Is there anything quite as timeless as red lipstick? It’s been in style, in different variations, for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt and Rome, it was even worn as a symbol of social status!

However, red lipstick is not one size fits all, and choosing the right shade of red lipstick for your skin tone is key to pulling off your look. With all the choices out there, you might be wondering: What shade of red lipstick should I wear? Whether you gravitate toward a deep, matte maroon or a glossy, fiery crimson, finding your perfect lipstick shade has never been easier with our favorite tips and tricks, including:

• How to pick the right shade of red lipstick

• How to prep your lips for red lipstick

• The right red lipstick for your skin tone if you have cool undertones

• The right red lipstick for your skin tone if you have warm undertones

• The right red lipstick for neutral undertones

How to pick the right shade of red lipstick

Finding the right red lipstick for your skin tone really comes down to selecting a shade that has the same undertones as your skin.

Undertones can be tricky, but these tips can help you find yours. There are three undertones you should consider when looking for the right makeup shade. To find your undertone, begin by looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist.

• Warm undertones: If your veins appear green, you more than likely have a warm skin tone. Warm skin tones tend to be yellow, peach or gold in color.

• Cool undertones: If your veins appear blue or purple, you likely have a cool undertone. Cool skin tones tend to appear pink, rosy or blue in color.

• Neutral undertones: If your veins are a mixture of green, blue or purple, your skin tone is likely neutral. Neutral skin tones feature a mixture of warm and cool undertones, like olive.

Once you’ve determined your undertone, it’s time to find your shade.

• Warm lipstick shades usually have an orange, brown or gold undertone—think fire and ruby reds.

• Cool lipstick shades tend to feature blue or pink undertones—think cherry or sangria reds.

• Neutral lipstick shades contain a mixture of warm and cool undertones.

How to prep your lips for red lipstick

Whatever shade you choose, lipstick applies best to healthy lips. If your lips are chapped, cracked or dry, you can help them heal by applying FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Lip Balm. With cocoa and shea butters and hydrocortisone, this medicated balm helps transform dry, flaky lips into a soft, smooth canvas for the perfect shade of red lipstick. It comes in an unscented version as well as a vanilla flavor.

The best red lipstick for warm undertones

If you have warm undertones, the right red lipstick for your skin tone has gold, brown or orange undertones. Look for reds in shades such as tomato, ruby and coral.

RMS Beauty Legendary Serum Lipstick in Ruby Moon

This deeply pigmented, hydrating lip color from RMS Beauty combines the conditioning qualities of a lip serum with the color payoff of a traditional lipstick. Bitter cherry fruit water, kakadu plum extract and a Trio-Wax Complex combine to give this formula its long-lasting, comfortable-to-wear texture. The Ruby Moon shade is a bold, tangerine-leaning red that suits skin with warm undertones.

jane iredale ColorLuxe Hydrating Cream Lipstick in Sorbet

With a satin finish and hydrating cream formula, this deserves a spot in your makeup bag. A blend of nourishing oils—shea butter, sunflower seed oil and castor oil—give this formula its rich, weightless feel. If fire-engine red is a bit too bold for your taste, this subtler coral shade is the perfect entry-level red lipstick for warm undertones.

Mirabella Sealed with a Kiss Lipstick in Perfect Red

If you’re after that classic ruby red lip—think Taylor Swift in her music video for “Style”—the shade Perfect Red from Mirabella hits just the right note. This conditioning formula is made with vitamin E and argan oil to lock in moisture for all-day wear. With a slightly satin finish, it’s the perfect traditional red lipstick for warm undertones.

The best red lipstick for cool undertones

If you have cool undertones, the right red lipstick for your skin tone will have blue, violet or pink undertones—think berry, maroon and crimson. Here are a few of our favorites:

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Lipstick in Vixen

Highly pigmented color meets long-lasting moisture with this soothing lipstick from Youngblood. This formula contains aloe vera extract to reduce inflammation, vitamin E to calm irritated skin and jojoba seed oil to condition and hydrate. Vixen is a festive crimson red that’s just right for holiday soirees or a bold everyday look.

Dr. Hauschka Lipstick in Amaryllis

Natural skin care and makeup brand Dr. Hauschka combines shimmery mineral pigments with plant-based ingredients to create its line of lipsticks. Plant oils such as rosehip, sweet almond, sunflower, apricot kernel and jojoba oils help condition and nourish your lips every time you apply.

Glo Skin Beauty Satin Lipstick in Roaring 20s

With cool undertones, you can pull off a deep shade that brings the drama, such as this berry-leaning maroon hue from Glo Skin Beauty. This formula promises a velvety satin finish and all-day wear that won’t melt, feather or transfer. Antioxidant-rich vitamin E and green tea extract provide extra protection against damage from free radicals as well.

The best red lipstick for neutral undertones

If you can’t seem to determine if your skin has a warm or cool undertone, chances are your skin is more neutral.

In this case, it’s easy to answer the question: “What shade of lipstick should I wear?” Any red is the right red lipstick for your skin tone. You can mix and match your favorite red lipstick to match your outfit, makeup or mood. Here are our recommendations:

bareMinerals Mineralist Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick in Royal

A liquid lip color with a matte finish, this formula also conditions and softens lips with jojoba seed oil and vitamin C-rich sea buckthorn oil. Its lustrous ruby red will up the boldness of any look, making this an excellent red lipstick for neutral undertones. You can use the tip of the sponge applicator to line your lip shape and then use the curved side to fill in the rest of your lips from the center out.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lipstick in RD01/Soft Red

For a soft finish with a bit of glossy shine, look no further than this lipstick from Koh Gen Do, a Tokyo-based beauty brand that’s a mainstay on Japanese movie sets. This classic shade is a superb choice of red lipstick for neutral undertones.

In addition to delivering highly pigmented color, it also moisturizes and softens your lips with avocado oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, shea butter and vitamin E. To pump up the shine, you can add a layer of the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lip Gloss in the same hue.

Laura Mercier High Vibe Lip Color in Dash

Light-reflecting pearls and concentrated pigment give this lipstick its high-impact finish.

Thanks to the inclusion of guava oil, it glides on smoothly and stays comfortably in place for up to six hours. The shade Dash is a brick red that works well for neutral skin tones.

jane iredale ColorLuxe High Impact Lip Glaze in Siren

If you prefer the high-shine look of a lip gloss, this new release from jane iredale delivers a mirror-like finish without a hint of stickiness. Evening primrose oil and jojoba seed oil help moisturize and condition your lips, while sodium hyaluronate provides an immediate plumping effect. Siren is a vibrant, neutral red that works well on a variety of skin tones.

Now that you’ve determined your skin’s undertones, you can use that info to help select the shade of foundation that suits you best. You can learn more about picking the right shade and type of foundation on the LovelySkin Blog.