16 Women on the Red Lipstick that Makes Them Feel Powerful

“This is such a passionate red—beautiful and powerful. I love the texture and the way it looks on my skin. I wear it whenever I need a little bit of oomph. It reminds me of the powerful feminine that I am inside. And that is why it is my favorite.”—TyLynn Nguyen, digital creator and consultant

“Colourpop has created the perfect red lipstick and it’s called Creeper. It’s long-lasting, not drying, and the perfect shade of red. I can’t live without it and I buy new ones constantly. Whenever I go out wearing this lipstick, people stop me over and over and ask who makes it. This lipstick is the ultimate red lip game-changer in my eyes. I am obsessed.”—Amy Roiland, fashion entrepreneur

“I purchased this after seeing it on the lips of a French model and actress I know. Despite its hydrating creamy texture, stunning refillable ceramic case, and easy application, and that it’s the perfect shade of red, my actual favorite aspect of this designer lipstick is that it smells like roses. It’s the kind of fairytale lipstick made for Sleeping Beauty.”—Jamie Beck, fine art photographer and author of An American in Provence

“I’m devoted to this glossy red lip that matches my high level of sass. When I wear it, the world knows I mean business. It’s the perfect I’m-that-girl hue!”—Julee Wilson, Cosmopolitan beauty editor-at-large and executive director at BeautyUnited

“I watch Hot Ones on YouTube and start visibly sweating, but I love this Hot Sauce lipstick from Filipino beauty brand Sunnie’s Face. Thankfully, this is not one of those gimmicky hot sauce-flavored lipsticks. It’s a super creamy and smooth—like, smooooth true red lipstick. You really only need one swipe of this lip to get the full impact. I love the velvety-like finish, which makes it look so glamorous.”—Kathleen Hou, ELLE beauty director

“My favorite lipstick is the Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine from Clé de Peau in Red Currant. It’s super hydrating and never dries up. Sometimes with red lipsticks, I find that they can be hard to apply, but this one goes on very easily. My favorite thing about it being a lip stain is that it stays on for hours!”—Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe, author of Body Talk, and body acceptance advocate

“I’ve literally been wearing this lip since it launched. It’s my favorite because it compliments my skin tone in a way where I can ditch all other makeup, and the orange neutralizes my exhausted business-owner under-eye bags.”—Jenna Perry, celebrity colorist and owner of Jenna Perry Hair Studio

“Serrated Bite is a bright cherry red by my friend Jeanne Chavez, the founder and chief innovation officer behind my ’90s fave Hard Candy. She’s behind this perfection of a lip product that is both matte and literally permanent without drying your mouth out. All her reds are uniquely vibrant and have this rare neon effect I haven’t found with any other brand. I found it at a perfect time when we all started wearing masks and didn’t want to look like The Joker, but loved knowing we had glam under the PPE. During this time, I also revisited my sleep makeup routine, because it became the only time I could wear all my beloved makeup and actually be seen (by my partner, in the privacy of our home). When we lightened up on the mask wearing awhile back, people started stopping me on the street to ask about the color—someone even stopped me in traffic crossing the PCH in Malibu to ask for the name and style number. Everyone remarks on how friendly the color is, which is delightful to hear. Now, I always carry one or two tubes in my purse to give people when they ask about it. I reserve it for day-making moments like when I was at a diner in Cape May last summer and the 80-something-year-old waitress asked if she could get a tube anywhere offline. I had to give her one! We both put it on and got a great photo.”—Maayan Zilberman, owner of Sweet Saba

“What initially drew me to this lipstick was its history and legacy. While doing research for my Lipstick Legacy Series, I came across two shades crafted for the runway in 1953: Dior No. 9 and No. 99. Then I came to find out No. 999 is a combination of both of these original shades, which is available today in four finishes. I personally love a velvet finish, which makes the application and wear feel ultra-rich and smooth. But what keeps me hooked is that it’s refillable, which nods to the vintage way, while being sustainable. It’s worth every penny!”—Morgan Ryan, content creator at Ms. Maverick Muse

“I worked at Nordstrom as a teen, and when I got my first paycheck ever, I marched up to the MAC Counter and asked, ‘which red is best for my skin tone?’ because I had learned that from watching America’s Next Top Model. I’ve only worn MAC’s Ruby Woo since.”—Shea Daspin, fashion stylist

“This Chanel Lipstick in the shade Carmen is a perfect mix of deep red, but also a bit orangey, which I love. It has jojoba butter and goes on quite creamy, and it’s something I can easily wear all night because it also feels like a treatment for my lips.”—Brittany Xavier, content creator

“CTZN Code Red Lipstick in Rooi has six red shades that work perfectly for all skin tones, so everyone gets to rock their most perfect red. ​I love to wear this when I’m trying to make a statement and need an instant boost of confidence.”—Nyakio Grieco, founder of Thirteen Lune and Relevant Skincare

“I love Star Woman by NARS. It’s a cool red that helps me get my point across more clearly. I make all my friends buy it.”—Mira Mariah, tattoo artist and founder of Girl Knew York

“I love this particular red because it works so well with my skin tone. The ultimate classic go-to to make any look a bit more special.”—Seema Chadha, co-founder of Venus et Fleur

“Necromancy Cosmetics is my favorite lipstick creator—they are a wonderful cruelty-free small business run by a compassionate couple in Puerto Rico who also rescue cats. The colors, like Magdalena, are highly pigmented, the branding is incredible, and I feel good knowing I’m supporting people with similar ethics.”—Hannah Shaw, author and founder of The Orphan Kitten Club

“My go-to red lip is the Westman Atelier Lip Suede in Les Rouges. It’s the perfect mix of red shades to suit every occasion!”—Babba Rivera, founder and CEO of Ceremonia