4 Shades of Red Lipstick For The Olive Skinned Girl

June 3, 2012

It can be difficult to find a flattering red lip color for olive-skinned beauties, but that does not mean it should be totally avoided. While the classic “true red” is usually too bright and tends to clash with olive skin tones, there are certainly some shades of red that do the job and compliment your skin color.

Before testing a red on your lips, see how it looks when you apply it to your hands. Generally if the color is clashing with the skin on your hands, it will clash amongst the skin on your face and it’s probably not a good pick. Any reds that have a cool “blue” toned base will clash with olive tones, which is why the classic bright red lip does not usually work. See the lipstick swatches on my arms to get a sense of what I’m talking about.

When it comes to reds, you can undoubtably grab:

A mauve-berry red: Mauve-based reds typically compliment the olive skin tones because they contain warm accent colors. Rather than being primarily “red,” mauve colors tend to have an orange base. I used Revlon’s lip butter in Red Velvet to achieve this glossy “red” look.
A deep & vampy red: While this look is definitely more dominant in the winter months, the vampy red lip has a deep purple base color, making it a perfect compliment to the olive skin tones. In the picture, I used Revlon’s Colorburst lipstick in Plum.
A nude based red: Any nude-based red is perfect for the olive tones because they stem from browner shades. Sport any red with a brown or nude tint to compliment and preserve the warm tones in your complexion. I used ELF’s Prime Plum, but any red topped with a brown or nude gloss will do the trick!
A dark, blue-based red: While the classic bright red lip does not work for the olive skin tones, a darker version of this classic color can indeed be rocked. Take any classic red and top it with a warmer gloss to make a complimenting shade. A warm gloss will eliminate the cool base in these “true red” colors, making the color much more suitable. I used Revlon’s Colorburst lipstick in Crimson.

Red lips can totally transform a look — don’t avoid them because the “classic red” tends to clash. If you don’t want to buy a new color from the selection listed above, mix one up! Change any reds that contain a cool-toned base by layering a warmer-toned gloss overtop. I promise its possible to find a red you can rock!

- Dakota Doukas