I love lipstick. In my opinion, it’s one of the most transformative types of makeup one can buy from any makeup store or at any makeup counter. It's always been a way for me to let my personality and mood shine through. Most women like to use makeup to enhance their features by creating a "natural" look, with flushed cheeks, glossed lips, and lined eyes. That's nice, but it takes time and sometimes, no one even knows you're wearing makeup. With lipstick though, people know, and they're not mad about it, either. A pop of color on the lip can convey a lot about a woman, and I know I tend to feel extra fierce when wearing it.
A nude lip can add the perfect final touch to a dramatic eye look, or a lip-enhancing embellishment to a bare, or almost bare, face. Dark lip colors add a sultry, mysterious and stylish mood to any outfit. With a red lip, a classically sexy look can be recreated; with a brown one, we can bring back our inner ’90s babe. There are so many other lip colors for us to play with — the lipstick world is our oyster.
But one of the most annoying things about lipstick is that it can move around a lot. Apply a beautiful, full-bodied red in the morning, and if not careful, it will be all over the face or even worse, the teeth, by end of day. Even with other colors, if the lipstick isn't a special formula, it will disappear after an hour. Who wants to have to constantly check if their lipstick is on and reapply all day? Who has the time? Not me. Today, we will explore a bunch of long-wearing lipsticks, some that claim to last all day, and others I've actually tried and know to be long-wearing.
Too Faced Melted Chocolate Liquified Long-Wear Lipstick
A favorite in my collection, this long-wearing lipstick is truly unique. It applies with a squeeze tube and felt tip, which perfectly distributes the product. The actual lipstick does not really dry down, it has a soft, satin finish, a chocolatey smell, and yet, it lasts longer than any other satin lipstick I've tried. I have gone to bed with this lipstick still on my lips after applying it at least six hours earlier.
Too Faced Melted Chocolate Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Chocolate Cherries ($21, Too Faced)
NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick
This super comfortable nude brown lipstick is my everyday color and formula of choice. I love it because of how comfortable and light it feels on my lips and also how flattering the color is. It takes a little bit to dry, but for me, that's a plus because when I'm rushing, I don't apply my makeup as neatly as I want it to. The slow dry time gives me a moment to fix things. Lip products that dry too fast make errors all the more difficult to erase. Interestingly, although this lipstick is thin and lightweight, its also waterproof, so even after a salad and a drink, the color will be there.
NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Club Hopper ($7, NYX Cosmetics)
MAC Cosmetics Liquid Lip Color
MAC has three formulas of long-lasting, matte lipsticks; matte, retro matte, and liquid retro matte. I've tried them all, as MAC is one of my go-to brands. This Liquid Retro Matte formula claims to last up to eight hours. I find that on its own, it doesn't last any longer than MAC's classic matte formula, but with the MAC primer and lip liner, it has more of a fighting chance.
MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lip Color in High Drama ($21, MAC)
Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick
Isn't this shade of color gorgeous? Before Dose of Colors ventured out into all of its influencer collaborations and creating eye shadow palettes, the company was known for its liquid lipsticks. All the beauty blogs would rave about its lipsticks — the quality as well as the wide array of enticing and distinctive colors.
Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Extra Saucy ($18, Dose of Colors)
Rani Cosmetics Sparked Dazzling Liquid Lipstick
These liquid lipsticks are special in a few ways. First, they are actually from an up-and-coming indie line, started by YouTuber Eshani, better known as TotalMakeupJunkie101. Second, they are matte, but contain different colored sparkles. This makes them somewhat contradictory — shimmery, yet matte. Somehow, this experimental fusion works!
Rani Cosmetics Sparked Dazzling Liquid Lipstick in Hindi ($20, Rani Cosmetics)
Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint
This interestingly packaged liquid lipstick describes itself as a "longwear fluid lip color" in the "perfect universal red." It also claims only one stroke is needed for the whole lip and after application, we can wear it for 12 hours straight! This product only comes in this gold-toned red, for the moment.
Fenty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Uncensored ($24, Fenty Beauty)
NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment
NARS is another one of those brands, like MAC, where I just trust the products. Over the years, the company has become known for its quality products — and higher prices — so I expect a lot from the Powermatte Lip Pigment.
NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in Slow Ride ($26, Blue Mercury)
Stila Stay All Day Liquid
The Stila Stay All Day Lipstick was one of the first products I thought about adding to my list for this article. Some of the makeup reviewers I consider trustworthy — but who really knows — love this formula and constantly talk about its staying power. For example, in this wear test by Stephanie Nicole, she does multiple check-ins throughout an eight-hour day to demonstrate how well the lip product wears. Spoiler alert: At the end, it looks near-perfect. The NARS website claims only six hours of continuous wear, but it seems capable of doing more than that. The product also contains vitamin E and avocado oil, which add to the comfortable, moisturizing feel on the lips.
