Legend has it that makeup artist Gucci Westman introduced Taylor Swift to red lipstick on the set of her first Allure cover back in 2009… and thus, the singer’s obsession was born. Since we rarely see Swift without her signature red pout, we thought she’d be the perfect person to inspire our next red lipstick purchase. We put our sleuthing skills to the test and tracked down exactly which shades she loves.
Keep reading to shop five Taylor Swift-approved red lipsticks.
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Word on the street is that this matte, long-lasting lipstick is Swift’s current go-to. Need proof? The singer posted this behind-the-scenes snap of her getting ready for the 2014 Met Gala with BFF Karlie Kloss… and this lip pencil.
GETTY IMAGESSwift has often credited her signature lips to Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Hot, a cherry-red shade of lipstick. It’s subtly blue-based, which really pops against skin with pink undertones. Here, Swift wears it with her other trademark makeup trick: flicked black liner. Unfortunately, it’s been discontinued, but it’s been replaced by their Colorlicious lipstick in the same shade:
Covergirl Exhibitionist Lipstick in Hot $6.00
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Make Up Forever’s Aqua Rouge shade #8 Iconic Red was originally created for Madonna to wear on her MDNA tour, but it looks like Swift has also fallen in love with the double-sided tube’s waterproof staying power and bold red hue. Unfortunately, this one has also been discontinued. We recommend Nars’s Powermatte Lip Pigment for a similar orangey-red.
Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment in Light My Fire $26.00SHOP
To make lipstick more daytime-appropriate: 1) Blot with a paper towel and add lip balm on top, 2) tap the color on with your finger instead of swiping from the tube, and 3) avoid lining with a red lip pencil—instead, blur the edges with cotton swabs or use a clear wax pencil.
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Here, Swift sets off the pinkish tones of this red lipstick with a smudge of copper liner along her lower lash line. Makeup artist Lorrie Turk also used the (unfortunately discontinued) CoverGirl Lip Perfection Liner in Passion, a highly pigmented, creamy, matte red, to create this look. For a similar shade and finish, we recommend Besamé Cosmetics’ Red Hot Red Lipstick ($24).
Besamé Cosmetics Red Hot Red Lipstick $24.00
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This not-too-blue, not-too-red shade of satin-finish lipstick is a classic among makeup artists. It’s also the shade Swift wore for her November 2013 InStyle cover.
