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Nobody rocks a red lip like Taylor Swift.
Since first trying out a scarlet shade on the set of an Allure cover shoot in 2009, the pop powerhouse has made it her beauty signature.
“I never really get too far from red lipstick, do I? I guess I just think my face looks worse without it,” Swift, 31, told People in 2014. “That’s pretty much the only rationale behind it.”
She’s even woven mentions of her go-to lip look into her lyrics for hits like “Style,” “Wildest Dreams” and “Blank Space.”
And while Swift’s songwriting prowess, sprawling real estate portfolio and gaggle of Grammys might be out of reach for most fans, her favorite crimson lip colors are just a click away.
Below, get the scoop on five Swift-approved shades at a range of price points.
Since kicking off her collaboration with makeup maestro Pat McGrath at the 2022 VMAs, Swift’s reached for this vivid blue-red lip color many more times. She wore the liquid version in her music video for “Bejeweled” — in which McGrath makes a cameo — and it’s even rumored to be the rainproof shade she wears onstage at her Eras Tour.
As for how she makes it kiss-proof? “There are tricks I’ve learned from makeup artists on shoots. They put on the red lipstick, then blot it with a tissue, then they put powder over the tissue and sort of press it onto your lips,” Swift told Allure in 2011. “It turns it into a stain that lasts much longer.”
I put Swift’s tip to the test while reviewing Elson in 2024, and can confirm it works beautifully — and that this product’s velvety feel and intense color payoff make it worth the price.
No discussion of Swift’s red lip obsession would be complete without a mention of this matte, long-lasting shade, which she’s name-checked as a favorite in multiple interviews over the years. Fans also spotted the original version of the product (Velvet Matte Lip Pencil) in a behind-the-scenes Instagram photo the songstress shared before the 2014 Met Gala.
Described by Nars as a “siren red,” it’s unapologetically bright and bold, and the jumbo pencil design makes it a cinch to apply. Like any pencil, however, you will need to sharpen it from time to time.
“It’s a staple. I was the last person to discover it,” Swift told People in 2015 of this bestselling blue-based red. Among the other famous folks who’ve discovered it too? Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, Janet Jackson and Angelina Jolie, to name but a few.
Ruby Woo’s ultra-matte formula can be quite drying, so we recommend exfoliating your lips and using a balm before applying. Once this stuff’s on, however, it’s going to “Stay Stay Stay.”
Once upon a time (okay, in 2010), Swift landed a contract with CoverGirl, giving her the opportunity to test out some of the brand’s bestselling lip colors in campaigns and on red carpets.
A particular fave, as she shared in a 2012 interview with Redbook, was this cheery cherry red. The branding’s changed over the years — once sold as part of the Lip Perfection line and then as part of the Colorlicious range, it’s now included in CoverGirl’s Exhibitionist collection — but the shade itself has stayed the same.
Despite being a drugstore buy, it packs plenty of pigment. And it’s comfortable for all-day wear, thanks to the hydrating shea butter in the formula. For those looking for a finish that leans more satin than matte, it’s definitely worth a try.
Swift sported this bestselling Chanel shade on the cover of InStyle magazine in 2013, and she’s not the only Pirate fan in Hollywood; Lupita Nyong’o, Zoe Saldana and Keira Knightley have worn it as well.
