The Best Red Lipsticks for Olive and Medium Skin Tones: My Top 3 for Quiet Glamour

There’s a reason red lipstick is a forever classic. It’s a beauty ritual, a power move, a punctuation mark on an otherwise minimal look. But for those of us with olive or medium skin tones—where green and golden undertones dance beneath the surface—not every red will do. We need just the right balance: a lipstick that doesn’t lean too orange, doesn’t wash us out, and certainly doesn’t feel costume-y.

Over the years, I’ve tested dozens in my work as a fashion merchandiser, in Milan’s mirrored dressing rooms and under Lisbon’s golden afternoon light. These three lipsticks have stood the test of flights, dinners, and dimly lit hotel lobbies. They’re classic, wearable, and deeply flattering. Whether you’re packing light or perfecting your signature shade, these are the best red lipsticks for olive and medium skin tones.

1. MAC Ruby Woo – The Cult Classic That Never Misses

Every beauty editor has a Ruby Woo story. Mine involves an unexpected meeting with an Italian textile buyer at Bar Basso, where I’d landed hours after a long-haul flight, running on espresso and instinct. I pulled out Ruby Woo, applied it without a mirror, and landed a new client.

Ruby Woo is a vivid, blue-based red with a retro matte finish. On olive skin, it sings—the cool undertone plays beautifully against golden complexions, making your skin look warmer and your teeth brighter. There’s a reason it’s universally flattering, but on medium skin tones, it feels especially right: never too bold, never too pink, and never flat.

If you love a lip that feels like a statement but wears like a neutral, this is your red.

MAC | $23

2. Charlotte Tilbury Red Carpet Red – Old-Hollywood for Everyday Elegance

Red Carpet Red is what I wear when I want to feel composed. It’s the lipstick I reach for before a gallery opening in Príncipe Real or a wine bar in Paris. It's less "pop of red" and more “this is who I am.”

This shade leans neutral to slightly cool, and while it's matte, the formula is incredibly forgiving—no dryness, no tugging, just velvety pigment that glides on. It was inspired by the crimson lips of old-Hollywood icons, and yet it feels thoroughly modern. On olive skin, it doesn’t compete; it complements. On medium tones, it pulls chic and sultry all at once.

What I love most is its depth. It’s not a bright red—it’s a confident red. And it pairs exquisitely with soft tailoring, oversized sunglasses, or a bare face with just a slick of brow gel.

Charlotte Tilbury | $35

3. Fenty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in “The MVP” – Red Reimagined

Fenty Beauty changed the beauty industry for good—and The MVP proves that inclusivity doesn’t end at foundation shades. This blue-based red is Rihanna’s take on the perfect universal red, but it’s especially transformative on medium and olive skin. It feels bold and elegant, assertive but wearable.

What makes this formula different is the velvet-matte texture: it’s not a traditional dry-down liquid lipstick. Instead, it delivers an airbrushed, plush finish that feels soft to the touch but lasts through espresso sips and seafood dinners. And the doe-foot applicator? It creates razor-sharp definition without a separate liner.

For olive tones, the slight blue base brightens the entire face. On medium skin, it reads as a true red—vibrant, clean, and modern. Wear this one with minimal makeup and pulled-back hair. Let it be the focal point. Let it speak for you before you say a word.

Fenty | $29

Final Thoughts: Red Is Ritual

Red lipstick has always been more than a color—it’s a story, a mood, a little bit of magic in a bullet. Each of these lipsticks offers something essential to medium and olive skin tones: balance, brilliance, and beauty on your terms.

I keep all three in rotation—one for the meetings, one for the moments, and one for the mischief.