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Carina ($22, Beautylish)
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick
Despite the recent fire and drama Kat has found herself in, this lipstick is renowned for being long-lasting — it's a cult favorite. It also comes in tons of shades, both classic and nontraditional. I personally own this one in the shade Crucifix.
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Orale ($20, Kat Von D)
MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Lipstick
This lipstick is a classic. Widely known for the cult favorite shade Ruby Woo (not pictured, but everyone knows it), this formula is definitely long-lasting and intensely matte. With that in mind, one will want to line the lips, maybe with a matching lip pencil, and before that, make sure to exfoliate and condition the lips (I just condition with lip balm, and exfoliate with my toothbrush). Once that's done, we're good for the day.
MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Lipstick in Runway Hit ($19, MAC)
Danessa Myricks 24-Hour ColorFix
Within the name alone, Danessa Myircks' ColorFix, makes big claims. I personally don't know why anyone needs to wear makeup for 24 hours. But if that's the goal, then it should be a breeze for this multi-use, waterproof cream to stay put at least while we're out running errands!
Danessa Myricks 24 Hour ColorFix in Latte ($18, Danessa Myricks Beauty)
Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Lipstick
One of two formulas of long wearing lipstick by Too Faced, this formula plays no games. I tried it on the other day at Sephora, and not until later in the day when I got home, was I able to scrub it off of my hand. This product comes in a nice assortment of wearable shades, and this cute packaging.
Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Matte Long Wear Lipstick in Suck It ($21, Too Faced)
Coloured Raine Liquid Lipstick
The Coloured Raine website describes this metallic lipstick as a "liquid lip paint that dries matte leaving your lips vibrant for hours." It also claims it "won't budge a bit unless oil based product is used for removal." Those are some serious claims. Coloured Raine is also known for its wide array of liquid lipstick colors and shades, with tons of choices in metallic and matte finishes.
Coloured Raine Liquid Lipstick in Kotton Kandy ($17, Coloured Raine)
Clinique Long Last Lipstick
I thought this product looked interesting, as the product picture and description sort of make it seem closer to a balm or softer lip formula. Despite that, and its claim to be moisturizing, it also promises that its "long-wearing" and "won't feather, creep, stain or dry out." Sounds too good to be true!
Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Sugared Maple ($19, Clinique)
Beauty Bakerie Matte Lip Whip
The Beauty Bakerie lip whips are some of the first products I saw from the brand when it was "born" years ago. A short video of the company's lipsticks being run under water without budging went viral. Generally, Beauty Bakerie is known for having interesting formulas and long-wearing products that extend to face and cheek products. Not to worry, though, there's plenty of instruction on its website teaching us how to apply these one-of-a-kind lipsticks.
Beauty Bakerie Matte Lip Whip in Take Me for Pomegranate ($20, Beauty Bakerie)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick
Anastasia Beverly Hills has so many great lip colors in its liquid lipstick formula. This hot pink is a favorite of mine, and as you can see from the photos, although it is matte, it doesn't completely dry down without any sheen. To help this lipstick to look and feel natural and comfortable while clinging to your lips all day. Applying this primer before will help. I own the primer and I use it with most liquid lipsticks to keep my lips smooth and fresh looking.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Rio ($20, Beautylish)
Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick
This lipstick product by Rihanna's Fenty Beauty was released in early 2018. The product claims to give us "all- day intensity and a weightless matte finish." Most matte lipsticks stay a long time on the lips, but all day sounds really great. I especially enjoy all 14 of the funky colors this formula comes in and the playful shade names (e.g. PMS, Griselda, and Spanked).
Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in One Of The Boyz ($18, Fenty Beauty)
Tarte Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint
The name of this lipstick is accurate. Tarte's Quick Dry Lip Paint is definitely matte and definitely quick drying. I own the purple color pictured. It does dry down matte, which contributes to the long lasting aspect, but if paired with a good lip balm or lip conditioner, it presents no problem.
Tarte Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in Friyay ($20, Tarte)
EM Cosmetics Infinite Lip Cloud
Michelle Phan is known as a veteran in the makeup world; a pioneer, who paved the way for many makeup artists and influencers after her. The creator of Ipsy also owns a budding cosmetics line, which includes this long-wearing lip product. She describes her inspiration for this product on her website:
"When I asked the beauty community what they wanted EM to create, the overwhelming response was "a non-drying liquid lipstick!". This inspired us to create our beautiful, rich, but comfortable formula. By blending the lip-cocooning, line-filling properties of a lip primer with the color saturation of a liquid lipstick, Infinite Lip Cloud was born."
EM Cosmetics Infinite Lip Cloud in Ultramarine Violet ($16, Em Cosmetics)
Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipstick
For my rocking-and-rolling moms, this super affordable matte lip comes in this truly beautiful, deep, black color, Friday — and an array of other shades for all sorts of personalities. At only $7 a piece, Colourpop claims its ultra matte formula "is very long-wearing and 100% kiss-proof AKA no transferring!" Our kids might be OK with letting us kiss them in the mornings wearing this one!
Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipstick in Friday ($7, Colourpop)
