Red is one of those colours that can instantly brighten up a simple outfit, making you feel striking, elegant and memorable. Even just wearing red lipstick can transform your entire look.
But be careful! Not all shades of red will suit you; some can make your complexion appear dull, bring out unwanted redness or seem a little too harsh against your face.
The right red for you depends partly on your skin’s undertone, but also on the depth and intensity of the colour, and how it works with your overall colouring.
In this guide, you will discover how to explore warm, cool and neutral reds, identify the shades that suit you, and wear this beautiful colour with greater confidence.
Why Doesn’t Every Shade of Red Suit Everyone?
Some reds appear warm and fiery. Others look cool and crisp. Some are light and clear, while others are deep, muted or rich.
Your skin’s undertone, hair colour, eye colour, natural contrast, and overall colouring intensity can influence which reds feel most harmonious on you.
Before choosing your red, it is important to identify your skin undertone, as this will help you to choose the right shade.
Your undertone is the subtle underlying colour of your skin. This differs from your surface skin colour, which can change due to sun exposure, seasonal changes, or temporary redness.
(Read this article to learn more about the three ways to identify your skin undertone. )
Warm Skin Undertones
If your skin has warm undertones, you may find that reds with noticeable yellow or orange hues are worth trying.
Explore warm shades of tomato red, orange, poppy red, vermilion and warm coral-red.
These shades can create a lively, sunlit effect and complement many warm colour palettes beautifully.
Cool Undertones
If you have cool undertones, blue-based and berry reds may be a useful place to start.
Explore cherry red, ruby red, blue-based crimson, raspberry red and cool burgundy.
These reds tend to appear cooler and crisper than orange-based shades. Depending on your overall colouring, they can create a polished, classic or dramatic effect.
Neutral Undertones
If your undertone is neutral, you may find that you can comfortably experiment with both warm and cool reds.
However, this doesn’t mean that every red will automatically suit you. It simply gives you more options to try out.
Try true red, classic ruby, soft tomato red, neutral crimson and rich burgundy.
However, your best choice may depend more on the shade’s depth and brightness, and how it relates to your hair, eyes and overall colouring, than on your undertone alone.
Style Tip!
Compare three red garments: a warm tomato red, a classic true red, and a cool ruby red.
Take a moment to hold each one up to your face in similar lighting. Notice which colour feels most harmonious, creates the strongest contrast, and makes you feel most confident.
How to Wear Red When You’re Not Sure Which Shade Suits You Best.
- Wear red away from your face. If you’re unsure about a particular shade, try wearing it in the form of a skirt, trousers, handbag or shoes. This allows you to enjoy the colour without it being the main colour next to your complexion.
- Don’t assume that red isn’t for you just because you’ve tried one unflattering shade; experiment with different shades instead.
- Pay attention to fabric. Texture and lighting can change how a shade looks. For example, a shiny satin red can appear much more vivid than a matte cotton version of a similar colour.
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