Posted 4 minutes agoTaylor Swift's Favorite Red Lipstick Still Sells Out Every Holiday Season. Here's How It Looks On 6 Different UndertonesTurns out a classic red lipstick is still an instant confidence boost, and this is the most famous one.by Melissa JamesonBuzzFeed StaffFacebookPinterestLink For a long time now, one thing has been at the center of Taylor Swift's most recognizable beauty look (love it or hate it!): her signature red lip. And specifically, that red lip is Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Matte Lipstick in Elson 4. It shined all through the Eras Tour, and when fans first learned the exact shade back in 2023, it sold out for a full year. Kate Green / Getty Images And it still sells out today, especially during the holiday season. It's currently out of stock at Ulta and Amazon, but available at Sephora or Pat McGrath Beauty, both for $34. Even now, in a 2025 that's largely moved away from the bold red lip and toward an overall less-is-more look, Pat McGrath still sells a set (literally dubbed the Taylor-Made Lip Kit) featuring Elson 4, plus the matching liner. patmcgrath.com PSA for anyone looking for the perfect gift for the Swiftie in your life!^ So, just in time for the holidays (aka: red-lip season, if there ever was one), we decided it was finally time to try it for ourselves, and put it to the test in the BuzzFeed offices in Los Angeles. Here's our collective review. First, here's us, pre-red lip (hi! 👋): BuzzFeed Right off the bat on Test Day, everyone agreed: Elson 4 is extremely (!!) pigmented. A little truly goes a LONG way. For most of us, just one dip delivered full color: enough for a complete application, with product still left on the wand. BuzzFeed For the sake of the test, we opted not to use the matching liner, since we wanted to focus purely on the lipstick itself. Skipping the liner led to mixed feelings about application, though. Some found the formula surprisingly forgiving because it doesn't dry down immediately, giving you time to clean up edges. Others felt there was more room for error, especially without liner support. When it came to color, though, everyone agreed. True to its claim (and Eras fame), Elson 4 was a bright, bold, true blue-based red. Siena and Melissa (both with neutral undertones) said they rarely reach for bold reds, but they really liked this one, and wouldn't mind breaking it out for the holiday season. BuzzFeed • Siena: "I basically never go for a red lip, so I was apprehensive, but I thought this looked pretty good on! It's definitely a punchy color, but it leans toward cool tones, which I think made it pleasantly softer than something more candy-apple red would look on me. I could see myself pulling it out every once in a while, especially around the holidays."• Melissa: "Remember when MAC's Ruby Woo was everywhere a decade ago? This reminded me of that, but I'm happy to report this one was much easier to apply (though you'll want a liner for precision in the corners!) and a lot less drying. I loved a red lip back in the day, and when they inevitably cycle back in favor again, I'd happily reach for this." Shelby also liked it, and felt the blue base played well with her cool undertones. Though she usually prefers deeper, burgundy-type reds, this one still felt flattering and classic. BuzzFeed • Shelby: "Overall, I liked the lipstick! This really had a 'wow, this is RED!!' factor when I put it on, but I thought it was fun. When I applied it, the formula was very pigmented and felt rich, almost like paint. While wearing it around the office, it felt nice and didn't immediately dry out my lips like other matte products I've tried, so I liked that." Megan, who normally sticks to neutral lip balms, found the lipstick surprisingly fun and easy to wear. She wasn't sold on the high price tag, but appreciated the instant confidence boost a bold red lip can provide. BuzzFeed • Megan: "I wouldn't pay $34 for it, but I don't know if I would buy red lipstick regardless of price. I will say, though, a single tube feels like it would last FOREVER, so that's a plus. The little extra lip pop made me feel a little fancier while working, too. Who doesn't like a little confidence boost when leading a meeting? ☺️" Alana and Bella both felt the shade wasn't quite right for them personally, but each still liked the formula itself. BuzzFeed • Bella: "I'm pale with dark features, so I tend to go for a lot of darker colors. I personally don't think this shade complemented me very well, but the product itself was pretty comfortable to wear, and significantly more comfortable on the lips than other liquid lips I've tried."• Alana: "I lean neutral with pinkish/warm undertones, and I found this red super bright compared to a red lipstick I'd normally gravitate towards. But I liked the formula and would consider trying out a different color!" Though thoughts on color varied, nearly every reviewer agreed: this lip isn't transfer-proof, and it's not going to fulfill its 12-hour pro