Culture
7 Classic Lipstick Colors Every Makeup Bag Should Have, According To Naomi Campbell, J.Lo, & More
Bright eyeshadow and golden accents may be trending in the beauty world right now, but that doesn't mean you should throw out your traditional makeup shades just yet. In fact, as celebrities have proven on countless occasions, a classic lipstick color never goes out of style — no matter what's happening on Instagram or heading down the runway.
Sure, you may want to throw on Glossier's new Skywash eyeshadow in its electric green Lawn shade with abandon, or swipe on a heavy layer of coral blush. But more often than not, you'll want to pair those over-the-top looks with a lipstick color that's somewhat more subdued — or, at the very least, more traditional. Not that there's anything wrong with going all out — you do you! — but sticking with one trend on your face can provide a sense of balance that makes even the trendiest of applications look effortless.
So, where better to look than the stars? Celebrities have plenty of occasions to test out different hues (plus, of course, the makeup artists to advise them) and decide on the best versions of those classic colors every makeup bag should have — which is why The Zoe Report rounded them up for you. Ahead, seven lipstick shades that have been approved by J.Lo, Zendaya, and more for you to add to (and keep in) your collection, stat.
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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley & "My Lips But Better" Color
Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is gorgeous all around, but her plush lips are one of her most-talked-about features. When she chooses to amplify them even more, she usually opts for a "my lips but better" shade for a simple highlight and swipe of color. Sometimes that means she goes for something mauve-y or rose, while other times she plays up the tan tones in her natural complexion.
Barepro Longwear Lipstick in Cinnamon
In a 2019 video following Huntington-Whiteley's everyday glam with makeup artist Nikki DeRoest, the model notes the above shade from the Bare Minerals Barepro Longwear Lipstick line is her favorite. "I really love this color, which is called Cinnamon," she said while applying the lipstick. "Which is basically my lip color." This mauve shade from the brand promises up to eight hours of wear and follows its "clean" policy of being vegan, talc-, paraben-, and gluten-free, among others.
Vice Lipstick in Interrogate
This brick rose shade from Urban Decay perfectly complements a bronzed appearance. Apply it with your fingers for a look that's natural without too much color.
Naomi Campbell & Brown
If you were playing a game of word association and Naomi Campbell was the subject, brown lipstick would surely make the list. The iconic '90s supermodel constantly wore the shade during her reign and had everyone lusting after the look. Even in 2020, Campbell still wears the chocolate hue, reminding everyone that she *practically* invented it in the first place.
Mattetrance Lipstick in Divine Brown
Celebrity makeup artist Pat McGrath knows the struggle of finding a shade that works (especially for darker skin tones), which is why her makeup line is all about making the selection process easier. This bullet lipstick is a go-to swipe of rich chocolate pigment and a matte finish so anyone can wear it.
Le Riot Lip Gloss in Chaser
True, this is technically a lip gloss, but Campbell has frequently been adding shine to her signature look. This chestnut shade from Lady Gaga's makeup line Haus Laboratories offers bold color, high-shine, and pearlescent flakes for added shimmer.
Taylor Swift & Red
The singer and red lipstick have almost been synonymous for ten years at this point — so much so, Swift has even referenced her signature look in quite a few songs. Although she's worn more pop-y reds as of late (like the one seen here at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of Miss Americana in Jan. 2020), Swift's traditional go-to is a firetruck red. Choose her daring color when you want to feel like a woman on fire.
NARS in Dragon Girl
One of the star's favorites — and what she wore to the 2014 Met Gala — is this punchy red from NARS called Dragon Girl. It's a true-red hue with blue undertones, making it even more dramatic and dark than a yellow-based red. Get expert precision and smooth application thanks to the crayon applicator and vitamin-E enriched formula.
Rouge D'Armani Matte Lipstick in Red-To-Go
There's no better way to make a statement than with a tangy, tangerine red. The Rouge D'Armani Matte Lipsticks have over 250 five-star reviews on Sephora that mainly praise their luxurious feel. Which is probably thanks to the tube's matte-to-suede finish that doesn't leave your lips feeling dry like a normal matte formula.
