Alyssa Brascia
As editors, we're lucky enough to test hundreds of beauty products, slowly separating the good from the bad, and the good from the best. Whether we're talking about curling irons, perfumes, or something else entirely, we take testing seriously. When we find something that rises above the rest, we introduce it into our own beauty routines. Seriously, though—the highest praise we can give a product is to say, "I use it all the time."
That's the case when it comes to the following 14 lipsticks. They vary by formula, finish, and shade, but they've secured a spot in our theoretical lipstick hall of fame (and collectively, we’ve tested more than 100). They're the ones we wear in Instagram selfies and TikTok videos, the ones we gush about to our friends, and the ones we repurchase over and over again when our tubes run low. Ahead, the 14 tubes we swear by.
The Best Lipsticks, at a Glance:
- Best Overall: Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick
- Best Investment: Louis Vuitton Beauty LV Rouge Matte Lipstick
- Best Matte: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick
- Best Satin: MAC Cosmetics M·A·Cximal Sleek Satin Lipstick
- Best Red: Hérmes Rouge Matte Lipstick
Best Overall: Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick
Pros: Lightweight and hydrating formula
Cons: Color may be too sheer for bold lipstick lovers
Shades: 15 | Finish: Matte, satin | Coverage: Sheer to medium, buildable
The WWW verdict is in: If we had to wear one lipstick for the rest of our lives, it’s Merit’s Signature Lip. Editors fell for this smooth lippie because of its surprisingly hydrating formula, buildable color, and comfortable wear. “I have discolored lips, yet Merit's formula applies flawlessly, especially the shade Tiger, which is my all-time favorite red lipstick,” says former associate editor Yusra Siddiqui. “It's also hydrating, which I don't get from most standard lipsticks! I don't even need to add a gloss on top. It looks perfect as is."
Customer review: “I love this lipstick. It's a bit sheer so you can build up the color, but it's also possible to have a saturated look if desired. It lasts a long time and has a nice feeling like chapstick. Not too shiny and not too matte."
Associate beauty editor Maya Thomas wearing Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick.
Best Investment: Louis Vuitton Beauty LV Rouge Matte Lipstick
Pros: Extremely comfortable, vivid pigmentation, lightweight
Cons: Very pricey
Shades: 55 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Medium to full, buildable
We won’t lie, $160 is steep for a tube of lipstick. But once we got a taste of this Pat McGrath-developed buttery formula, we could at least start to reason with its Everest pricing. Associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia was impressed by the longevity and weightlessness of the formula, the shade Nude Nécessaire kissing her lips with a neutral nude that stayed put despite polishing off a latte. The quality truly shines in the wear of its formula, which offers vivid color in just a few light swipes and feels so weightless that Brascia forgot she was wearing it at all. Its ultra-luxe packaging is a fashion accessory in and of itself, and since it’s refillable, you’ll never need to spend the full price again.
Associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia wearing the Louis Vuitton Beauty LV Rouge Matte Lipstick in Nude Nécessaire.
Best Budget: Milani Color Statement Lipstick
Pros: Lightweight, hydrating formula, diverse shade range
Cons: Not as long-lasting as others
Shades: 6 | Finish: Satin | Coverage: Medium to full, buildable
While lipstick can undoubtedly reach sky-high prices, tubes like this one from Milani prove that high quality formulas don’t always come with hefty price tags. “This lipstick costs a fraction of others I own, yet I love its hydrating formula and satin finish that gives my lips a nice, moisturized look,” says beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock. “It's just a solid, classic lipstick formula, and I love it for that.”
Customer review: “My favorite lipstick line. The matte look isn't one of those that dry your lips, it's like a lip stain without the dryness. Always get compliments and started buying my friends them. I wear this faithfully everyday.”
Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Colour Riche Voluminous Matte Lipstick
Pros: Thin bullet for precise application, pretty pigmentation
Cons: Some say it can be drying.
Shades: 22 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Medium to full, buildable
If you want something dependable at a reasonable price with luxury results, then we’d have to point you in the direction of L'Oréal’s Colour Riche Voluminous Matte Lipstick. “I love that this lipstick has a small and slim bullet for targeted application,” says McLintock. “I have thin lips, so this is much appreciated.” The formula itself is a standout, with a true matte finish and an impressive wear time than can span 16 hours. “For only $14, you can't get much better,” McLintock adds.
