15 best lipsticks that deserve a spot in your makeup bag
The best lipsticks will act as the ultimate accessory. One swipe can elevate a white T-shirt and jeans, an evening outfit or a cute daytime co-ord. It's true that the lip choices available to us have multiplied, particularly over the last couple of years, with lip oils, tints, liners and glosses offering up some impressive competition, but then again, lipsticks have got 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, there's a lipstick for everyone, no matter what camp you're in.
Best lipsticks at a glance – our top picks
- Best matte lipstick: MAC Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick, £25, Look Fantastic
- Best lipstick lightweight lipstick: Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick, £28, Merit
- Best transfer-proof lipstick: L'Oreal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Lipstick, £11.99, Boots
- Best lipstick for every day: Fenty Beauty Sheer Shiny Lipstick, £19, Boots
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.
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 gatekeep 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.
The power of the lip.
Keep scrolling to discover the best lipsticks, from old classics to new favourites...
Best lightweight lipstick
Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick, £28, Merit
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, the lipstick is less pigmented than others we've tried, but in a really good way. 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: Baby, 1990, Classic
Best lipstick overall
MAC Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick, £25, Look Fantastic
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, Velvet Teddy, Ruby Woo.
Make sure to bookmark these LookFantastic discount codes to save.
Best high-shine lipstick
YSL Loveshine Candy Glaze, £36, YSL
Why we love it: This heads into lipgloss territory, depositing a sheeny, shiny glaze on lips, but despite starting off sheer you can build up the pigment to a statement colour pay-off and we love that it keeps the classic bullet format.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: 15 Showcasing Nude, 05 Pink Satisfaction, 03 Cacao No Boundary
Best transfer-proof lipstick
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Lipstick, £11.99, Boots
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
Best everyday lipstick
Fenty Beauty Sheer Shiny Lipstick, £19, Boots
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.
Best high street matte lipstick
Revlon ColorStay Suede Ink Lipstick, £9.99, Boots
Why we love it: This gives velvety matte, transfer proof lipstick in a single swipe, plus the shade range feels modern with multiple nudes, brights and reds.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: That Girl, Pure Talent, Gut Instinct
Best lip blush
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.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: Orchid, Canyon, Amber
Best glossy liquid lipstick
Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick, £11.99, Boots
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
Best refillable lipstick
Dior Addict Lipstick, £78, Dior
Why we love it: Sustainable and stylish, the Dior Addict refills enable you to choose a case you'll want to keep forever, then pair it with your perfect shade (there's plenty to choose from). If you prefer a smooth, creamy finish, this formula delivers.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: 616 Nude Mitzah, 412 Dior Vibe, 661 Dioriviera
Best ultra matte lipstick
NARS Powermatte Lipstick, £27, LookFantastic
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.
Best matte lipstick
Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick, £24, Sephora
Why we love it: Huda Beauty's matte lipstick is a must-have, especially if you're looking for a highly pigmented product that flatters any skin tone. Each shade comes with a custom formula that delivers full-coverage application and is enriched with nourishing ingredients such as sweet almond oil to ensure that it glides on smoothly and hydrates your lips as you wear it.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: Anniversary, Promotion Day, Ladies Night.
Looking for savings? Make sure to checkout these Sephora discount codes.
Best satin lipstick
Chanel Rouge Allure L'Extrait, £46, Sephora UK
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.
Looking for savings? Make sure to checkout these Sephora discount codes.
Best pigmented lipstick
Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick, £36, Sephora
Why we love it: A high-end, richly pigmented lipstick provides a lightweight matte finish. This lipstick from Pat McGrath feels so luxurious, thanks to its opaque colour and hydrating creamy texture. It's incredibly easy to apply and takes just one stroke to roll onto the lip.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: Matte Trance Femmebot, Matte Trance Full Panic, Matte Trance Vendetta.
Make sure to checkout these Sephora discount codes.
Best nude lipstick
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Original Matte Revolution Lipstick, £28, Charlotte Tilbury
Why we love it: Long-lasting? Hydrating? Nourishing? Yes, yes and yes. You can almost never go wrong with Charlotte Tilbury products, and this lipstick is no exception. The Matte Revolution lipstick 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.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: Pillow Talk Original, Pillow Talk Medium, Pillow Talk Intense
Save big when shopping for lipsticks using these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best organic lipstick
HIGHR Collective Lipstick in Bravado, £24, HIGHR
Why we love it: Who said beauty can't be environmentally conscious? What separates HIGHR lipsticks from the rest of the bunch is that each product is made of 71% organic ingredients, which includes sustainably sourced vanilla, as well as organic cocoa and shea butter. It feels lightweight on your lips too and provides a pleasant nourishing effect with every application.
GLAMOUR-approved shades: Lips On Acid, Blue Jeans, Rhapsody 21.
