12 Influential Women Share the Lip Combos That Make Them Feel Powerful
ulhmts on 12 August, 2025 | No Comments
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A signature lip has long been a power move—a way to command attention, express identity, and show up with confidence. Some of the most memorable women in history are associated with distinct lip looks. Marilyn Monroe’s red, and Taylor Swift’s, come to mind. And Grace Jones’s metallic fuchsia.
Red lipstick, in particular, has been dubbed a sign of resistance and strength for women. In 1912, suffragettes marched for women’s rights in New York City wearing Venetian Lip Paste from Elizabeth Arden, an emblem of their grit and determination.
To this day, a bold lip can help give its wearer a sense of strength, even when they don’t feel as fearless or put-together as they look. With this in mind, we asked 12 powerful women—including an Olympic athlete, a politician, and a fashion stylist to the stars—about the lip products they swear by, how they found them, and why a specific combination gives them a confidence boost whether they’re on a global stage or just logging in to a 10 a.m. Zoom meeting. Ahead, read about the power-lip looks they reach for on repeat.
Colette Laxton, founder of The Inkey List
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Those who get their glow from The Inkey List’s impressive lineup of skin-care products have Colette Laxton to thank. The beauty-brand founder’s signature look isn’t complete without her orange-red lipstick. "It needs to be strong and solid, but creamy and easy to wear,” she says. Just a few swipes of La Bouche Rouge in La Folie makes her feel “ready to take on the world!"
Ali Truwit, Paralympic swimmer
Courtesy of Kanya Iwana for Aveeno x TOGETHXR
For American Paralympic swimmer Ali Truwit, there’s nothing better than her natural lip color, enhanced with a touch of liner and sheer gloss. First, Truwit says, “I apply Aveeno Skin Relief Healing Ointment during my skin prep to make sure my lips are not chapped or dry, especially during East Coast winters.” She then lines her lips with a rosy beige pencil (alternating between the Rhode Peptide Lip Pencil in Lunge and the L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner Pencil in Worth It) before swiping on a light pink gloss (such as Eadem Le Chouchou Peptide Lip Balm in Guava Fresca).
Ayesha Curry, founder of Sweet July
Courtesy of Daniel Baum
What gives Ayesha Curry, founder of Sweet July, that unmistakable air of self-possession? A beautiful brown lip combo certainly helps. "It makes a statement while looking effortless," she says. She starts by lining her lips with One/Size by Patrick Starrr Lip Snatcher Liner in Rent Due, a soft brown matte, and then tops it with the limited-edition Sweet July Lip Treatment in Rum Cake, a caramel-tinted gloss. “The liner gives me a nice pout and the lip treatment keeps them glossy and luscious,” says Curry, who usually pulls out this combo for date night or important meetings.
Ilhan Omar, U.S. representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district
Courtesy of Representative Ilhan Omar
In the dictionary, under the word “trailblazer,” you’ll see a picture of Ilhan Omar. Okay, not really, but Merriam-Webster should make that addition. After all, Omar is the first Somali American lawmaker and one of the first Muslim women in Congress. Even better, the Minnesota representative speaks her mind with poise on the House floor.
The Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 477 Black Cherry—a rich plum lipstick with a satin finish—gives her a boost in any situation. “It’s closest to my natural lip, and it gives my lips a pop of color,” she says. “I didn’t grow up wearing lipstick and still prefer a more understated look, so this is the shade I feel most comfortable with in a natural way.”
Sade Mims, founder of Edas
Courtesy of Rasaan Wyzard
Striking the balance between cool and approachable isn’t easy, but Sade Mims, designer and founder of accessories brand Edas, pulls it off with ease. While her stylish outfits usually catch people’s attention first, Mims says her combo of a dark lip liner and shimmering gloss is what makes her feel in charge: “When I want to feel bossy and confident, I lean toward a less-is-more approach.”
Mims uses the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Lip Liner in Hidden Truth to accentuate her full lips, adding a hint of shine with the Eadem Le Chouchou Lip Balm in Bissap. Occasionally she’ll throw Prada Monochrome Soft Matte Blur Lipstick in Auburn into the mix, swiping it on before adding gloss. “This lip combo is the one thing I can put on that instantly makes me feel put-together, even if I'm wearing no other makeup,” she says. “It makes me feel my best.”
