I Tried Taylor Swift’s Favorite ‘Kissproof’ Lipstick, and Here’s My Honest Review – Page Six

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By Elana Fishman

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Whether she’s singing her biggest hits on stage or out on the town with boyfriend Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift is rarely seen without her signature scarlet lipstick.

And thanks to her steamy romance with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, fans have become more curious than ever about the pop superstar’s shade of choice; after all, it stayed perfectly in place as Swift planted kisses on Kelce after her team’s big Super Bowl win.

While Swift’s glam squad is known for being tight-lipped (pun intended) about her makeup must-haves, the 14-time Grammy winner has name-checked a number of her favorite formulas over the years, from MAC Ruby Woo ($23) in Nars Dragon Girl. ($30) – but lately she’s been into crimson shades from Pat McGrath Labs.

Why Taylor Swift loves Pat McGrath lipsticks

Swift first teamed up with McGrath in 2017, when the makeup maestro created a glittery red lip for her “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” music video. She then wore the full face of Pat McGrath Labs products on the VMAs red carpet ahead of her album announcement “Midnights,” including the brand’s perpetually sold-out LiquiLust: Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick in Elson 4 (34 $).

Although this liquid formula has become one of Swift’s favorites, McGrath also confirmed that the singer is a big fan of her MatteTrance Lipstick in Elson ($39), the traditional version of the same blue-red shade.

McGrath’s called Elson the “perfect cool-toned shade” — and luckily for Swifties, the color was recently restocked after several months of being out of stock.

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The “Cruel Summer” singer took the pair’s collaboration to the next level while filming her music video for “Bejeweled,” tapping McGrath to not only do makeup for the entire shoot, but also to make an appearance at the screen.

“We had a fabulous time creating the looks for ‘Bejeweled’ – Taylor is a visionary and thinks of every detail,” the makeup artist told Page Six Style at the time. “When she mentioned that she wanted to make a video just for fans who love highlights, I knew it was going to be magical.”

McGrath’s products are rumored to be due to the beauty looks from Swift’s Eras Tour, which managed to survive the sweat, torrential downpours and the artist’s three-hour setlist.

It’s no surprise that Swift gravitates toward McGrath’s makeup magic; the British icon, like the pop star, was once featured on Time’s 100 Most Influential People list, and Vogue called her “the world’s most influential makeup artist.”

McGrath has also been creating dreamy beauty looks for houses like Dior, Alexander McQueen and Valentino for decades, not to mention she helped develop makeup for brands like CoverGirl, Max Factor, Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci before launching her eponymous cosmetics company in 2015.

Artists like the pop phenomenon surely appreciate the intense pigmentation and long-lasting nature of McGrath products, as do makeup artists of all kinds, who have left more than 500 five-star reviews for her MatteTrance lipstick on Sephora.

“Pat McGrath lipsticks don’t hurt,” said one fan of the formula, adding, “Its quality is second to none.”

“Great application, stays put and continues to look exactly as advertised!” another wrote, while a third exclaimed: “This lipstick is so pigmented and the color just feels dense on the lips.” Really gorgeous.”

Our opinion

As a Page Six resident Swiftie who also shares the superstar’s red lip obsession, I couldn’t wait to try her favorite shade. While McGrath swears by applying lipstick with your finger rather than directly from the tube, I preferred the precision of the latter, using the tip of the bullet to achieve perfect edges.

I was immediately impressed by the color rendition of the product; just one swipe provided the full, perfectly opaque coverage I look for in a lipstick, and the true red shade is guaranteed to look stunning on a wide variety of skin tones. Also, fun fact: blue-based lipsticks like Elson make your teeth whiter!

Where this formula Really What appeals to me, however, is the feel: surprisingly creamy and comfortable for a matte. I’ve tried pretty much all of Swift’s other favorite lipsticks, including the similar (and beloved) blue-based MAC Ruby Woo ($23), which I recently wore for my birthday party. TS themed birthday. Although beautiful, however, Ruby Woo can be a little drying; I usually have to prep my pout with a balm beforehand.

Nars Dragon Girl ($30), on the other hand, is a gorgeous shade — so much so that I wore it on my wedding day — but it requires regular sharpening and the product has an unfortunate habit of sliding out of the pencil himself.

McGrath’s offering, on the other hand, is maintenance-free, feels silky soft, and really feels like you have nothing on your lips. This is only an inconvenience if you absentmindedly rub your mouth during the day – this will smear, and you can ends up looking like Lady Gaga on the cover of her album “Applause”.

Which brings me back to the question on every Swiftie’s mind: how does she make her red lips kiss-proof? Applied solo, MatteTrance in Elson offers incredible staying power, but it’s not immune to smudges and streaks on lenses, as I discovered in my testing.

However! Swift shared a pro tip with Allure in 2011 for turning lipstick “into a stain that lasts a lot longer,” saying, “There are tricks I’ve learned from makeup artists on set.” They put lipstick on, then blot it with a tissue, then they put powder on the tissue and kind of apply it to your lips.

I decided to try the trick myself, blotting and powdering my pout before planting a kiss on (1) the back of my hand and (2) my husband, who was happy to offer his services for the good of journalism. Swift’s hack helped my lipstick pass both tests with flying colors — and with virtually zero color transfer.

The final verdict

Here’s the truth about my red lips: With sincere apologies for the many other crimson options in my lipstick wardrobe, I think I’ve found my new favorite shade.

Elson is that elusive true red that will suit all skin tones, and its velvety, long-wearing formula is packed with pigment and is surprisingly comfortable for a matte. And while it’s not inherently transfer-proof, Swift’s recommended transfer and powder tip works wonders.

I may have to grab an extra tube before it sells out again!

How we tested

I consider myself a red lip connoisseur on par with Swift — and while it doesn’t take as much time to test color cosmetics as, say, skincare, I have high standards when it comes to lipstick and so I started this review with a few key factors in mind:

• Pigmentation: What is the color rendering of the product? Is more than one pass necessary for complete coverage?
• Comfort: In my experience, cream and satin lipsticks are more comfortable to wear than matte lipsticks – but sometimes, some formulas (like McGrath’s) surprise you!
• Longevity: How long does color stay intact in a typical day? Is a new application necessary after drinking, eating and talking for hours?
• Possibility of kissing: Seeing as everyone was starting to talk about this particular lipstick after marveling that it didn’t end up on Travis Kelce’s face, I had to see if it could survive my own kissing session .

Check out more Swift-worthy lipstick shades from Pat McGrath Labs below:

In your “Reputation (Taylor’s Version)” era? Try this dark, moody red.

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This bright orange red would look great on warmer skin tones.

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This “bloody purple” color, as McGrath calls it, is as deep and rich as Swift’s writing.

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Do you prefer a more rosy pout? Try the brand’s SatinAllure formula in this universally flattering bright scarlet.

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The crimson tube of this limited-edition version of McGrath’s mid-tone brick red lipstick is too good to pass up.

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