13 best lipsticks that deserve a spot in your makeup bag
We like to think of the best lipsticks as the ultimate accessories. One swipe can easily elevate a white T-shirt and jeans, a wedding guest dress or your go-to “corporate girl” fit. It's true that the lip choices available to us have multiplied, particularly over the last couple of years, with lip oils, tints, lip liners and glosses offering up some pretty impressive competition, but then again, lipsticks have gotten smarter, too.
From delicate, lightweight renditions that serve up pretty, blurred rosebud lips, to comfortable mattes that won't transfer and juicy high-shine glazes that are practically a lip gloss in form of a bullet, there's a lipstick for everyone, no matter what tickles your fancy.
You can mix and match, too, to create an edit of faves that match your mood and the occasion – whether you want something powerful, cosy, fun or fresh. And, if you choose your formula carefully, the right lipstick can give your lips a longer-lasting glow-up, with ingredients that nourish, plump and protect as a side-hustle to delivering a slick wash of colour.
Best lipsticks at a glance – our top picks
- Best lipstick overall: Merit Signature Lip
- Best nude lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick - Pillow Talk
- Best matte lipstick: MAC Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick
- Best pigmented lipstick: Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick
Firework content
Products displayed on the shelves courtesy of Oliver Bonas and Assouline.
And, if you're still tempted by those lip liners and glosses we mentioned, you can always layer them alongside your lipstick to create your own bespoke lip combo to gate-keep or share as you see fit.
With so much choice, though, it's difficult to know which formulas truly deserve our attention. And, if you can't be bothered to weed through them, all, we've done the heavy lifting for you. Below, we've rounded-up of the best of the best. You'll find everything from our personal faves, to classics, new launches, and viral hits.
How to choose the right lipstick - shade, formula and finish
Ah, the age-old question – how on Earth do you go about choosing the right lipstick? To put it simply, it really depends on a variety of factors.
- Your preference: Are you someone who's no stranger to dealing with chapped lips? You may want to avoid moisture-stripping matte formulas as those may dry out the skin on your lips that much further. Are you someone who dislikes the glossy/sticky feel but doesn't quite enjoy the matte finish? Settle for something in-between, like the semi-matte blurring formulas with a skin-like finish (Charlotte Tilbury, we're looking at you).
- The bold shades: Unsure whether you could rock a bold red lipstick? The key is in the details. If you're thinking about wearing a bold shade as part of your everyday ensemble, make sure that the rest of your makeup doesn't take away from the key element (you may want to opt for a soft bronze eye look with minimal eyeliner and a softer base). Going all out for a special ocassion? Feel free to experiment and complement your lipstick with either a fun gloss (shimmer or high-shine, totally up to you) or a darker lip liner for a gradient effect.
- Everyday lip colour: Finding the perfect nude lipstick will never get easier, however, if you know your undertones and if you get your lip combos right, you simply can't go wrong. First, try to determine your undertones: are you a cool-toned girly or someone who looks better in warmer hues? The best way to tell is to take a look at your foundation and check whether you tend to opt for something with a pink undertone, warm or neutral. Based on this, picking your nude shade will be ten times easier. And don't forget to play around with different lip pencils, lip glosses, lip oils and lip tints to uncover new ways to rock your everyday lip.
How we tested the best lipsticks:
Throughout the years, the GLAMOUR team has tested hundreds of lipsticks, ranging from matte and transfer-proof formulas to the more hydrating and satin iterations that are staples in our everyday routines. When reviewing and rating each lipstick formula, we've considered everything from the pigment to the finish, packaging, price point, and the shade range. Find out more about how we test.
The best lipsticks for every preference, ranked:
Best lipstick overall
Why we love it: First off, we need a moment for the packaging which looks like it came straight off a dreamy mood board. Next, we have to stan the formula. Named “lightweight” for good reason, it's delicate and buildable, and works beautifully if your a less-is-more kind of babe, but it layers up gorgeously, too. First the brand released its Satins collection of shades, which is creamy and moisturising. Then came the Mattes which gives an airy velvety finish we've never seen before. As for the shade range, it's modern and covetable with a range of nudes and sophisticated reds, pinks and berries.
- GLAMOUR-approved shades: Power, Baby, 1990, Classic.
- Tester: Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's Beauty Commerce Writer.
.jpg)
Best nude lipstick
Why we love it: Long-lasting? Hydrating? Nourishing? Yes, yes and yes. You can almost never go wrong with Charlotte Tilbury products, especially when it comes to the iconic Pillow Talk range. The Pillow Talk Matte Revolution lip kit is one of the best nude-pink lipsticks around, and attention has been paid to undertone with Pillow Talk Original, Pillow Talk Medium and Pillow Talk Intense. We loved how each shade was able to complement a variety of skin tones, delivering a natural, soft-blurred finish.
- GLAMOUR-approved shades: Pillow Talk Original, Pillow Talk Medium, Pillow Talk Intense.
- Tester: Georgia Trodd, GLAMOUR's Senior Commerce Writer.
.jpg)
Best matte lipstick
Why we love it: It's hardly a round-up of the best lipsticks unless MAC is at the top of the list. This matte lipstick has a rich and creamy formula that coats your lips in highly pigmented hues, leaving behind a no-shine finish. You can get it in a range of nude, red, pink and berry undertones, all of which offer up to 10 hours. Trust us, it's easily one of the best lipsticks on the market and a favourite among makeup artists.
