Red lipstick is like the little black dress of the beauty world. It’s the colour of passion, of sex, of incitement and excitement. The camera loves it and Indian women wed in it. No colour can match the appeal of red. A power move and a powerful colour, red is also a symbol of purity and feminine energy. Then, there’s the transformative swipe of a classic red lipstick. Over the years, brands have met its perennial popularity with a dizzying menagerie of lipstick choices, leaving no colour, undertone, or finish unturned.
Red lipstick can up the ante on your big day, whether you’re wearing it in the day or evening, whether you’re going the monotone route or need a punchy contrast to your pastel ensemble, if you have found the right shade, that is. So, we called on the makeup artists to Bollywood stars and brides to share why they keep returning to reds, along with their go-to red lipsticks for you to choose from.
Makeup artists to the stars reveal why you need to go “rouge” on your wedding day.
Namrata Soni
The makeup artist behind Sonam Kapoor Ahuja’s wedding look, Namrata reinstates, “Red looks great on Indian skin tones.” It’s perhaps why Namrata relied on a beautiful red stained lip that commanded all eyes for the Bollywood bride for her Anand Karaj back in May 2018. “Red is a colour that can work with almost any outfit, from ivories and pinks to greens and blues. It automatically adds a sense of glamour to the wedding look, and so, most brides choose it,” she explains.
Go-to red lipstick: “My favourite red is NARS Dragon Girl. It has a velvety matte finish with rich pigments. It’s a red with a pink undertone, which looks good on almost everyone.”
Sandhya Shekar
Deepika Padukone’s bridal makeup artist Sandhya Shekar harnessed the power of red with a crimson matte lipstick for the actor’s special occasion. For her, “Red is an instant skin brightener. And especially the idea of ‘less is more’ stands true to this colour. Since the colour is so overpowering, you literally can go very minimal with the rest of the makeup. And a few years when you look down at the pictures, you can be rest assured that you look classic and not dated.”
Go-to red lipstick: “I love Beso from Stila. It’s a classic red which can never go wrong on anyone. The liquid lipstick adds a right amount of coverage and pigment. Unlike other liquid lipsticks, they don’t insanely dry out your lips.”
Aarti P
Renowned UK-based bridal makeup artist Aarti P has been celebrated for her award-winning artistry and timeless bridal transformations for over a decade. She is known for her clean, natural base that lets colour shine effortlessly. Aarti’s signature look enhances rather than conceals. A favourite among brides from across cultures and cities, she swears by “a classic red lip for adding elegance and confidence to any bridal look, whether you want to keep it au naturale or dramatic.”
Go-to red lipstick: “One of my favourites red options is Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Ultra-Comfort Transfer-Proof Lipstick in the shade, Miss America. A matte lipstick is an obvious choice, but I also love a velvet finish lipstick. Think strong colour yet light as air. Charlotte Tilbury’s Hot Lips 2 soft matte in shade Viva La Vergara is a beautiful wine-red colour, perfect for bride who doesn’t want a stark red.”
Ganga Makeup Artist
Acclaimed UK-based bridal makeup artist Ganga Makeup Artist has built her stellar reputation on technical precision and an innate understanding of what makes brides radiant. Her signature touch? A masterfully applied red lipstick, which she considers essential to elevating bridal beauty. “A bright lipstick can really amp up a makeup look. A red palette, whether with orange, pink and maroon tints, is my favourite to play up the lips,” Ganga explains. Her expertise lies in customising red tones to complement each bride’s unique colouring and style.
Go-to red lipstick: “Some of my favourite reds are NARS Dragon Girl, YSL Beauty’s The Slim Matte Longwear Lipstick in shade 23. If you like your liquid lipsticks, then Fenty Beauty’s Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Perfect Universal Red is a must.”
Ambreen Makeup
Based in the UK, celebrated makeup artist Ambreen Makeup has perfected the art of creating show-stopping bridal looks. Over the years, a red lip has remained as her steadfast favourite. Her technical mastery lies in selecting the perfect red shade that harmonises with each bride’s skin tone and wedding aesthetic. “Red lipstick will always be a classic and timeless look for brides. It will forever be an iconic and top colour choice for special occasions. Red lips make a bride feel like a bride as most would only ever try wearing this bold colour on their big day,” she notes.
Go-to red lipstick: “One of my favourite reds that I love on my brides is Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist For Ever Matte in Everlasting Scarlet and Constantly On Fire. It’s a weightless, transfer-proof liquid lip formula that delivers intense colour in one swipe and a comfortable, smoothing matte finish.”
Kashni M
Distinguished UK bridal makeup artist Kashni M has carved a niche for herself, thanks to her impeccable artistry and an eye for contemporary elegance. Her devotion to red lipstick stems from “its transformative power to create statement bridal looks that exude sophistication. A red lip can be stunning for brides when balanced with clean, radiant skin and soft eyes.” Kashni’s skill lies in her colour-matching process and precise lip contouring techniques that ensure each shade of red complements the bride’s complexion, outfit and stays flawless throughout the celebrations.
Go-to red lipstick: “I love MAC Ruby Woo – it’s what a red lip should be – bold, universally flattering & long-wearing for brides.”
