Cheryl Shops

I have not always been a red lipstick person. For years, I wore only rose-colored lipstick, which has a my-natural-lips-but-better effect. I still wear shades of rose, but over time, I've come to appreciate the power of a red lipstick. For one, it's so dramatic that you can get away with wearing less makeup overall, because your lips become the focus—this is a particularly great trick if you're hung over or not feeling your best. But overall, I feel like red lipstick lights up your entire face in general. The key is finding the shade that works for you; personally, more of a blue-purple undertone looks better on my (pinky white) skin, but trying a bunch of shades is probably the best way to find the one that works for you. (Hey, it's an excuse to go to Sephora!) While they might not work for everyone, these are my five favorite red lipsticks.