It has been brought to my attention that we still don't really know what red lipstick Taylor Swift wears. And it feels important.

For reasons I can't articulate (what am I, a writer?), the exact colour on Swift's lips is something the whole internet really cares about. They want answers. More specifically, the exact lipstick she used to smooch Travis Kelce's lips at the Super Bowl (and pretty much every Kansas City Chiefs game so far).

Have you seen it? Of course you have. We all have. It's glorious.

Watch: Taylor Swift announces her new album at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Post continues below.

But in case you missed it (unsure how, but okay), this was OUR Super Bowl moment below:

It's iconic. And we need to know what's on her lips.

But to add another layer to our collective fixation with Swift's lip colour, the singer has been a long-time lover of a red lip — it's literally her signature look and it came about way before Travis. Meaning? She's going to have a number of favourites. And the speculation and rumours are REAL.

So, in quite possibly my most defining moment as a journalist, I put them all to the test and figure out which it could be. Here's my very serious investigation into exactly what lipstick is on Taylor Swift's lips.

Walk with me.

1. M.A.C Cosmetics Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, $34.

With an iconic matte finish and intense colour payoff for a beautifully bold look, this is one of the classics that Swift said she lovedyears ago. In fact, apparently she told People in 2015 that she "discovered Ruby Woo by MAC, which I think everyone knows is a staple. I was the last person to discover it."

And she's right - it's pretty bloody iconic. If you're a beauty girlie, you'll know MAC's 'Ruby Woo' is one of the GOATs of the lipstick family and is one of those products most people have had kicking around their beauty cupboard at some stage of their lives.

Personally, I'm just obsessed with the colour. It's the perfect red lip. I like to use M.A.C Prep & Prime, $38, underneath and M.A.C Lip Pencil in 'Cherry', $38, to ensure it lasts the distance.

I recently went out for dinner and drinks (picture of me wearing the shade above) and found that it lasted a solid hour before top-ups were required. While I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that this iconic OG bullet would be part of Taylor's red lip wardrobe (the colour is beautiful), IMHO, it wouldn't have lasted a snog with Travis Kelce.

Which brings us to the next contender...

2. Fenty Beauty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in 'The MVP', $45.

Rumour has it that one of Taylor Swift's makeup artist, Lorrie Turk, is partial to a Fenty Beauty lipstick. In fact, Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in 'Uncensored', $45, is supposed to be a popular choice for Taylor's red carpet makeup looks. Another rumoured favourite? Fenty Beauty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in 'The MVP', $45. So, I gave it a whirl.

Here's me wearing it:

It's givingReputation.

I actually really love how this felt on my lips. It's velvety, dries down matte but still feels pretty comfy. It also lasts really well too - it held up through eating/drinking/kisses and blurred out beautifully instead of cracking/completely disappearing from my lips. (In fact, I needed a fair dousing of micellar water when it came to removing it from my lips).

I love the longevity of wear and the dramatic, bold colour and think could be a really close contender. In fact, I can guarantee this one would be in her makeup bag (or at least her makeup artist's bag) as an Eras Tour favourite.

3. Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick in Inspire, $35.

If there's one thing Tay loves just as much as her red lipstick, it's her best friend Selena Gomez — who also happens to have her very own (very successful) beauty line: Rare Beauty. And the bright, cool-toned red of the Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick in Inspire looks like a dead ringer to Taylor's signature red lip.

While I'd usually associated anything with matte as drying, the formula is ultra smooth and hydrating and feels beautifully comfortable and lightweight on the lips. The colour is pigmented, bold and I love how it blurs softly around the edge of my lips, without leaving a harsh line.

Excuse the bare face, but here I am wearing the lip:

After wearing it during the day, it withstood eating, drinking AND kisses with no touch-ups. It's more of an orangey-red and maybe too bright to be the exact colour on Tay's lips during her recent NFL appearance/on-camera kiss, but I reckon this would be one she has on heavy rotation. It's her bestie's creation, after all.

4. NARS Matte Lip Pencil in 'Kiss Me Deadly', $48.

Along with MAC's 'Ruby Woo', NARS Matte Lip Pencil in 'Dragon Girl' is supposed to be another one of the star's reported lipstick staples for years. I have it in the shade 'Kiss Me Deadly' and have to say, it looks pretty stinkin' close to the real deal.

As can be expected with anything NARS, the formula is stunning. A creamy, silky matte finish, the pigment is rich, vivid and makes even the thinnest of lips (ME) pop. I also love how hydrating and non-drying it is - something I never feel I can get