Berry Lips for Fall: Shades + How to Wear Them

A berry lipstick sits between red and plum. It carries more blue and more depth than a true red and more warmth than a cool violet, and the family runs from a sheer raspberry stain all the way to a full deep wine.

Every skin tone has a berry that works. The shade you pick sets the mood and the finish decides how bold it reads, so a berry lip can be as quiet or as dramatic as you want it to be this fall. Here is how to find yours and three ways to wear it.

What Counts as a Berry Lip

Berry covers a whole family of red-violets with depth. At the light end you have raspberry and bright berry, pinkish reds with a hint of blue. In the middle sits true berry, a juicy red-purple that reads rich without going dark. At the deep end are plum and wine, the shades most people picture when they think of a fall lip.

Most berries lean cool, since blue is what pulls them away from a classic red. A few sit neutral or warm, with a brown or raisin note that softens the blue. Knowing which side of the family you are shopping from makes the rest of the choice much easier.

Is Berry Cool or Warm? Find Yours by Undertone

Berry lipstick can be cool or warm depending on the shade, and your undertone is the quickest way to narrow it down.

• Cool undertones: Blue-based berries and wine shades tend to look the most natural on you. If silver jewelry and icy colors flatter your skin, start here.

• Warm undertones: Look for raisin, brown-berry and warmer plum shades. The added warmth keeps a deep lip from looking stark against golden or olive skin.

• Neutral undertones: You can wear either side of the family, so let the occasion and your mood choose.

Not sure where you land? Check the veins on your inner wrist in daylight or compare how gold and silver look against your skin. Our guide on How to Identify Your Skin Undertones walks through a few simple tests.

The Berry Shades to Know

Depth is the easiest way to sort the family, so find your comfort level below. Every shade here comes from Super Lustrous Lipstick, which gives rich, moisturizing color in a creamy finish.

Soft + true berry

• Berry Haute (660): A brighter berry for a lip that feels fresh. A good first berry if you usually wear pinks or rosy nudes.

• Berry Rich (510): A balanced true berry that sits right in the middle of the family. Flattering across fair, medium and deep skin tones.

Deep berry + wine

• Black Cherry (477): A deep red-berry with a classic, polished feel. On deeper skin it reads rich and glossy-dark, and on fair skin it makes a clear statement.

• Wine with Everything (525): A true wine shade built for fall. Lovely on cool and neutral undertones.

• Rumberry (804): A deep berry with a little warmth, which makes it an easy pick for warm undertones.

• Uncut Ruby (810): A jewel-toned berry for when you want the lip to be the whole look.

Three Ways to Wear a Berry Lip

The finish is what decides whether a berry reads soft or dramatic. If a dark lip has always felt like too much, start with the sheer version and work up.

Sheer, as a stain

For the softest take, tap color on with a fingertip and blot, or reach for Super Lustrous Glass Shine Balm. It gives the hydration of a balm + the shine of a gloss with sheer, shiny color, so a berry turns into a wash of tint that is easy to wear every day. Black Cherry (015), Cherry Luster (009) and Spiced Wine (010) all bring a berry or wine tint.

Blotted matte

When you want a berry that stays put, go matte. ColorStay Suede Ink Lipstick delivers opaque matte color in one coat with an 8HR no-transfer formula and a built-in primer. It is infused with Vitamin E to help condition lips, so a deep matte still feels comfortable. Apply one coat, blot with a tissue and press on a second for a soft-focus finish.

Full and glossy

For the deepest, shiniest version, apply a deep Super Lustrous shade like Wine with Everything, then add a layer of Glass Shine Balm in the center of your lips. The shine lifts the color and gives it a juicy, dimensional finish. If you love that effect, try our tutorial on How to Get Cherry Cola Lips: A Bold, Glossy Trend to Try for a glossy deepened take on the same family.

Liner + Color Combos

Liner matters more with a berry than with almost any other shade. Deep pigment makes the edge of your lip easy to see, so a liner gives you a crisp shape and helps the color stay put longer. ColorStay Longwear Lip Liner also helps prevent bleeding and feathering and has a built-in sharpener.

Three pairings to try:

• Wine liner + Wine with Everything for a seamless deep wine lip

• Plum liner + Berry Rich to add a little depth and definition to a true berry

• Wine liner + Black Cherry for a sharp, polished deep berry

New to liner? Start with How to Apply Lip Liner (Even If You're a Beginner).

Making a Deep Lip Last

A few minutes of prep keeps a berry looking fresh for longer.

1. Gently exfoliate and apply a balm, then blot off any excess.

2. Line your lips, following your natural shape.

3. Fill in with lipstick, starting at the center and working out.

4. Blot with a tissue.

5. Reapply a thin second layer.

Deep shades show feathering more than a nude does, so the edge is worth a second look before you head out. For more tips, see How to Prevent Lipstick Bleeding and Feathering.

Berry Lipstick FAQ

What color is berry lipstick?

Berry lipstick is a red-violet shade that sits between red and plum. The family ranges from bright raspberry to deep wine.

Is berry lipstick cool or warm?

Most berry shades lean cool because of their blue base. Some berries have a brown or raisin note that makes them neutral or warm.

What skin tone suits berry lipstick?

Every skin tone can wear berry. Cool undertones tend to suit blue-based berries and wine, while warm undertones look great in raisin and warmer plum shades.

Can fair skin wear a dark berry lip?

Yes. Start with a sheer or blotted application for a softer effect, or wear a deep shade fully for a graphic, polished contrast.

What berry shade works on deep skin tones?

Deep wines and rich berries like Black Cherry and Wine with Everything look vivid on deep skin tones. Brighter berries can also read beautifully as a pop of color.

Find the Berry That Feels Like You

Whether you go sheer, matte or glossy, there is a berry for every mood this season. Explore the full range of Revlon lips to pick your shade and finish, then find it at a retailer near you.