The matte red is the purest version of the look, and the first two have long been makeup-artist favorites. MAC M·A·Cximal Silky Matte continues the brand’s long history with matte reds that photograph without shine. Pat McGrath MatteTrance comes from the makeup artist behind some of the most influential runway looks of the last few decades. Both deliver a saturated, velvety finish that reads from across a room. This is the red lipstick at its most graphic.

For couture houses, a red lip is part of the brand’s DNA. Rouge Dior is the house’s signature lipstick line, now in a refillable case that fits the moment. Givenchy Le Rouge Interdit takes its name from L’Interdit, the perfume the house created for Audrey Hepburn in 1957. Both carry a sense of history that no newer brand can quite replicate. They are the reds that feel like a reference rather than a trend.

Some lipsticks are as much about the case as the color, and these lean into it. Tom Ford Runway Lipstick brings the brand’s sleek, fashion-first sensibility to a longwear formula. Valentino Spike Buttery Matte wraps the bullet in a studded case that nods to the house’s signature studs. Pulling one out of a bag is part of the experience. These are the lipsticks that double as accessories.

Not everyone wants a dry matte, and the comfortable reds have become their own category. Hourglass Unlocked Satin Crème in Red 0 gives a creamy, satin finish with full color. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution is designed to feel hydrating while still reading matte, from the British makeup artist’s signature line. Both prove a bold lip does not have to feel uncomfortable. This is the lipstick for people who want red all day, not just for photos.

If you take one thing away, it is that the right lipstick depends on how you want to feel wearing it. Flat mattes are the most striking and the least forgiving, so line and blot carefully. Heritage reds carry a sense of occasion, statement cases turn a quick touch-up into a small moment, and comfort reds are the smartest choice for all-day wear. Swatch on your lips rather than your hand when you can, since undertone shifts once a red meets skin. Keep the rest of the face simple, since a strong lip is meant to do most of the work. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Flawless Hair Removal Began as a Lipstick Look-Alike and Grew Into a Whole Routine and Live Tinted and the Red Lipstick Trick That Started Deepica's Brand.