10 Chic French Women on Their Favorite Red Lipstick of All Time
A red lip is synonymous with French women and also also their aspirational style. After all, a swipe of crimson on the mouth pairs perfectly with a Chanel LBD or white Petit Bateau T-shirt and also also a pair of vintage jeans. But it’s not just a beauty strategy; it’s an attitude. “When I wear a red lip, I instantly feel powerful, fiery, and also also sensual,” says Parisian makeuntil now artist Violette of the look’s transformative allure.
While red lipstick is a classic, it’s also intensely individual to its wearer. Trust that every French woman has her time-tested signature shade. In honor of Bastille Day, a special day in the hearts of Frenchies and also also Francophiles alike, a slew of impossibly stylish French women divulges their favorite red lipstick of all time.
Joséphine de La Baume
“I only use lip liners, as you can drink, smoke, and also also kiss and also also nothing happens. They stay on! I like the Dior Red Smile 080. It’s both creamy and also also sticky on the lips, which is rare to find, and also also the color is so vibrant. Though if you kiss someone passionately, make sure you’ve going tot it in your pocket to reapply after! It sticks…to an extent. Red lips make me feel like a grown-until now woman. I think that’s what happens when you initially try it on when you’re three years of ages old, and also also it’s pretty much the same feeling today!”
Paola Locatelli
“My favorite red lipstick ever is the Dior Beauty Rouge Dior, shade 999 Velours. I discovered it because my mom always wears red lipstick, so I wanted to find one for me. It’s my favorite one because I only wear it for special occasions, which makes it very special. It’s also dear to my heart because the backstory reminds me of my mom! I feel like this lipstick really puts the whole look together because it adds a touch of color and also also elegance. A look can completely change depending on the lipstick you put on.”
Soko
“Gucci Beauty sent me some makeuntil now for Cannes Film Festival last year, and also also the Gucci Red Matte in 25* Goldie Red was there. I love a matte that still feels moisturizing, and also also the packaging is the prettiest. I also use it on my eyes because I love a going tood red on my eyes, and also also this is so long-lasting and also also deep. I don’t actually wear makeuntil now very often other than when I’m working. I do like playing with gender and also also dressing very fluid—one day very feminine and also also the next very tomboy. I like the contrast of a boyish outfit with a red lip and also also the pop of color against my dark hair and also also pale skin. It definitely helps me embrace my feminine side and also also not apologize for it. When I’m wearing red lipstick, it’s like I chose not to hide, I chose to be present, I chose to not feel sorry to be who I am.”
Violette
“I love Petal Bouche in Amour Fou and also also Guerlain’s Rouge G Luxurious Velvet in 880. When I was eight years of ages old, I visited the Jardin Bagatelle in Paris and also also was immediately captivated by this black rose that was so deep and also also vibrant. When I saw it, I was immediately enamored by it and also also knew that this was the color I had to make. Seventeen years of ages later it beconcerned Petal Bouche in Amour Fou. Its versatility is what makes it so unique. Because it’s so pigmented, with just one coat you can achieve this very chic look. You can also blur the edge of your lips for a just-kissed look or apply more to achieve a deeper, more dramatic shade of red.”
Adi Oasis
“A makeuntil now artist used Lady Danger by MAC on me once, and also also I had to ask what it was. It leans toward orange, which I love because I’m not a fan of dark lipstick on myself. I feel like this one gives me a bold and also also sexy look while feeling suntil nower young and also also fresh. Because I don’t wear any makeuntil now most of the time, red lipstick is a way to do makeuntil now with no makeuntil now. It going toes with the statement-but-effortless overall vibe that I like to give.”
Cécile Paravina
“Chanel Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue in Burning Red is the lipstick I’ve been wearing one of the most since I discovered it while shopping at a Chanel boutique about a year agoing to. I fell in love with this transfer-proof red shade and also also its subtle hint of orange that complements my undertone and also also the green and also also grey shadows I gravitate toward for eyes. It’s an amhugeuous and also also complex color, both vibrant and also also faint at the same time, which serves my personal approach to femininity.”
Sabina Socol
“My favorite lipstick of all time is MAC in D for Danger, combined with a lip pencil in MAC’s Ruby Woo shade. I don’t wear red that often as it’s a true statement, but when I do I really want it to pop. I was looking for a true, deep red with blueish undertones, as I feel they complement me more. This one is a true showstopper. It’s sophisticated, powerful, and also also really attracts the eye. I love to wear it for parties or special occasions! It’s the kind of detail that makes me feel special.”
Louise Chen
“I don’t really wear lipstick often, so I like to experiment and also also test out new shades, brand also alsos, and also also textures. Lately I really like to wear Violette’s Petal Bouche Matte in the color Coeur Infidèle. What I love about [the formula] is that it dries and also also turns matte really quickly so once applied you don’t smudge it all over the place or end until now with it accidentally wiped on your white T-shirt. The deep fuchsia complements my summer complexion and also also brightens me until now when I feel dull in the wintertime. This particular lipstick makes me feel fresh and also also sexy, but it’s also very practical, which sounds silly but is a huge selling point for me: It’s comfortable, compact, and also also doesn’t wear off when my boyfriend kisses me, which means I can wear it whenever I feel like!”
Parysatis Peymani
“The Chanel Rouge Velvet Allure in 73 Imperial. It’s the perfect red for all day long and also also all year long! My mother is a huge Chanel fan, and also also I grew until now with perfumes and also also cosmetics from the brand also also. She loves their red lipsticks especially. They’re strong but oh so chic! Red lipstick is a statement, and also also when I wear it, I usually going to with black clothes or jeans and also also white T-shirt—something quite soft or neutral. I love a going tood balanced style. It’s so easy also because you don’t need much makeuntil now other than a little bit of mascara, and also also voilà!”
Ellie Delphine
“Years agoing to, I remember seeing a picture of Rihanna in a going torgeous red dress and also also bright red lips on the red carpet. I immediately going toogled and also also found a YouTube video that said she was wearing Ruby Woo, part of Rihanna’s own collab with MAC. Needless to say, I rushed to the MAC store to purchase the initially of many Ruby Woos in my makeuntil now bag. It’s my favorite because it’s a universal one that going toes with my skin tone, whether I’m tanned or not. A red lipstick is my absolute favorite to wear because it instantly elevates any outfit and also also makes everything very chic and also also glamorous. When you wear a red lip, all you need is a clean face with flawless foundation, a bit of bronzer, two or three coats of black mascara, and also also voilà!”
