As a former neutral lip loyalist, I am shocked at how my taste and lip color preferences have done a near 180. If you follow me on social media, you know I have spoken a lot recently about how a brighter lip tends to look better on me as I have gotten older. The nude and super neutral shades I wore in my 20’s and 30’s look too drab, dull and lifeless now in my mid 40’s. I don’t necessarily want to wear a full coverage bold red lip but a cherry tinged lip color worn in a sheer way has become my absolute favorite. It gives my face a bit of color and enhances my features more than ever before.
In person, these lip colors look more like my lip color but amped up a bit instead of what they look like in the tube or packaging. They emphasize the natural red in my lips and really flatter almost any makeup look I wear with it. I’ve been experimenting with a bunch of sheer red lip colors and found a handful that I think are easy to wear, suitable for everyday and feel comfortable on the lips.
Sheer Red Lip Colors I’m Loving
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm SPF 45 in Oasis
The Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balms are a lip balm designed to nourish the lips and leave them feeling silky, smooth and moisturized. They recently launched a new version with SPF 45 and I may like them even more than the original. They fixed the packaging so they are easier to squeeze out and surprisingly feel lightweight and incredibly hydrating especially for a SPF lip balm. Oasis is the one I wanted to try first and fell in love with it immediately. It gives the most delicate hint of cherry red to the lips without being too intense or too glossy. From the packaging to the formula, I love using these regularly and constantly recommend them to those looking for a tinted lip balm option.
Tower 28 LipSoftie Lip Treatment in Blood Orange
I have so many tinted lip balms and while many do perform similarly, the Tower 28 LipSofties are by far one of my favorite formulas I’ve ever tried. From the feel, to the shade range and price point, these are an absolute must have! This is first a lip mask so the formulation contains a ton of great skincare ingredients. Shea butter and jojoba oil to boost hydration and lock in moisture. Lysine to prevent dryness while also smoothing and softening lips. Additionally it is made with food grade non artificial flavors to avoid further drying out the lips. Blood Orange is a punchy red orange that I love wearing alone or layering over a neutral lip liner.
Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Glow in Cherry Popsicle
This is a plumping lip serum designed to give a hint of color and a bit of shine and moisture. Honestly the formula is ok in my opinion but this particular color is the absolute PERFECT sheer summer red to layer under any gloss or even wear alone. It gives a pop of red that is reminiscent of it’s name – cherry popsicle. It has a smooth feel on the lips with a satin finish that isn’t too shiny. It’s the closest one in this group that leans a bit fuschia/raspberry in tone rather than a true red. But I still love how gorgeous it looks on the lips.
Maybelline Lifter Glaze Oil-Balm in Cherry Swirl
The Maybelline Lifter lip range is one of their most popular and these lifter glaze oil-balms feel like tinted lip balm but give great color payoff like a sheer lipstick. One of the main ingredients is hyaluronic acid. It helps to maintain moisture and plump the surface of whatever it is applied to. So these will deliver moisture in addition to pigment. As you apply the balm, it feels like it’s melting into the lips which is why it is described as an oil-balm. Even though it melts into a more emollient state, it gives great color payoff. And lasts longer than other sheer lip formulas. The color Cherry Swirl is a punchy red that is more cool toned and doesn’t skew orange once on the lips. The finish is creamy and smooth with a slight blurring effect that I love!
MAKE Beauty Lip Reset Mask in Cosmic Cherry
This is described as a lip mask. But I wouldn’t use this as a nightly treatment because it has too much color. Instead, I have been layering it over neutral lip liners or lip colors to give a pop of color. It’s super nourishing and creamy with a gorgeous glossy finish. I don’t love that it is in a pot because I hate putting my fingers in. So I will often just use a small spatula or lip brush to scoop some out and apply. This is another shade that feels like a true red. And doesn’t skew too orange or too blue once on the lips.
Patrick Ta Major Volume Plumping Lip Gloss in Full Syringe
If you want to try a sheer red lip but are very nervous to wear something bright, this lip gloss may be the perfect option. It is the most sheer out of all my recommendations and honestly adds the tiniest bit of red to the lips. The Patrick Ta Major Volume Plumping Glosses are a high shine and hydrating plumping gloss designed to make the lips look fuller, poutier and more voluminous. These are definitely a thicker type of texture. They are a tad sticky when you apply at first but feel comfortable the longer they are on the lips.
Full Syringe is the first sheer red lip color that really made me fall in love with a brighter lip for everyday. And I started looking for more options to try. It is the perfect topper to any bright lip you apply underneath to add a bit more depth and shine or to cut the neutral tones in a brown lip color.
How to Wear a Sheer Red Lip Color
Use a neutral lip liner
I don’t use a red or bold color lip liner with any of these sheer red shades. I prefer to use a neutral lip liner that is close to my natural lip color and adds some definition rather than additional intensity. This also cuts the brightness of the sheer red down a bit. And makes it super wearable for daytime.
Apply a thin layer
Start with a very thin layer and build up from there. Often I will apply my lip color and then blot it with a tissue to tone the color down which always works well.
Keep your eye makeup neutral
I prefer to keep my eye makeup neutral when wearing a sheer red lip because it helps balance out the overall look.
Wear a bright blush
I will probably do a separate blog post on my favorite bright blush shades. But I prefer to pair my sheer red lip colors with a sheer red or bright pink blush. The combination of a subtle bright cheek plays really well off the bright lip. For reference, I am wearing this blush stick in Ruby in the above photos with all the red lip colors. I also apply only a sheer amount to give my cheeks a wash of color. But it really helps to add some life into my face which pairs well with the lip colors.
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