Shiona Turini, stylist and costume designer
Courtesy of Lelanie Foster
Every outfit you loved on Insecure and costume you marvelled at during Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour can be credited to Shiona Turini. The stylist is known for having impeccable taste in clothing and beauty looks.
Turini doesn’t usually walk around with a full lip while digging through racks of clothes or pulling options for fittings, but when the moment calls for glam, she loves “a natural lip with a little pop.” “Vincent Oquendo made me fall in love with lip liner again, and recently, when doing my makeup, he paired Make Up Forever’s Lip Liner in Limitless Brown with Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Gloss in Halo,” she says. “And wow, you couldn’t tell me anything that day.”
Since then, that combo has been her go-to when she wants to look and feel assertive. “It’s that balance between ease and intention,” she says, “which is really how I approach style in general.”
Telsha Anderson-Boone, creative consultant and stylist
Courtesy of Emma Trim for Telsha Anderson-Boone
Telsha Anderson-Boone has probably popped up on your screen during one of your late-night Pinterest scrolls (and you’ve likely added her to your most aspirational mood board). She’s known for her laid-back but polished style.
As she bustles through the streets of New York City—heading to a coffee shop with her little ones, shooting content for a brand, or rushing to an event—her outfits get compliments. Her minimal makeup look, which includes a subtly glossy lip, plays a supporting but impactful role. She lines her lips with the Merit Sheer Lip Liner in Warm Peach Brown, then layers the Eadem Lip Gloss in Butter Mochi over the Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm.
Katie Jane Hughes, makeup artist and founder of KJH.brand
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When Katie Jane Hughes talks about makeup, people listen and take notes. We jotted down the exact lip look that makes her feel like the beauty boss she is. Her power lip is a combination of the Make Up For Ever Color Pencil in Endless Cacao and her brand’s KJH.brand Prism Lite Lip Crayon in Mirage. “This combo makes me feel beautiful,” she says. “I reach for it whenever I just need to be ‘on’ and feel strong, like the best version of me."
Sabrina Elba, founder of S’Able Labs
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Sabrina Elba’s go-to lip combo comes straight out of the ’90s. She starts by sculpting her lips with the m.ph by Mary Phillips Overliner Lip Pencil in Double Shot, a neutral dark brown, then fills them in with the Sunnies Face Fluffmatte Lipstick in Brunette, a rich, warm brown with a velvety finish.
Elba seals her lip look with her brand’s S’able Labs Moringa Lip Salve in Sisterwife, which imparts a warm brown sheen. The result is a polished, goes-with-everything neutral hue that enhances her features without overpowering them.
Suni Lee, Olympic gymnast
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Sunisa (Suni) Lee keeps her signature lip simple but impactful. She lines and shapes with two Make Up For Ever pencils in Where Walnut—the waterproof Artist Color Pencil Extreme on her outer lip line and the brand’s original lip pencil on the middle of her lips—using it like a lip color to add a toasty brown tint to her mouth.
She layers the Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment in Crème Brûlée on top. “[It’s] the best thing I’ve ever put on my lips,” she says. The result is a soft, hydrated lip that’s easy enough for casual activities, yet polished enough for wherever the day takes her, whether that’s brunch with friends or, you know, the Olympic stage in Paris.
Dove Cameron, actor
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Dove Cameron is known for her moody glam, and her routine is no exception. “I love a really over-the-top brown ’90s lip liner,” she says. Her lip combo starts with the Sacheu Peel-Off Lip Liner in Muah-ve, which she applies and lets set while she does her brows. After she peels it away, she refines the shape with the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Endless Cacao, a cool-toned brown that adds soft definition.
A swipe of Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm finishes the look, keeping it low-key and hydrated with just the right amount of sheen. She calls it “boring,” but the simplicity of the look exudes elegance.
Reneé Rapp, actor and singer
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Actor and singer Reneé Rapp stumbled upon her power-lip combo the same way most beauty obsessions begin these days: on TikTok. After spotting the Palladio Lip Stain on her FYP, she stocked up and now uses it to lightly line her lips. She then sweeps on the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme Smudge-Proof Lip Liner in Wherever Walnut for added definition. “It looks bangin’,” she says. Then she caps the look with the L’Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil in Wine O’Clock for a glossy, plumped-up effect that feels unfussy—exactly Rapp’s vibe.