Customer review: “Love the shade and matte look of this. Feels great on my lips and doesn't get a cakey look like others do. Highly recommend!”
Best Matte Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick
Pros: Refillable, long-wearing, hydrating matte formula
Cons: None we can think of
Shades: 20 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Medium to full, buildable
"I'm pretty picky about matte lipsticks, but Charlotte Tilbury makes the one I always come back to,” says senior editor Allyson Payer. “It's not super heavy and thick like some matte lipsticks tend to feel, and it's surprisingly moisturizing.” Despite having no trace of glossiness, the formula is comfortable thanks to a blend of vitamin E and nourishing waxes that soothe and treat the lips. Plus, it helps that the luscious shade range is 20 shades wide.
Customer review: “I love the formula, it’s smooth, hydrating, and not sticky. I do reapply often so the staying power doesn’t bother me. I could go through ten of these, it’s my everyday lip product."
Kaitlyn McLintock wearing the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Hollywood Vixen.
Best Satin: MAC Cosmetics M·A·Cximal Sleek Satin Lipstick
Pros: Extensive shade range, comfortable wear, high pigmentation
Cons: May be too bold for sheer formula-lovers
Shades: 36 | Finish: Satin | Coverage: Full
There’s no denying that MAC’s Sleek Satin Lipstick is one of the most iconic tubes of all times. With shades like Fleshpot and Stone dominating the noughties during the first reign of concealer lips (modern day being the second), MAC’s satin formula is one for the ages. “I reach for my multiple MAC shades when I want something comfortable and classic—that in-between place between matte, which can be too drying on my lips, and glossy, which every look simply doesn’t need,” says Brascia.
“I’m obsessed with its high pigmentation, which can be manipulated with a light touch for a just-kissed flush or swiped on for a bolder statement. When I can apply one layer and have a statement-making look, no extra fuss, I’m sold.”
Customer review: “The formula is creamy and glides on easily, depending on how much color I want it can be a one and done or can be built up with multiple swipes… It feels hydrating and comfortable, even wearing it all day, it smooths out my lips and I don't find myself feeling like I need a balm over it.”
Best Velvet: Sisley Paris Phyto-Rouge Velvet Lipstick
Pros: Pumped full of skincare, gorgeous color payoff, sophisticated shade range
Cons: Quite expensive
Shades: 12 | Finish: Velvet | Coverage: Medium to full, buildable
Velvet finishes are the perfect sweet spot between satin and matte: These formulas offer controlled radiance—enough to look like real skin—but never read shiny nor completely matte. This formula in particular earns its expensive price with its skincare-forward ingredients list, including hyaluronic acid, plumping microspheres, vitamin E, and more to make your lips feel as great as they look. “Sisley Paris Phyto-Rouge Velvet Lipstick is my go-to,” swears senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider. “Soft-matte but never cakey. The shade Beige Crush is the perfect raisin shade, I live in it all fall and winter!”
Senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider wearing the Sisley Paris Phyto-Rouge Velvet Lipstick in Beige Crush.
Best Shiny Lipstick: Kosas Wet Stick Moisturizing Shiny Sheer Lipstick
Cons: Less staying power
Shades: 12 | Finish: Glossy | Coverage: Sheer
Payer favors this glossy Kosas stick for its hydrating makeup, which is pumped full of moisturizing squalane and ceramides. “It leaves a pretty, plumping hint of shine, and all of the colors are super wearable since they're sheer,” she says. “I currently have Hot Beach on heavy rotation, and Malibu is in my shopping cart waiting for me to purchase.” However, it’s worth noting that this formula might not last as long as other lipsticks because of its balm-like texture and sheer color payoff, which may not work for people who prefer bold, opaque formulas.
Customer review: "I love the formula, it’s smooth, hydrating, and not sticky. I do reapply often so the staying power doesn’t bother me. I could go through ten of these, it’s my everyday lip product."
