It’s not as hard as you might think to pull off Autumn’s hottest shade! If you’ve shied away from red in the past, go a little softer and chose berry shades or subtle shimmer to make brighter hues more wearable. If you’re a fan of fire engine red but dread feathering and smudging, plump for a gloss or balm instead. Whatever your fear, try one of these pretty shades on for size…

Clarins Joli Rouge in Grenadine, £13.20
Whether you’re a lipstick newbie or a seasoned veteran, you won’t be able to resist the melting texture of Joli Rouge! It’s made with super comfortable mango butter which protects lips and makes them look smooth and shiny. The berry red shade of Grenadine is a suits-all colour that is ideal for those who find full-on red a little scary.

Too Faced Lip of Luxury in Celebrity Meltdown, £16.50
When dabbed on, this super shimmery red-pink is an excellent way to inject a little colour into your everyday makeup routine without having to commit to a true red hue. The shimmery particles reflect light in a flattering way, and the shea butter formulation smoothes out fine lines and creases.

Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Coque d’Or, £24.50
The new Rouge Automatique lipsticks from Guerlain are so very luxurious. The Coque d’Or shade is an excellent bridge between the pink and the red shades in the collection, with a warm raspberry hue that is shot through with golden sparkles. When applied straight from the bullet, the shade is very bold. Use a lip brush for a beautiful rosy flush.

Stila Long Wear Lip Colour in Paramour, £13.00
This hybrid lipgloss/lipstick has a wonderful texture that feels very comfortable thanks to innovative polymers that keep lips looking and feeling ultra smooth. Paramour is a beautiful berry red that warms up the complexion without being too dramatic, and can be smudged with a finger to achieve a perfect flushed lip.

Givenchy Gelee D’Interdit in Tempting Rouge, £17.55
Add a subtle wash of red with this sheer gloss, which packs less of a pigment punch than a lipstick. Despite its blue red hue, it’s almost translucent on the lips. The jelly texture of the Gelee D’Interdit is as comfortable as a balm thanks to its caring vegetal base, and it immediately plumps the lips with hyaluronic acid micro-spheres, making for a truly glorious pout.

Stila Lip Glaze in Cranberry, £15.00
Like the Gelee D’Interdit, this Stila gloss is an ideal way to wear a true red hue without worrying about colour bleeding or heavyhandedness. This glaze boasts high pigmentation levels, but when used with a light hand the Cranberry shade is a very flattering off-red that looks and smells delicious. The handy click-pen applicator is ideal for touch-ups!

Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm in Crystal Red, £13.19
If you find bright lips especially unnerving, try the sheerest red possible in the form of the super nourishing Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm. As light as a feather and packed full of pro-ceramides, high-tech polymers, and plant-based pigments, this caring balm offers comfort with the merest hint of a rosy red hue.