No Gatekeeping Here—These 12 Red Lipsticks Look Especially Stunning on Dark Skin

I grew up with a strong affinity for all things that exude a timeless elegance, so when I finally became old enough to start wearing makeup, I immediately began growing my collection of red lipstick. It’s also worth mentioning, however, that during that same time; there was limited inspiration I could draw from; as nearly all the ads and makeup guides I cam across in the mid-2000’s rarely featured anyone with a similar skin tone to mine sporting an eye-catching scarlet lip look.

With that being said, as a dark-skinned beauty editor with a love for makeup, I strive to be the much-needed representation for others I didn’t always see growing up. This time around, I reached out to Lauren Geller, founder of Laura Geller Beauty and veteran makeup artist to help me identify the ins and outs of shopping for the best red lipsticks for dark skin tones on the market. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know (plus, some expert approved red lipstick picks to help get you started).

Finding for Your Perfect Shade Match