- GLAMOUR-approved shades: Whirl, Warm Velvet Teddy, Ruby Woo.
- Tester: Robyn Eugene, GLAMOUR's Social Media Editor.
.jpg)
Best affordable lipstick
Why we love it: At the GLAMOUR office, we're firm believers that quality makeup doesn't always have to come with a premium price tag, and this lipstick from L'Oreal is no exception. Featuring a slim bullet shape, this pigmented formula delivers precise application, and results in a stunning matte finish. We loved how hydrating it felt on the lips as well as the lasting pigment. Long story short, if you're someone who's constantly running out of lipstick, be sure to check this one out and thank us later.
- GLAMOUR-approved shades: Nude Independence, Wood Nonchalant, Rouge Determinance.
- Tester: Shaunelle Harrydass-Clark, GLAMOUR's Intern.
Best long-lasting lipstick
.jpg)
Best long-lasting lipstick
Why we love it: A high-end, richly pigmented lipstick that provides a lightweight matte finish. This formula from Pat McGrath feels so luxurious, thanks to its opaque colour and the incredibly hydrating creamy texture. It's super easy to apply and takes just one stroke to roll onto the lip. We also found that this is genuinely one of the most long-lasting lipsticks we've tried, having tested it for up to 9 hours in total.
- GLAMOUR-approved shades: Matte Trance Femmebot, Matte Trance Full Panic, Matte Trance Vendetta.
- Tester: Neamh Randall, GLAMOUR's Commerce Photo Editor.
Make sure to checkout these Sephora discount codes.
.jpg)
Best satin lipstick
Why we love it: Ever since Lisa Eldridge entered the makeup scene, the GLAMOUR editors can't stop raving about the brand's epic satin lipsticks. Coming in premium-looking packaging, this extra-hydrating formula comes in 14 shades in total, ranging from rosy nudes and pinks to bolder reds and browns – all offering a shiny, skin-like finish that's bound to keep your lips looking nice and moisturised all day long.
- GLAMOUR-approved shades: Kitten Mischief, Spirited Away, Meet me in Berlin.
- Tester: Ali Pantony, GLAMOUR's Website Director.
.jpg)
Best lipstick for a natural look
Why we love it: Perfect if you prefer a more natural-looking finish, this gives a pretty but delicate colour hit that can be built up or blotted down with fingers, plus it nourishes with coconut emollient as it goes. We loved the blurred finish and just how easily it can be blended out and worn with or without a lip liner. Just think about all the exciting lip combos you can pull off with this one – thank us later.
- GLAMOUR-approved shades: Orchid, Papaya, Canyon, Amber.
- Tester: Elle Turner, GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor.
.png)
Best high-shine lipstick
Why we love it: This heads into the cult-favourite lip balm/lip gloss territory, depositing a sheeny, shiny glaze on lips. Despite starting off sheer, you can easily build up the pigment to a statement colour pay-off and we love that it keeps the classic bullet format. The recently reformulated range of shades can easily help you recreate everything form a “barely there” pinky lip to a 90's brown lip and, of course, the classic mauvy nude. Throw in the iconic YSL packaging and we're sold.
- GLAMOUR-approved shades: Cacao No Boundary, Pink Satisfaction, Pink Flush.
- Tester: Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director.
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Lipstick
Why we love it: When this lipstick says “transfer-proof” it means it. It gives a soft, velvety matte finish (that's perfect for a statement lip or a blurred, diffused rosebud lip) and its ambassador, Kendall Jenner, has sold us on the bright red shade, French Kiss.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: 245 French Kiss, 500 Wine Not, 120 Major Crush.
Fenty Beauty Sheer Shiny Lipstick
Why we love it: A great sheer lipstick that can only be compared to your favourite jeans – in other words, it's a perfect go-to for everyday use. It has a lightweight formula that's designed to lock in moisture. It's also sheer, buildable and so-so comfortable to wear. Thanks, RiRi.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: Tang Thang, Makeout Break, Bubble Rum.
Save when you shop for the best lipstick with these Boots discount codes.
Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick
Why we love it: This high-shine liquid lipstick from Maybelline makes sure that your lips stay tinted and supple without running the risk of becoming cracked or flaky. And with up to 16 hours of wear, you can bet that it won't budge either. Its vegan formula also contains both vitamin E and aloe vera to keep your lips hydrated throughout the day.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: Cheeky, Captivated, Wicked.
Why we love it: Ultra-lightweight? Yes. High-intensity? Of course. Comfortable wear? Absolutely. You can't go wrong with this NARS classic, which is formulated with a blend of pure pigments that lock in colour and saturate your lips in the boldest of shades. Each colours is also transfer-resistant and offers full-coverage wear with a long-lasting finish. Plus, there's a red shade for any occasion.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: Dragon Girl, Notorious, Too Hot to Hold.
Make sure to bookmark these LookFantastic discount codes for big savings.
Why we love it: One of the most comfortable lipsticks to wear, thanks to a formula powered by ume flower extract and plant waxes. It's available in 20 different satin shades, all of which come in Chanel's iconic black-and-gold click case. And even if you run out of your favourite shade, you can always go for a refill rather than buying an entirely new lipstick. We love sustainability.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: 812, 832, 868.