Best Hydrating: Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Shine
Pros: Hydrating, high-shine formula, pretty color selection
Cons: Definitely pricey
Shades: 6 | Finish: Glossy | Coverage: Medium, buildable
Glossy and bold with that enviable French-girl ease, the Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Shine is WWW-loved for a few reasons. Though technically a lip balm, these tubes pack a powerful punch—both in color and in hydration. The buildable formula makes it easy to graduate from sheer to medium coverage, but you can ensure that you’ll always have a sleek, high-shine finish with each swipe. If you want that chic, just-kissed look with an extra dose of moisture, then you’ll want to add this Chanel pick to your collection.
Customer review: “Beautiful shade and texture, very light and comfortable to wear. Using a lip liner in a close shade adds some dimension to the look. Like everything else Chanel, it is lovely.”
Former beauty editor Katie Berohn wearing Chanel lipstick.
Best Long-Lasting Lipstick: Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick
Pros: Whipped texture, long-wearing, hydrating formula
Cons: May be too drying for dry lips
Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Full
A durable lipstick is hard to find—and we don’t mean tough packaging. When a lipstick can stay practically pristine despite eating, drinking, and long hours of wear, it’s pretty much priceless. Siddiqui used to prefer tinted balm to lipstick, but turns to this cream lipstick from Rare Beauty when she needs something with staying power. “The texture is unlike anything I've ever seen before—it feels soft on the lip and dries down without being overly matte on the lips,” she says. “It just has the perfect color payoff, so I don't need to reapply constantly."
Customer review: “I really like this lipstick The texture is soft and lightweight, but it still lasts a long time on my lips without drying them out. The finish looks very natural, which makes it perfect for everyday wear. Definitely one of my favorite lip products!”
Best Lightweight: Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick
Pros: Lightweight, surprisingly moisturizing, comfortable wear
Cons: On the pricey side
Shades: 16 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Full
WWW editors haved waxed poetic about this “suede” lipstick for several reasons: It has gorgeous, effortless color payoff, featherlight texture, and seriously chic packaging. (No, really. There’s a mirror on the inside of the lipstick cap.) Brascia favors this velvety-matte lipstick over others she owns for its ultra-lightweight formula and impressive pigment, only needing one swipe to get a sumptuous layer of color. “I love that this formula doesn’t settle into the natural cracks of my lips,” she says. “It’s comfortable enough to wear all day without my lips getting dry, and half the time, I forget it’s on at all.”
Customer review: “I’m not a lipstick girl and I’m obsessed with this lipstick—I have 3 shades, Je Rêve, Pinch and Piqué—and they are all fabulous. Matte yet moisturizing, it’s a must have!”
Brascia wearing the Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in Piqué.
Best Red: Hérmes Rouge Matte Lipstick
Pros: Completely opaque formula, matte finish, not overly drying
Cons: Very expensive
Shades: 1 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Full
“Hérmes Rouge Casaque is the best red of all time!” McLintock exclaims. “Expensive but extremely worth it IMO. So pigmented, creamy, and long-lasting.” What about this lipstick incites such excitement? Despite its high price point ($81 isn’t chump change), this award-winning formula is a marvel thanks to “modern matte formula,” as McLintock calls it. “Even though it's a matte formula, it's not overly drying, and it doesn't settle into fine lines or dry spots,” she elaborates. “Every time I wear it, I get major compliments. It's officially my favorite red lipstick."
Customer review: "It was expensive but I wanted to try it since it had marvelous reviews. It lived up to its high marks. Excellent color and stays on a long time."
McLintock Wearing Hermès Matte Lipstick.
Best Everyday: Makeup by Mario SuperSatin Lipstick
Pros: Hydrating formula, easy application, gorgeous shade options
Cons: None we can think of
Shades: 18 | Finish: Satin | Coverage: Full
Mario Dedivanovic, MUA to the stars and founder of Makeup by Mario, makes one of the best satin lipstick formulas on the market—but one of the artist’s self-proclaimed favorites is the warm rose shade Bronx Baby. Brascia, too, finds herself swiping on this shade more often than not because of its universal flattery, shining on fair to deep skin tones and cool to warm undertones. The price is amiable, which makes her feel less guilty about throwing it in her bag every day, and her entire family uses it, too. “One Christmas, my mom, grandma, and I all wore different shades of this lipstick to see how it held up through hours of eating, drinking, blotting, etcetera,” she says. “We all were amazed by how comfortable and durable it was—my grandma keeps going back to Sephora to buy new shades.”
