Maed Beauty’s Denise Vasi Wants to Share the Joy—and Power—of a Red Lip

To know model and actress Denise Vasi is to know she loves a red lip—but not a flaky, chapped, or dry one. Growing up on set and in front of the camera, the Brooklyn native has become all too familiar with products that can result in the latter. She’s also well aware that beauty is about more than just color payoff–it’s about creating a ritual, growing your connection with yourself, and the powerful ways it can shift how you feel—which is exactly why she created Maed Beauty. 

The four-piece collection consists of high-performance and long-lasting lip care and color products that leave you with a smooth finish every time. This is all thanks to the signature MAED Proprietary Bioactive Complex—a blend of collagen peptides, ceramides, and plant stem cells that plump, strengthen the skin barrier, and provide antioxidant protection. 

The first product in the collection is the Reveal Lip Polish, a self-dissolving moisturizing and exfoliating lip scrub that quickly sloughs away dead skin cells. Next is the Reset Lip Serum, a quick-absorbing and lightweight formula that gently evens the skin tone and leaves behind zero residue. The Revive Day + Night Lip Balm, a treatment and balm, leaves lips with a semi-glossy finish without stickiness. Then there’s the Signature Lip Pigment in Ritual Red, which provides a matte finish but uses cherry seed oil to keep lips feeling hydrated, all while providing anti-aging benefits. 

As a red-lip girl myself, I have to say, I’m beyond impressed with Maed, and I’m sure you will be, too. Ahead, Vasi shares her journey of bringing the brand to life and why red is the signature color. 

You’ve been modeling and acting since you were around 12. What are some of your earliest makeup memories?

“My early [beauty memories] are tied to my grandmother. She is the ultimate example of experiencing beauty as a ritual. Through her, I learned that beauty is as much about self-connection as it is about appearance. As for being on set, I basically grew up in a glam chair. I’ll never forget shooting with Kevyn Aucoin for his Making Faces book—when I looked in the mirror, I felt something about myself I had never felt before. I was blown away by how a swipe of lipstick and sketching in my brows could instantly shift my energy and confidence.”

Did these early experiences impact the way you approached creating MAED?

“Absolutely. I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the best, most well-known makeup artists in the world, and the one thing all the greats have in common is that they take the time to prep the face. I grew up learning to manually massage the face to accentuate the cheekbones or wake up the skin way before social media. I was taught that skincare is the foundation of every good makeup look, and I’ve carried that with me. That’s why I’ve always had a ritual for my lips at home. The care collection of MAED—The Lip Ritual—is all about prep, nurturing the lip skin so you can have incredible color application or simply healthier-looking lips.”

Why is red a symbol of power for you?

“A red lip just gives me that feeling—it’s like putting on your favorite little black dress or that pair of high heels that awakens a passionate, courageous, and strong side of you. Even on my worst days, a red lip makes me feel put together and gives me an extra boost of confidence. Sometimes, it’s like my armor when I step out into the world. When we were formulating Ritual Red, all I could hope for was to share that feeling with my community.”

Creating a universal red is difficult. What was your formulation and testing period like, and when did you know you got the color just right?

“I had an incredible product development team to help execute this, and we formulated in Italy, [which is] known for producing some of the best liquid lipsticks in the world. Working with such a diverse team allowed us to see our red pigment on a variety of skin tones, lip colors, and shapes. We focused heavily on balancing cool and warm undertones to create the perfect shade of red. Once we narrowed it down to two strong formulas, we A-B tested them with 25 diverse women. Their feedback on everything—from the color to how it wore throughout the day—was invaluable and helped me choose the final formula.”

Color aside, I’m genuinely impressed by the formula. It’s a matte finish but doesn’t leave my lips looking and feeling like sandpaper afterward, which is rare. What’s MAED’s secret sauce?

“Thank you! I can’t tell you how incredible it is to hear you say that because, as a longtime wearer of matte liquid lipstick, I was frustrated with how my lips felt after daily use. While searching for solutions, I realized I couldn’t be the only one who wanted to not only preserve their lips day-to-day but also maintain their long-term lip health. And that’s really where our secret lies—formulating to support long-term lip health. Our Ritual Red formula is infused with nourishing ingredients like Tucuma Butter, jojoba esters, and cherry coffee seed oil to hydrate and support the lip barrier. Our lip care collection also features a BioActive Complex, helping to maintain healthy-looking and healthy-feeling lips.”

What has been the most rewarding part of this journey for you so far?

“Getting into Sephora’s Accelerate program was a key moment—it affirmed my dreams coming to life and growing beyond what I imagined. But first and foremost, it’s been my daughter seeing me take an idea and work on it over the years to bring it to life. Watching her express so much joy and pride in me and what I’m doing has been hands-down the most incredible part of this journey.”