Found: The 16 Most Iconic Lipstick Colors of All Time, According to Editors and Celebrity Makeup Artists

Chanel’s best-selling red lipstick, Pirate, is a rich, dark red, best associated with Coco Chanel, herself. It is most identifiable by its strong blue undertone, which gives it the expensive-looking depth of color. And as a bonus, it's said to make teeth appear whiter.

True heads know Pillow Talk is less of a color than it is a lifestyle. Over the years the hue has been reimagined by Charlotte Tilbury in every makeup category, but the original lipstick is still the crown jewel. The mauve-y pink nude delivers on the flirtatious, coquettish vibes while the cushiony matte finish is soft and kissable.

“Fenty Beauty launched with inclusivity at the forefront [in 2017], and Uncensored was proof—it was designed for all skin tones from the start, not as an afterthought,” says Moore of the liquid lip’s universal appeal. But many makeup lovers gravitate to Stunna Lip Paint particularly for its easy, one-swipe application, lightweight feel, and incredible longevity.

Between the hint of baby pink and the long-lasting wet finish, YSL’s Nude Lavalliere is like the holy grail for grown-up pop princess lips. It’s also ideal for dewy look lovers who cannot get enough gloss and glow, but prefer the ease of a lipstick. Daley loves this shade as a “throw-it-on-and-go” color to add a finishing touch to any glam whether you’re going to run errands or go out.

Named after redheaded and red lip-loving English model Karen Elson, Elson 2 is a classic red with neutral undertones. However, this lipstick earned its icon status with intense pigment payoff and a sumptuous velvet matte finish. “This color is pure drama,” explains Zendaya’s go-to makeup artist Sheika Daley. “On deep skin tones, it’s bold and commanding. On lighter skin, it gives a striking, editorial look,” she notes

Most memorably worn by ‘90s-era Angelina Jolie, MAC Folio is a grayish-beige lipstick for the girls who are adverse to anything verging on traditionally pretty. After being discontinued for nearly two decades, the grungy shade is back, making a return with the cool-toned lips trend. It’s not right for everybody, but it is how you make a statement with a nude lip.

This brownish-pink nude was a product of the ’90s makeup minimalism, but has maintained it’s relevancy as a reliable mainstay in the 2020s. “Dolce Vita was on every makeup artist’s table because it just works,” Moore explains the hype. “It’s the kind of shade you can apply without a mirror and still look put together. It’s cozy, it’s chic, and it goes with everything.”

“Nude Kate reached cult status when it became a backstage favorite among models and A-listers,” says makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan who works with habitual red carpet attendees Nicole Kidman and Cara Delevingne. She notes the light beige nude is loved by makeup artists to balance out warm undertones, creating a totally neutral lip color base, making it a great complement to heavier eye makeup for those with light to medium complexions.

We’ve all heard of “your-lips-but-better,” but Deenihan would rather describe Black Honey’s sheer tint as “your-lips-but-moodier.” The buildable blackberry burgundy hue enhances your natural lip color without any of the fussiness of full coverage lipstick. “Its resurgence in recent years is tied to TikTok and Gen Z discovering what makeup artists and celebs have known for decades: it’s cool, effortless, and timeless,” Deenihan adds.

Moore says Omi is a mid-intensity rose shade that is the rare neutral matte that gives medium to deep skin tones more vibrancy and doesn’t wash them out. “It’s sexy, understated, and versatile,” he adds, plus “you can wear it with a deeper liner for a little more drama.”

As Daley’s own, personally-designed lip color, she made the perfect warm, rose lippie she would always want to reach for in her kit. “It has that fresh, polished vibe that works across skin tones and makeup styles,” Daley says. A foolproof color with a buttery, nourishing feel, it’s a no brainer for any last minute primping or photo ops.

The idea of pink lipstick may elicit mental pictures of Floridian grandmothers and Barbie dolls, but this unexpected iteration of the color expertly sidesteps any associations with cheesiness or girlishness. The plush liquid matte, Coeur Infidele is an unexpected raspberry shade that you can wear as a full-on opaque lip or as a blurry flush of pigment for a more French girl-inspired feel.

This goth-adjacent burgundy is a daring dark red for those who want to go even bolder than a typical red, without worrying about crossing a line into costumey territory. The overall experience of the lipstick is luxe, from the femme fatale color, to the supernaturally smooth formula, to the satisfying click of the cap onto the hefty magnetic packaging.

Isamaya Beauty’s Thorns is more like a magic trick in a tube than a simple balm (although it is also pillowy and hydrating). The salmon-ish sheer pink is unassuming at a glance, but it contains a fine iridescent pearl that makes your lips look subtly bigger and makes you feel a little more special with the wink of a refined sparkle on your bare lips.