Customer review: “The formula feels so good on my lips; I have no issues with reapplying it if I moisturize my lips prior! The color is cute too, I like it for everyday wear.”
Best Liquid: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur Liquid Lipstick
Pros: Lightweight, opaque, long-wearing, hydrating
Cons: Could have a larger shade range
Shades: 8 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Full
Former associate beauty editor Shawna Hudson prefers this liquid lipstick for her everyday look. "It's super comfortable and hydrating but dries down to a matte finish,” she gushes. Its powder-blur technology delivers a comfortable matte finish to the lips without drying out the skin below—a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid injected into the formula to offer hours of hydrated wear. “Plus, the color is honestly just *chef's kiss*,” she adds.
Customer review: “Absolutely obsessed with this lip matte liquid lip!!!! Like so obsessed I made a video about it and sent it to my girlfriend and a group chat because they all need it too.”
What to Look For in the Perfect Lipstick
J Guerra, a celebrity makeup artist, has a few guidelines to share for choosing the right lipstick for your skin tone.
- Undertone: "First, determine if your undertone is generally cool, warm, or neutral. For those with cool undertones, lipsticks with blue in them or purplish hints like berry shades, true reds, and mauve hues can be stunning. Those with warm undertones may look best in corals, brick reds, and warmer shades of pink and brown. Neutral undertones can pull off most shades, but it's still essential to strike a balance depending on their exact skin tone," he says.
- Natural lip color: "Lipsticks can appear differently on pigmented lips compared to lighter lips. Choose natural shades that are one or two tones deeper than your own lip color for a more natural lip look. For deeper skin tones or pigmented lips, opt for a warmer lipstick shade than you normally would—this helps to subtly color-correct the dark pigmentation and gives a truer color payoff. This is especially true for sheer lipsticks, as some of the lip color will show through the lipstick and could change the color a bit," he says. If you want to block out your natural lip color, opt for matte, full-coverage lipsticks. Guerra says these will offer the best color payoff.
- Hair and eye color: Finally, consider your hair and eye color. "For instance, fiery reds might pop on redheads, while berry shades can beautifully complement dark hair and eyes," Guerra says. No matter what, though, Guerra recommends doing what he calls a daylight check. "Always check the lipstick shade in natural daylight since store lighting can sometimes be deceiving!" he adds.
If all else fails, turn to the internet and experts for help. "In today's age of social media, there are countless reviews, swatch images, and even videos available. They can show how different shades look on various skin tones. It's a valuable resource for getting a ballpark idea when starting out on a lipstick journey. Lastly, don't shy away from consulting with the professionals! Makeup artists often have a trained eye for what might look best, taking into consideration lip and skin tone, eye and hair color, and your overall style," he says.
What is the best lipstick for aging lips?
If we had to pick a lipstick for mature skin, we’d go with the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet. This matte-finish lipstick was recommended by Marie-Laure Fournier, president of Fournier PR + Consulting, for women over 50 who still want to rock a stunning ruby lip. “At 50 years old, you can still love your red lipstick, but you need to rethink the color of the red lipstick depending on your skin tones and your teeth colors," Fournier previously told WWW. “At 50 years old, you go to Armani or Chanel.”
What is the best lipstick that stays on?
For long-wearing lipstick, look no further than the Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick. Editors voted this liquid lipstick as the best long-wearing formula because of its fast-drying, yet comfortable formula that won’t budge for hours, offering the most wear with each swipe.
How We Chose
After testing more than 100 tubes of lipsticks in our beauty team members' collective careers, we decided on the 14 best lipsticks worth our readers' money based on formula, comfort, pigmentation, and price—offering options for every budget. Then, we reached out to celebrity makeup artists to get their advice on how to pick the right formula and shade for your specific needs. We continue to update this piece as new and wonderful lipsticks are launched, tested, and approved by us.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
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