Why red make-up is on the rise – and not just for lips: stars such as Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Jenna Ortega, and brands like Chanel, Prada and Fendi, embrace the colour for cheeks, lids and lashes

Today, with the colour continuing to dominate fashion, its influence is seeping into the beauty world too. For decades, red lips have been an emblem of sophistication, worn by icons like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, and carried into the modern era by the likes of Rihanna and Taylor Swift. But now, the colour has evolved beyond just the lips. Red is branching out across eyelids, cheeks and even lashes, sparking a new era of daring choices and inviting make-up lovers to embrace red in unexpected ways.

Red make-up isn’t exactly new, of course. Well before it began to trend across social media and red carpets alike, several celebrities were ahead of the curve. Take the 2018 Golden Globes, for instance, where Taylor Hill and Emily Ratajkowski both rocked bold red smoky eyes paired with classic black mascara. Vanessa Hudgens pushed the envelope further at the Giambattista Valli autumn/winter 2022 show, wearing graphic red eyeliner along her lower lash line and just below her brow bone. These bold beauty moments laid the groundwork, but it wasn’t until 2023 that ruby hues truly caught fire.

Red make-up hit its stride with Chanel’s spring/summer 2023 make-up collection, which showcased red eyeliner, mascara and eyeshadow, signalling the colour’s comeback. Soon, beauty powerhouses like Mac and Nars followed suit, offering bold tints in their eyeshadow palettes. But the moment red make-up went viral was in June, when RMS Beauty founder Rose-Marie Swift posted a TikTok video of her applying red blush. Her candid anecdote about using it during her time as a Victoria’s Secret make-up artist sparked a trend, with red blush popping up everywhere, from New York Fashion Week runways to Gigi Hadid’s glowing look at this year’s Met Gala. More recently, Jenna Ortega wore red eyeshadow to the Venice Film Festival.

Before embracing the array of red make-up options, finding the right shade for your skin tone is crucial. Beauty and lifestyle content creator Ami Charlize explains: “If you have a more warm undertone, you are going to want to go more of a tomato or brick red. If you have a cool undertone, you should do more of a ruby, cherry or crimson red.” For those with neutral undertones, classic or berry reds work best. Not sure of your undertone? Charlize suggests a simple trick: look at the colour inside your lips. Peachy or golden hues indicate warm undertones, while hints of blue or pink suggest cool undertones. If your lips seem a balance of both, you’re likely in a more neutral zone.

Though many instinctively pair red make-up with neutral tones to keep things balanced, the trend now encourages a bolder approach. Red eyeshadow, once feared for being too dramatic, can create a stunning, sophisticated look when applied with care. A light wash of red across the lids, grounded with neutral shades in the crease, makes for a fiery yet refined look. Make-up artist and Veus Cosmetics co-founder Daniela Santander recommends keeping things simple. “If you’re going to wear an Italian red on your lips, don’t use a coral on your cheeks. Sometimes, less is more.” Instead, she suggests experimenting with cool reds in one look or warm reds in another, but advises against mixing too many tones at once.