Skip to Content

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

The ELLE Team On The Lipstick Shades They Love The Most

Lipstick is finally, joyfully, back on the cards this summer. Here, team ELLE debate the very best shades on the planet, from the perfect neutral pink to the ultimate Hollywood red.

By
lipstick shades
Rosdiana Ciaravolo

Two years ago, when the pandemic first hit, the beauty rituals and regimes we once performed on autopilot were turned upside down. Some of us found defiance in the full face, dousing our skin (and our face masks) in setting spray, while others became reacquainted with their bare, un-retouched selves, ditching the foundation in favour of a refreshingly clean complexion.

Now, as we dive headfirst into a summer of catch-ups, celebrations and IRL first dates, there’s one make-up category we're especially pleased to return to. Lipstick is back – and boy are we here for it. A great lipstick shade is something we can all agree comes with transformative powers: a slash of red always conjures confidence, while a bright coral masks a sleepless night like no other.

But as for the colour – well, that’s where we agree to disagree. No matter how many new bullets come our way, we’ve all got a signature lipstick shade we reach for on repeat. From everyday nudes to power pinks, soft-goth berries and everything in-between, the ELLE team sound off on their ultimate lipstick shade below. Perhaps you’ll find a new favourite too.

The Lipstick Shades Team Elle Loves The Most

1
Zoya Kaleeva, Art Director

Lisa Eldridge Lipstick in Velvet Muse

Lisa Eldridge Lipstick in Velvet Muse
1
Zoya Kaleeva, Art Director

Lisa Eldridge Lipstick in Velvet Muse

£27 at lisaeldridge.com
Credit: .

'Wearing Velvet muse never fails to lift my mood and, along with my lip balm, is always in my bag. I love the semi-matte finish and how velvety it applies on the lips. It's richly pigmented, so you only need to swipe it once, and it lasts! Even after a cocktail or two it still feels fresh.'

2
Avril Mair, Group Luxury Fashion Director

Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Boy

Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Boy
2
Avril Mair, Group Luxury Fashion Director

Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Boy

Now 10% Off
Credit: .

'I searched forever to find the perfect nude and Chanel's Rouge coco Flash in Casual is it. Tragically this shade has been discontinued, but the same lipstick in Boy is almost as good. It feels like a sheer balm with no stickiness and just the right amount of colour for someone who doesn’t like lipstick. Also, there’s no packaging more chic than Chanel.'

3
Katie O'Malley, Deputy Digital Editor

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk
3
Katie O'Malley, Deputy Digital Editor

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk

Credit: .

'Whether I’ve got a meeting via Zoom or catching up with friends for a drink, I always make sure to slick on some Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk original. I’ve always struggled to find a red-coloured lipstick that suits my skin tone so Pillow Talk is my go-to alternative for feeling confident, bold and adds a perfect, subtle pink shade to my laidback make-up look without being OTT. The fact that it's matte and doesn't try my lips out is a miracle!'

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4
Olivia Blair, Talent Editor

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Fire

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Fire
4
Olivia Blair, Talent Editor

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Fire

Credit: .

'I don't wear this one a lot - and during lockdown it remained firmly in my make-up drawer – it's more for a dinner out/any day of holiday/work event kind of vibe. But, because of this, when I put it on I notice the difference, instantly. As do other people, it always gets comments. It's a burst of colour that doesn't wash me out (my pale complexion and brunette hair means dark reds sometimes do) and different from my day-to-day nudes. Plus, it's literally the longest-wearing lipstick. Put it on at the start of the day or night and it won't need to be topped up at all, no matter how many margaritas you consume.'

5
George Driver, Digital Beauty Editor

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Colour

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Colour
5
George Driver, Digital Beauty Editor

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Colour

Now 20% Off
Credit: .

‘The red lipstick to end all red lipsticks, nothing compares to the punchy scarlet red colour or sheer ability to stay on through all weather/meals/dates (delete as appropriate). If a lipstick could channel Rihanna's sass, this is it.’

6
Jennifer George, Luxury Beauty Editor

Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color

Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color
6
Jennifer George, Luxury Beauty Editor

Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color

Now 10% Off
Credit: .

'I'm not a lipstick wearer, really. I have a huge mouth (literally and maybe figuratively) and lips that are usually quite dry. But this balmy formula and barely-there shade just enhance in the best way. It gives definition, pigment and a buttery shine without even needing to look in a mirror.'

