Ever wondered if you can pull off show-stopping red lips? Of course you can! Whether you’re after a Marilyn ruby or vampish crimson, there’s a color out there for everyone. Here we bring you our go-to tips for discovering your perfect red pout.

Find Your Skin Tone

If you’re not sure if you’re cool or warm toned, you can always study your skin in a mirror (yellow undertones indicate a warm complexion whereas the cool skinned are those dubbed the pale and interesting). However, a more fun way is to check out the veins on your inner arm. Blue? You’re cool toned. Green? You’re warm! Something else? You may have a problem.

Try Before You Buy

Although you may be accustomed to a sneaky testing on the back of your hand to check out a potential new lip color, you’re doing it all wrong. Instead, try lipsticks out on the tip of one of your fingers; here is closest to your actual lip color and will give you a better idea of how it’ll look on your smackers.

Make It Liquid

When you’re rocking a red lipsticked lip, you may find one curse: it gets everywhere – your teeth, your wine glass, the collar of your white blouse and the cheek of everyone you greet. Liquid lipsticks are the ultimate answer: they go on like a lip-gloss and dry with all the intense pigment of lipstick, giving you color that doesn’t budge all day.

Here’s a quick guide to finding the right red for you. If your lips have a…

Blue undertone – If you lips having a blueish tinge that’s not just an onset from the cold weather, stick to a pink based rouge to add warmth to your beautifully milky pallor. The bold red contrast against your cool skin will be electric.

Pink undertone – Don’t be afraid to use red if your lips are rose petal pink. By adding a touch of brown to the color palette, your lips will take on a new depth. Pinky based lips also work well for the darker plum and berry tones that are super-hot for the winter months.

Brown undertone – Warm skinned gals can rock an orange based hue with panache. Complimenting your complexion and bringing sun-kissed warmth to your look, an orangey red is a bang-up-to-date take on classic pillar-box.

Red undertone – Lips that are blessed with undertones of red are an excellent base for the boldest of shades. A classic scarlet will work wonders on your smile – use lipsticks with the slightest hint of a blue base and you’ll feel anything but melancholy.