How to Get Red Lips Without Lipstick

Last Updated: July 1, 2021 Tested

If you're looking for a good alternative to wearing lipstick, there are many ways to make your lips red without it. Several fruits and foods with red dye will stain your lips red for several hours, so you can get the look you want without having to buy cosmetic products. Try using fruit, red popsicles, or Kool-Aid powder to get pretty red lips.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Kool-Aid Powder

1
Buy red Kool-Aid powder. Look for a bright red shade that you like. Cherry, cranberry or strawberry-flavored powder will result in a pretty red stain.^{[1]
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2
Pour the powder into a bowl. Any bowl or cup works just fine.

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3
Add enough water to make a paste. Just add a few drops at a time. Stir in the water until you have a thick, spreadable paste.
4
Apply the paste to your lips with a cotton swab. Dip a cotton swab in the paste and apply it neatly to your lips, making sure to stay within your lip lines.
5
Let the paste dry for three minutes. This will give it time to stain your lips. When three minutes are up, rinse the paste away and check out your new lip stain.
6
Apply more layers for a deeper color. Repeat the process as many times as you'd like until your lips are stained just the right bright red color.
7
Seal the stain with clear lip gloss. This will keep your color in place for several hours and make your lips look bright and shiny.
8
Finished.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Fruit

1
Choose bright red fruit. Using red fruit to give your lips a natural stain results in a pretty deep pink or red color. The deeper the fruit color, the darker your stain will be. Try the following different types of fruit to create the perfect stain:^{[2]
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- Cherries
- Cranberries
- Raspberries
- Pomegranate seeds
- Strawberries
- Beets (not technically fruit, but they work just as well)
2
Rub the fruit on your lips. Just as you would if applying lipstick, rub the fruit over your lips. Try to stay within your lip lines instead of letting fruit juice get above or below your lips. Keep rubbing until your lips are completely coated in juice.
- Squeeze the fruit as you rub to release the red juice.
- If you're working with a large piece of fruit, it might help to cut it into smaller slices for a more precise application.
- You could also squeeze out the juice into a bowl and apply it using a cotton swab.
3
Apply additional layers of color. Once the first layer of juice dries, you might decide you want a darker, more vibrant red. The more layers of fruit juice you add, the more red your lips will look. Let each layer dry for a minute before adding the next.
4
Seal the stain with clear lip gloss. This will help keep the fruit juice from rubbing off too quickly. A clear lip gloss will also add shine to make your lips look brighter and more vibrant.
5
Reapply throughout the day. A natural fruit stain will fade away within a few hours. If you want to keep your lips red all day, keep some fruit with you so you can reapply color as necessary.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Popsicles

1
Buy red popsicles. Red popsicles contain artificial food coloring that will stain your lips red, just like lipstick. Choose the brightest red popsicles you can find. Look for flavors like cherry, red raspberry or strawberry.^{[3]
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- You can use any food product with red dye. If you don't have popsicles available, look for red soda.
- You can also use red food coloring, the kind used in baked goods. This is highly pigmented and will stain your lips for hours, so be careful.
2
Melt a popsicle into a bowl. You'll apply the melted popsicle to your lips just like you would fruit juice. If you'd prefer, you can eat the popsicle and let it stain your lips red, but it may end up looking a little messy.
3
Use a cotton swab to apply the melted popsicle to your lips. Rub it over your lips to coat them, making sure to stay within your lip lines. Let the liquid dry on your lips.
4
Add more layers for a deeper color. Every layer you apply will make your lips look redder, so apply as many coats as you want. Let each one dry for a moment before applying the next.
5
Seal the stain with clear lip gloss. This will prevent your stain from rubbing off and give your lips a pretty shine.

Community Q&A

Question

Would this work on dark-skin tones for lips? My lips are a pink and brown blended tone.

Community Answer

Yes, it would, it has been tried and tested on lips of this color and it works just fine.
Question

Will this work for chapped lips?

Community Answer

Yes, but I recommend trying to cure your chapped lips before worrying about color. Try applying some Vaseline or coconut/olive oil the night before, then lightly exfoliate them and apply a lip balm before adding color.
Question

Can I redden my lips with food coloring?

Community Answer

Yes, but it is not recommended. It will only last for about 24 hours, and may bleed outside your lip line, giving you a messy look.