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7
Lena De Casparis, Associate Editor / Culture Director

MAC Amplified Lipstick in Ruby Woo

MAC Amplified Lipstick in Ruby Woo
7
Lena De Casparis, Associate Editor / Culture Director

MAC Amplified Lipstick in Ruby Woo

Credit: .

‘It’s a classic for a reason. No matter if I’m feeling pasty and grey in mid winter or glowing, beachy and tanned in mid August - this red always suits my skin tone. It can be the only make-up I wear on a day of meetings or complete an evening look. And always stays put for the whole night long. It’s also brilliant for hiding a hangover.’

8
Roberta Schroeder, Senior Editor, Luxury Ecommerce

Byredo Lipstick in Commuter

Byredo Lipstick in Commuter
8
Roberta Schroeder, Senior Editor, Luxury Ecommerce

Byredo Lipstick in Commuter

Credit: .

'This is a "nude" I wasn’t expecting to love, but it made its way into my bag months ago and hasn’t been relegated since. The shade is slightly weird, but not in a way that makes you look sickly or surly – which is kind of the brilliance of the entire Byredo colour line. Somewhere in-between a pink and a taupe, it feels ridiculously hydrating and has an almost-shiny satin finish that’ll draw you away from liquid mattes forever. If girlish glosses and petal pinks don't quite do it for you, head here.'

9
Medina Azaldin, Luxury Senior Beauty Assistant

Lisa Eldridge Lipstick in Velvet Ribbon

Lisa Eldridge Lipstick in Velvet Ribbon
9
Medina Azaldin, Luxury Senior Beauty Assistant

Lisa Eldridge Lipstick in Velvet Ribbon

Credit: .

‘My childhood beauty icon was (and still is) Dita Von Teese, so much so that I’ve been wearing red lipstick at 14 and never looked back since. To this day I’ll wear a red lip with absolutely anything and for any occasion, I almost don’t feel 100% myself without it. I’ll give any matte red lipstick a go but I’ve got about five that I’ll never part with. Velvet Ribbon is one of them.

Lisa Eldridge knows her make-up history, so this blue-red to me, looks like a true 1950s Hollywood red. Yes it brightens my olive skin, but more than that, I swear I stand taller, speak louder, and generally feel happier when I wear it. The soft velvety matte texture also means that I can wear it both a stain or a statement lip.’

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10
Katy Young, Group Luxury Beauty Director

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya
10
Katy Young, Group Luxury Beauty Director

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya

Credit: .

‘Blondes still searching for that elusive red should seek out shades at the orange end of the spectrum. They are eternally flattering against lighter hair, and are my go-to for a flattering but still punchy power lip. NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya is a personal favourite worn with a white shirt and jeans.’

11
Natasha Bird, Executive Editor (Digital)

MAC Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger

MAC Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger
11
Natasha Bird, Executive Editor (Digital)

MAC Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger

'MAC's Lady Danger is my absolute go-to, even just for the name. It's bright, it's super bold and I get compliments on it whenever I wear it, so it's a total mood-booster every time. That being said, I feel like Lady Danger is a lot of people's favourite, so when I want to wear something a bit more intriguing and spicy, I wear MAC's Devoted to Chili’

12
Daisy Murray, Digital Fashion Editor

By Sarah London Lip and Hand Balm

By Sarah London Lip and Hand Balm
12
Daisy Murray, Digital Fashion Editor

By Sarah London Lip and Hand Balm

Credit: .

'Though I've had affairs with concealer nude, coral orange, tomato red, and chestnut brown, it's clear balms I always come back to, since I regrettably feel more comfortable in more "natural" make-up. Currently, By Sarah London's organic lip balm is what I'm loving, partly due to the perfect glass pot it comes in. When finishing my make-up I'll often add some to my cheekbones and eyelids, hopefully giving the impression my skin is healthier and more dewy than it really is.'

Watch Next
 
preview for ELLE UK - Beauty
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Women's History Month

na

29 Emerging Female Designers To Know Now

miuccia prada

Female Fashion Designers Share Inspirations

celebrity feminists outspoken

27 Famous Feminists Who Speak The Truth

alex scott interview

Interview: Alex Scott On Change And Women In Sport

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below