Best Lipsticks According To Our Research

The finish of a lipstick is its most defining characteristic. It dictates the look, feel, and wear time.
Matte: This is a flat, shine-free finish with intense, opaque color.
Pros: It’s incredibly long-wearing, transfer-resistant, and provides a bold, modern look.
Cons: It can be drying and may emphasize lip lines if not formulated well.
Sub-Types: Look for “comfort mattresses” or “velvet mattresses,” which are modern formulas that feel more hydrating.
Satin or Crème: The classic, timeless lipstick finish. It sits perfectly between a matte and a gloss.
Pros: It offers a beautiful, subtle sheen that makes lips look healthy and plump. The formulas are typically creamy, comfortable, and hydrating.
Cons: It’s not long-wearing and will transfer.
Sheer: This finish provides a translucent wash of color with a balmy, often shiny, texture.
Pros: It’s incredibly forgiving and easy to apply without a mirror. It’s a great “your-lips-but-better” option, similar to the best lip balms but with more pigment.
Cons: It has the shortest wear time and requires frequent reapplication.
Glossy: While often achieved with one of the best lip glosses, some lipsticks now offer a high-shine, vinyl-like finish.
Pros: It makes lips look incredibly full, plump, and juicy.
Cons: It has no staying power and is prone to transferring and smudging.
Liquid Lipstick: A category in its own right, these apply as a liquid and dry down, usually to an ultra-matte, transfer-proof finish.
Pros: Unbeatable longevity. Once it sets, it will not budge for hours.
Cons: Can be extremely drying; proper lip prep is essential, and removal requires an oil-based cleanser.

The right color can brighten your entire complexion. The key is understanding your skin’s undertone.
How to Find Your Undertone: Look at the veins on your wrist.
Cool: If your veins look blue or purple, you have cool undertones. You’ll look best in lipsticks with blue or purple undertones, like blue-based reds, berry tones, and rosy pinks.
Warm: If your veins look green, you have warm undertones. You’ll shine in lipsticks with golden or orange undertones, like orange-reds, corals, and peachy nudes.
Neutral: If you can’t tell or see a mix of blue and green, you have neutral undertones. You’ve hit the jackpot you can wear almost any shade!
Choosing a Nude: The perfect nude shouldn’t match your skin tone; it should be one or two shades deeper than your natural lip color to provide definition.
Choosing a Red: A true, blue-based red (like MAC’s Ruby Woo) is a universally flattering power shade that makes teeth look whiter.

The most luxurious lipstick in the world will look terrible on dry, flaky lips. Preparation is everything.
Exfoliate: Gently scrub your lips with a lip scrub or a damp washcloth to remove any dead skin.
Hydrate: Apply a thin layer of one of the best lip balms and let it absorb for a few minutes before applying lipstick. Blot away any excess.
Line: A lip liner is your secret weapon. It defines your lip shape, prevents color from bleeding, and gives your lipstick something to adhere to, increasing its longevity.

The answer is lip liner! Trace the outside of your lips with a liner that matches your lipstick or your natural lip color. For extra security, you can fill in your entire lip with the liner before applying lipstick.

The “blot and repeat” method is a classic for a reason. Apply a coat of lipstick, gently blot it with a tissue, and then apply a second coat. For a truly bulletproof finish, you can place the tissue over your lips and lightly dust a translucent setting powder over it before your final coat.

Sometimes. Luxury lipsticks often have more sophisticated, comfortable formulas, more unique pigments, and a more luxurious feel and packaging. However, the quality of drugstore lipsticks has improved dramatically, and you can find incredible, high-performance formulas at a very affordable price.

Lip prep is crucial. Always exfoliate and apply a hydrating lip balm before application. Also, look for modern “comfort matte” or “velvet matte” formulas, which are designed to be less drying than traditional mattes.

Precision is key. Start by lining your lips carefully. Then, instead of applying directly from the bullet, use a lip brush. This gives you much more control for a clean, sharp, and even application.

This usually happens with lipsticks that have warm, orange, or brown undertones. To make your teeth appear whiter, choose lipsticks with cool, blue undertones. Think blue-based reds, berry tones, and cool pinks.

Use your senses. If the lipstick has changed in texture (become dry or crumbly), has a strange, waxy, or crayon-like smell, or has beads of moisture on it, it’s time to toss it. Most lipsticks have a shelf life of 12-24 months after opening.