It literally took me forever to find a group of affordable red lipsticks for dark skin like mine. I’ve had so many misses with red lipsticks that I’ve lost count. From being too orange, too bright, or just not having the best formulation. So whenever I found a good one I’ve stuck with it. Truth be told it took me some time to get the confidence to wear something as bold as a classic red lip. I know what definitely helped and it was finding affordable red lipsticks in shades of red that made me feel comfortable when I tried them on. So let’s get into these lippies!
5 Affordable Red Lipsticks for Dark Skin
Stunna Longwear Lippaint -Uncensored
A little definitely goes a long way with this Fenty Beauty matte liquid lipstick formulation. Uncensored is less viscous so scrape some of the excess off the applicator and apply a little bit of product at a time. If you’re looking for a really vibrant red that still compliments your skin tone. Stunna Uncensored is that girl!
Wet n’ Wild Liquid Catsuit Matte
Listen this entire line of matte lipsticks is everything. Don’t let the affordable price fool you. My favorites from this line are Missy Fierce and Video Vixen (the perfect matte burgundy) . However, all eyes are on Missy Fierce for this post. BONUS POINTS: These are definitely mask friendly with hardly any transfer. In general this line is the best matte lipstick I’ve tried at a $5 price point. It lasts many 8 hour shifts at the 9 to 5 and only needed reapplication after eating something oily.
The Lip Bar Bawse Lady
The Lip Bar or TLB is a relatively new vegan and cruelty-free, Black woman owned beauty brand with an amazing backstory from getting an initial rejection on the popular show Shark Tank to now successfully selling in Target! Black women right?! TLB’s Bawse Lady Matte Liquid Lipstick was the first shade of red I tried from the brand and sis did it make an impression. It’s one of those shades of red that will literally work for everyone regardless of skin tone. It leaves my lips feeling soft and not dehydrated.
The Lip Bar Hot Mama
You know the names of these Lip Bar lipsticks are so fitting. Hot Mama is that super bold and bright shade of red you’ve been looking for, but always got disappointed by the payoff. This is THEE red for all the outings. It’s the shade I’m wearing in this post and I definitely felt like a Hot Mama in it. Application, pigmentation, and overall feel is everything.
Ruby Woo MAC
The classics are classics for a reason. Ruby Woo, Rihanna’s red shade in collaboration with MAC, is a dare I say a cult classic. A national treasure if you will. If you like the feel and more importantly control of applying a traditional stick lipstick this one’s for you.
Revlon Super Lustrous #008 Show Off
Speaking of classics, Revlon has so many of my favorite affordable makeup products for oily skin, but I’ve barely begun to dive into their lippies. However I tried Revlon Super Lustrous in Show Off (#008). It has a creamy feel when applying and it makes my lips looks matte and super moisturized at the same time. There’s a very slight orange undertone and it works very well with the undertones in darker skin.
I hope you found this helpful and saved you so much time in finding your perfect shade. If there are some affordable red lipsticks you swear by and you believe it should be on this list let me know in the comments! I’m always looking for new ones to try out and share!