Jennifer Lopez & Nude
Perhaps no one is more synonymous with nude lips than J.Lo. The actor and singer has been a longtime fan of the shade, and though she does switch between gloss and matte, it's rare to see her playing with much more variety than that.
Color Splash Lipstick in Siesta
Spotted front and center in her dressing room in 2018, this nude shade is one of J.Lo's favorites. But it's not just the 50-year-old who's a fan — more than 700 reviewers have rated it five stars on Sephora as well. The Siesta shade the singer wears provides a brown nude, according to its description (though in pictures on Sephora, it looks to have a slightly pink tint as well).
K.I.S.S.I.N.G in Hepburn Honey
If you're looking to recreate one of J.Lo's peachier looks, opt for beloved makeup brand Charlotte Tilbury's K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Hepburn Honey. The moisturizing formula will keep the color feeling comfortable for hours, and thanks to a blend of waxes, you can rest easy knowing no color will bleed outside the lines of your lips.
Lily Collins & Dark Berry
The only thing more iconic than Lily Collins' brows? Her signature deep-plum lipstick shade, a color the Lancôme ambassador loves to pair with her fair skin and dark hair, as she told the New York Times in 2016.
L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick in Berry Noir
It's rare to see Collins on the red carpet without her favorite deep-berry shade, and her 2019 BAFTAs appearance was no exception. Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge stuck to the actor's signature look, telling Vogue UK that she used L’Absolu Rouge Matte in Berry Noir from Lancôme to create the dark, graphic lips she's known (and loved) for.
Le Metallique in Purple Onyx
For a shinier version of this shade, opt for another product Collins has worn — Lancôme's Le Metallique lacquer in Purple Onyx, which the star's makeup artist Fiona Stiles used on her at the 2018 Met Gala, according to a Teen Vogue article.
Priyanka Chopra & Fuchsia
Priyanka Chopra never shies away from bright shades (and always pulls them off flawlessly). But one she's been seen in time and time again is a bright fuchsia, which provides the perfect pop against her always-glowing skin. Though it may not be thought of as a traditionally "classic" color, it's an easy way to switch things up from the typical red lip and is unexpectedly versatile (as the former Quantico actor has proven on many occasions).
Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick in Boy Gorgeous
Chopra's most notable appearance in this shade? Her wedding. The 37-year-old was on the cover of People Magazine following the couple's five-day celebration in India wearing a reddish-pink color called Boy Gorgeous from Marc Jacobs Beauty.
Matte Lipstick in Candy Yum-Yum
For a brighter iteration of this shade, Chopra told the New York Times in 2016 that Candy Yum-Yum from MAC Cosmetics is one of her go-to lipstick colors.
Zendaya & Light, Glossy Pink
Zendaya's been known to do her makeup for red carpets and events, so it's no surprise that the Euphoria star has some tricks of her own when it comes to creating her signature light pink, glossy lips. "If there’s one good nude that I like, I put a dab of pink or coral or something else, too," the actor told Byrdie on how she gets that perfect not-quite-nude shade. "Then it’s like it’s nude but also something else."
Outlast Lipstain in Nude Kiss
For easy throw-on-and-go color, Zendaya turns to an affordable drugstore find. "I like CoverGirl's Outlast Lipstain in Nude Kiss; it's my go-to for a long day," she told Elle of the pinky nude shade in 2016. A swipe of clear lip gloss over top would complete her signature look.
L'Absolu Mademoiselle Shine in Shine Bright
Zendaya's Cinderella outfit at the 2019 Met Gala wouldn't have been complete without her soft, sweet makeup. The finishing touch? Celebrity makeup artist Sheika Daley added L'Absolu Mademoiselle Shine in Shine Bright from Lancôme to her lips, which was right in line with the star's go-to lip shade.
