One makeup product that every beauty lover’s collection should have is a handy dandy liquid lipstick. The finishes vary, from satin to glossy to matte, but we really want a formula that stays put through our lunch meals, coffee runs, dinner convos, and even kissing (NYE is coming up!). However, nailing down the right formula is no easy feat. Matte versions can be super drying, glossy finishes can leave behind evidence, and satin lipsticks can smudge and fade throughout the day. Word of advice? Look for formulas with skin-loving ingredients.
“One of the most important things to look for in a liquid lipstick is one that contains ingredients that are hydrating, to ensure it isn’t too drying,” celebrity makeup artist Lilly Keys tells ELLE.com. “Liquid lipstick is usually dry by nature to create that lasting stain and matte finish, so you’d want it to be as comfortable as possible.”
To avoid lipsticks that crack and settle into lip lines, or ones that wipe off on other peoples’ clothes or skin during a hug, we rounded up the 20 best long-lasting, comfortable lipsticks you can feel confident in.
1Best Overall
Pat McGrath Labs
LiquiLUST™: Legendary Wear Metallic Lipstick Star Wars™ Edition
2Best Glossy Finish
Urban Decay
Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lipstick Solo Player
3Best Shade Range
SEPHORA COLLECTION
Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick
4Best Hydrating Formula
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick
5Best Multipurpose
Benefit Cosmetics
Benefit Cosmetics Lip & Cheek Stain and Tint
6Best Full-Coverage Finish
Yves Saint Laurent
Tatouage Couture Velvet Cream Matte Liquid Lipstick
7Best Long-Lasting
GXVE BY GWEN STEFANI
I’m Still Here Longwear Clean Matte Liquid Lipstick [variation_tag_finish:Matte]
8Best Budget-Friendly Option
NYX Professional Makeup
Lip Lingerie XXL Long-Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick
9Best Lightweight Feel
NARS
Air Matte Lip Color
10Best Muted Tones
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Liquid Lipstick
11Best Splurge
Kilian
Le Rouge Parfum
12Best Cult-Favorite
Stila
Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick
13Best Plumping Lipstick
Too Faced
Lip Injection Power Plumping Cream Liquid Lipstick
14Best Drugstore Option
REVLON
Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor
15Best For Deeper Skin Tones
Pound Cake
Cake Batter
16Best For Nourishment
KJAER WEIS
Matte, Naturally Liquid Lipstick
17Celeb Approved
FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna
Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color
18Best Soft Finish
HUDA BEAUTY
Liquid Matte Ultra-Comfort Transfer-pProof Lipstick
19Best Water-Infused Formula
Catrice Cosmetics
Ultimate Stay Waterfresh Lip Tint
20Best Pigment
The Lip Bar
Nonstop Liquid Matte
21
What type of lipstick finish is best overall and why?
Keys suggests looking for a formula that you feel most comfortable in. “Regular lipstick formulations feel more creamy and glossy. However, if you’re looking for a long-lasting gorgeous stain on your lips that won’t budge, you’re going to want a matte finish when it comes to liquid lipstick,” she says.
23 Why trust ELLE Beauty?
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless skincare professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest products across makeup, skincare, and hair care.
Nerisha Penrose
Beauty Commerce Editor
Nerisha is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music).
