$31.00 – 3.5g

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Best Glossy Red Lipstick

Kosas Wet Lip Oil Plumping Treatment Gloss in Jaws

A slick looking lip oil infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid, restorative peptides, protective primrose oil and a bright, neutral hue.

$37.00 – 4.5g

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M·A·C Cosmetics Squirt Plumping Gloss Stick in Heat Sensor 

An innovative plumping gloss packaged in a convenient twist up tube, MAC’s viral Gloss Stick will leave your lips looking full and flushed with natural colour.

$40.00 – 

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Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Cherry

A silky oil balm hybrid with a punchy cherry fragrance and shine. Wear alone for a subtle wash of colour or pair with a lip liner for a bright berry toned pout.

$40.00 – 15ml

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Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm in Lucid

A luxurious gloss that conditions, plumps and smooths the lips while leaving a warm tomato toned glow.

$60.00 – 1.7g

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Best Matte Red Lipstick

Dior Rouge Dior Couture Finish Refillable Lipstick in shade 999 velvet

A velvet feeling matte lipstick made in Dior’s iconic 999 red shade and infused with red peony and pomegranate flowers for comfortable 16-hour wear. 

$72.00

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Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square 

A vitamin E enriched lip pencil that combines the pigment and punchiness of matte lipstick with the precision and staying power of a liner. Red Square is a bright and warm orange red.

$43.00 – 2.4g

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M·A·C Cosmetics Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolour in shade MACSmash

A whipped powder matte mousse that provides a silky smooth, soft focus matte that lasts for hours. MACSmash is a true red that fades to pink.

$49.00 – 5ml

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Revlon ColorStay Suede Ink Lipstick in Lip Bloom

A full coverage, no transfer matte lipstick made with vivid red pigments for creamy opaque colour, Vitamin E for hydrating protection, and a built in primer that binds the colour to your lips.

$17.99

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Best Long Lasting Red Lipstick

Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé Matte Lip Cream in Transform

A whipped liquid lip that leaves behind a long lasting velvety stain. This vampy shade is surprisingly easy to wear and can be dabbed across the lips for a soft blurred look or swiped on with the applicator for precise, opaque colour. 

$39.00 – 3.9ml

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Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Uncensored 

The brainchild of Rihanna, Stunna Lip Paint provides weightless, high-impact colour that stays in place through eating, drinking, kissing and everything in between. Uncensored is a universally flattering true red. 

$45.00 – 4ml

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Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Longwear Liquid Lipstick in Red Hot

A physics defying liquid lipstick that stays shiny, precise and transfer free for up to 16 hours. A favourite of Gigi Hadid, Red Hot is a rich warm red. 

$22.99 – 4.2ml

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Hourglass Confession Lipstick Red

A special edition satin finish lipstick created to showcase Hourglass’ commitment to animal welfare. Instead of Crushed carmine beetles, Red 0 is formulated with vegan pigment to deliver a rich, long-wearing red.

$65.00 – 0.9g

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Nars Power Matte in Too Hot to Hold

A bold terracotta red in an innovative oil free formula. This creamy matte leaves behind comfortable, transfer proof colour with just one swipe and lasts for up to 10 hours.

$56.00 – 1.5

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