Wine and Oxblood Lipstick for Cold Weather

Wine and Oxblood Lipstick for Cold Weather

Wine and oxblood are the dark red lipstick shades that feel right the minute the leaves turn. Here are the burgundies, brown-reds and dark liners I would wear from the first cold night to New Year's.

In 2015, Pantone named Marsala its Color of the Year, a wine-soaked red brown that it compared to a fortified wine. Fashion took the hint, and so did makeup. Dark red lipstick in shades of wine and oxblood has come back every fall since, because it looks warm against cold skin and pairs with every dark coat you own. These colors are richer and softer than a bright red, which makes them easier to wear during the day than people think.

The first row is wine and burgundy. MAKEUP BY MARIO SuperSatin in Forest Hills is a rich wine with a soft sheen. PAT McGRATH LABS MatteTrance comes in Full Blooded, a deep wine, and McMenamy, a deep burgundy. Westman Atelier Lip Suede in Figue is a fig-toned matte. The Bobbi Brown hydrating lipstick in Hibiscus is a plum wine. TOM FORD Runway Lipstick in Impassioned is a true burgundy with twelve-hour wear. MAC Macximal Silky Matte in Diva is an intense reddish burgundy that has been a MAC favorite for years, and Not Too Much is a burgundy satin with eight hours of hydration.

A quick test: dab a wine shade on your fingertip and press it onto your lips like a stain. If you like it sheer, you will love it full.

Swatch collage of MAC Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick in Diva, PAT McGRATH LABS MatteTrance Lipstick in Full Blooded, MAKEUP BY MARIO Ultra Suede Lipstick in Nicole and MAC Lip Pencil in Burgundy
Wine and burgundy lipsticks

Wine and burgundy lipsticks

Oxblood and brown-red lipsticks

Oxblood leans browner than wine, like dried roses or old leather. These are the shades I would wear with a camel coat or a cream sweater.

MAKEUP BY MARIO Ultra Suede comes in Nicole, an intense burgundy brown, and Daniela, a deep reddish brown. Givenchy Le Rouge Satin Silk in Maroon Stitch is a deep maroon brown with hyaluronic acid, and Le Rouge Sheer Velvet in Brun Épicé is a softer red-based brown. MAC Lustreglass in Housewife is a sheer reddish brown with a subtle red pearl. Dior Rouge Dior On Stage in Redwood Star is a blueish brown red with a shine finish. Laura Mercier Caviar Smoothing Matte in Mulberry Moire is a deep warm brick red, and Rituel de Fille Forbidden Lipstick in Written In Blood is a deep, moody red.

Pairing tip: keep your cheeks soft with a sheer bronzer or a touch of berry blush. A dark lip with no color on the cheeks can look stark.

What I would skip: a dark oxblood with a very pale, matte foundation. The contrast looks severe in photos. Add a little glow to the skin instead.

Oxblood lipsticks

Dark red lip liners

A dark lip needs a liner more than any other shade. It keeps the edges clean and stops the color from bleeding into fine lines.

MAC Lip Pencil in Burgundy is a brownish burgundy that works under nearly every shade above. MAKEUP BY MARIO Ultra Suede in Kelley is a rich wine bordeaux. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On in Hex is a deep red wine that is waterproof for up to sixteen hours. Westman Atelier Lip Shape in Lou Lou is a deep wine that glides without tugging. TOM FORD Runway Matte Lip Liner in Private Client is a true wine. Hourglass Shape & Sculpt in Silhouette 6 is a transfer-resistant deep red. Glossier Lip Line in Black Cherry is a deep burgundy red, and Fenty Beauty Trace'd Out in Bored Heaux is a long-wearing bordeaux.

How to use them: line and fill your whole lip with the pencil, then apply the lipstick on top. When it fades, the liner is still there and it fades evenly.

What I would skip: applying a dark lip in a rush without a mirror. It is the one color where a wobbly edge shows. Take thirty seconds, and use a cotton swab for any mistakes.

Dark red lip liners

Wearing a dark lip without fuss

Start with a wine shade and a matching liner, and press the color on with a fingertip for a softer, stained look. Once you are comfortable, try a full oxblood with a sharp edge for evenings. Keep the rest of your face simple, with soft cheeks and a little mascara. Blot once after applying so the color settles and does not transfer onto cups. A dark red lipstick is the easiest way to look dressed up in cold weather, and the stain effect makes it wearable on a normal Tuesday too. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Cream Bronzer for Cold-Weather Skin and Purple Lipstick, From Soft Lilac to Deep Aubergine.