These 10 Lipstick Brands Are Iconic, so I Pinpointed the Best Shades From Each

When it comes to the very best lipsticks, I've tried just about every single one. I am a lipstick person through and through, and I have upwards of 100 tubes in my personal collection.

It's no secret that some lipstick brands are better than others. If you're wondering what sets a lipstick brand apart from the rest, it comes down to a few different factors. A lipstick truly deserves a place in your makeup drawer if it's long-wearing and highly pigmented and has a formula that doesn't smear or flake. Not only that, but just like every other makeup product, the shade range is important. Lipstick brands should offer inclusive shade ranges that work across all skin tones. 

Among a sea of brands that make lipsticks, these 10 stand out from the rest. Keep reading for the absolute best lipstick brands that are out there, and get ready to up your lipstick game. 

1. Charlotte Tilbury

All of Charlotte Tilbury's lipsticks are nothing short of fantastic, but the cult-favorite Pillow Talk shade has become iconic. According to the brand, it's the best-selling lipstick in the U.S. prestige market—one sells every single minute. Pillow Talk is the ultimate nude. The dusty-pink nude manages to look good on every skin tone, and the same goes for most Charlotte Tilbury lip colors. Plus, the brand has tons of different lipsticks to choose from, so there's truly something for everyone. 

2. Armani Beauty

Armani makes lipsticks with a wide range of shades and tons of different variations. Whether you want a liquid lipstick or a more traditional bullet, Armani's formulas are extremely long-wearing and pigmented. Its new Lip Power lipsticks stay on through pretty much everything—coffee, a meal, a night out… You name it. Its other formulas are just as good. 

3. Maybelline

If you're looking for a solid drugstore lipstick, Maybelline is one of the best. There's a reason so many of its formulas have gone viral on TikTok. If you're looking for a lipstick that will last 12+ hours, Maybelline has your back. Maybelline's lipstick formulas perform super well, and the price point (often under $10!) is tough to beat. 

4. Nars

Nars is one of those lipstick brands that feels incredibly familiar and approachable. Odds are, you've tried a lipstick from the brand before. The formulas are buttery, highly pigmented, long-lasting, and—importantly—easy to use. 

5. Fenty Beauty

Just like everything else from the brand, Fenty's lip products are incredibly high performing. When it comes to lipstick, Fenty's liquid lipsticks go on like butter and stay on. Its bullets are refillable and come in nudes that are designed for absolutely every skin tone. 

6. Pat McGrath Labs

It's no shock that Pat McGrath Labs' lipsticks would be as good as they are. Every Pat McGrath makeup product is both innovative and high performing. In particular, the brand's matte formulas outshine most other matte lipsticks on the market. They're comfortable, have an incredibly wide shade range, and wear like a dream. 

7. Dior

There's nothing more sophisticated than pulling a Dior lipstick out of your bag. Dior formulas are tough to beat. Though they come at a higher price point, they're well worth the money, particularly if you wear a lot of lipstick and want to invest in a nude or pink shade that you'll reach for constantly. 

8. MAC

MAC lipsticks have been staples in every makeup lover's collection for years. If you're looking for intensely pigmented formulas that will wear through whatever you throw at them, go with MAC—there's a reason they're so popular among drag queens! There are also endless shades and finishes to choose from. 

9. Covergirl

At this point, Covergirl lipsticks have reached icon status, and the best part is that most of them are under $10. 

10. Chanel

Chanel is the little black dress of the lipstick world. A Chanel lipstick is basically the beauty equivalent of a Chanel bag—it's effortlessly chic, it goes with everything, and it's extremely well-made. The brand's lipstick formulas are nothing short of incredible. Believe me when I say that no one does red lipstick like Chanel.