Finding the right red lipstick shade can be as confusing as buying a new car. There are so many options on the market – from matte to glossy. Some wear for hours, some disappear in a few seconds like desert clouds, and yet others dry your lips out.

With all these choices, what’s a girl to do?

Finding the right red lipstick is a not as scary as you may think it is. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Know your skin tone first. If you have a darker complexion, you are most likely to have cool undertones. This also holds true if you are extremely pale. Figure out first if you have cool or warm undertones (warmer undertones include blue, green, bronze, orange and gold).

2. Once you know if you have warm or cool undertones, find the right red lipstick shade that complements them. If you have warm undertones, for example, then find the red lipstick that has orange, bronze or gold undertones. If you have a cool undertones, then find a red lipstick shade that has more blue and gray.

Some Warm Toned Red Lipsticks we Love: Maybelline ColorSensational lipstick in Summer Sunset; MAC Cosmetics’ Dubonnet lipstick is a real deep red with a slightly burgundy tone to it.

Cool Toned Red Lipsticks we Love: MAC Cosmetics’ Russian Red Lipstick is a cult favorite, and a cool-toned matte find. Tom Ford Private Blend Lipstick in Ginger Fawn.

3. Once you’ve found your perfect shade, test drive it first. Make sure you like the texture, the quality and the feel. See if you like a matte variety or a more glossy gorgeous variety.

4. Pucker up and strut that red lip with a pair of sexy Louboutins. Rinse and repeat.

– Charu Suri