Ferreira; he further compared the song to the works of the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Bradley Stern from MuuMuse noted that the blending of "intimidating stabs of guitars and a wicked drum pulse" showcased "the acidic side of Sky's attitude". Ferreira stated that the lyrics for "Red Lips" were intended as a narrative of the emotional breakdown of "a very specific person or a type [that] always made me feel uncomfortable". In October 2012, DJ Com Truise released a synth-pop remix of "Red Lips", which a writer for Fact felt complimented the songs on his debut studio album Galactic Melt (2011). The DSL remix of the original track is included in the soundtrack album to the feature film Vampire Academy (2014). Critical reception "Red Lips" received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented its overall production. Writing for Consequence of Sound, Tony Hardy offered a favorable review and appreciated the grunge music elements seen throughout the track, despite opining that its parent extended play Ghost (2012) lacked a creative focus. Michael Cragg from The Guardian recognized the track as a "welcome return for Sky Ferreira", and compared it to the works of the band Garbage, which songwriter Shirley Manson is a member of. Bradley Stern from MuuMuse shared a similar sentiment, elaborating that the track "plays like the unofficial sequel" to "Cherry Lips" by the band. Jon Caramanica from The New York Times drew comparisons to the tracks "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes and "In Bloom" by Nirvana. Writing for Pitchfork, Katherine St. Asaph appreciated that Ferreira "fares better and sounds far more comfortable" on tracks including "Red Lips", which she felt that Ferreira "[sells] with a distant, almost tossed-off vocal." In a more mixed review, a writer for Tiny Mix Tapes was disappointed that Ferreira came across as an "imitation" of Avril Lavigne and Fefe Dobson on the track. Music video An accompanying music video for "Red Lips" was directed by Terry Richardson. She went into its filming open-minded in regards to its concept, and ultimately agreed with the creative direction that Richardson proposed. The final product was premiered through Richardson's YouTube channel on June 12, 2012; it later appeared on Ferreira's Vevo channel on July 13. The clip sees Ferreira, dressed in underwear, applying lipstick on her entire face, and is interspersed with footage of its co-star, the spider "Toby the Tarantula", crawling across her