12 Lipsticks That Don’t Come Off (Trust Us, We Tried Them)
Who wants to reapply lipstick every 30 minutes? Not us. Which is why we went on the hunt for the best long-lasting lipsticks that literally don’t budge (no matter how many S’Well bottle refills, lunch dates and happy hour spritzes we put it through). From barely-there markers to liquid mattes, here are 12 formulas that stay exactly where you apply them.
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1. Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet Liquid Lipstick
This is the liquid lipstick for people who hate how lipstick feels. Four times thinner than traditional lip products, the formula is weightless, smudge-proof and ultra-matte. But don’t worry, its color is twice as intense thanks to an innovative gradual evaporation process that allows the pigments to intensify while drying. Expect about eight hours of wear from one swipe, without any of that dry, flaky feeling.
2. Bite Beauty Outburst Longwear Lip Stain
Technically a lip stain, this wears more like a lipstick thanks to its super bold color payoff. Our senior beauty editor swears by this Bite Beauty formula for its clean, hydrating ingredients like passionflower oil (which nurtures lips with vitamins A and C), coconut oil (seals in moisture) and sunflower seed wax (locks in the bold shade, all day long). Plus, the stick applicator is easy to use, so you don’t risk unintentionally overlining your lips.
3. Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color
With over 4,000 positive reviews on Sephora alone, Rihanna’s cult-favorite lip color lives up to all the hype. It boasts a weightless, long-wearing consistency with a soft-matte finish that stays put. You’ll find shades ranging from the perfect universal red (Uncensored) to a deep, sultry purple (Undefeated) and even a super edgy, smooth black (Uninvited). Not only are all the shades head-turning, they’re also made to flatter all skin tones. Let’s hear it for Riri!
4. Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment
The secret to a matte lipstick that doesn’t flake or crack? A formula that moves with your lips instead of just sitting on top of them. This liquefied pigment has a zero-gravity feel and super flexible hold, so it’s just as comfortable as wearing nothing at all. The color goes on bold and locks onto lips when dry, creating a smudge-proof look that you won’t have to think twice about. Not to mention the precise doe-foot applicator makes application a breeze, resulting in unreal color payoff.
5. Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip
Never judge a lipstick by its price tag. This $7 fan-favorite is proof that good things come in really affordable packages. From a thin, lightweight feel to an intense dose of color, this ultra-matte lipstick is our style editor’s go-to for a reason. She swears by it over any other pricey option and loves how it stays painted on (forever and ever). With its transfer-proof technology, it’s hard to argue with her.
6. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick
We praise Stila’s Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick like we do its Eyeliner, because it actually does what it says. This all-time classic adheres to lips for a marathon 12 hours while providing a hit of hydration (thanks to vitamin E and avocado oil) to keeps your kisser from feeling parched.
7. NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick
If we’re going to commit to amethyst lipstick, we want it to stay put. And this drugstore standby does just that. As its name indicates, the avocado oil- and vitamin E-infused concoction goes on velvety soft from the first swipe. Go on, drink all the La Croix you want, because it’s also totally waterproof. Not the biggest purple lipstick fan? This Liquid Suede Cream comes in additional muted shades, including mauve, nude and even pink.
8. Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Liquid Lipstick
Finally, some Chanel we can (almost) afford. This glides on smoothly like a lip gloss but leaves behind none of the stickiness. Once it dries, it delivers a velvety texture that looks luminous but never flat. Whipped up with a combination of polymers (to hold color onto lips), waxes, lip-nourishing plant oils and protecting antioxidants, it’s like skin-care for your lips. And this Parisian-chic tube is totally worth the price tag (at least in our opinion).
9. Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick
Our favorite thing about this lipstick line? It comes in a range of enduring textures (from matte to metallic), which can be layered for a totally custom look. Mix and match however you want, because its Advanced Polymer Technology keeps this lipstick exactly where you need it—no feathering in sight.
10. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick
With so many lipsticks out in the world, reviews mean everything. And this one has over 14,000 glowing comments on Sephora. It’s easy to see why: the creamy and pigmented formula glides on like a gloss, but dries to be flexible and matte—without skimping on nourishing ingredients.Kat Von D’s version is infused with vitamin E and sunflower oil for smudge-proof color that also keeps your pout feeling hydrated all day long. Also, it’s made by a celebrity tattoo artist…enough said.
11. Maybelline New York Super Stay Matte Ink Lip Color
We’d be willing to place bets on this formula as the best long-lasting drugstore lipstick around. It’s pigmented, it’s smooth and it locks onto lips for all-day wear, regardless of how many Swedish Fish you snack on at your desk. The unique, pointed applicator also makes it super easy to create a defined lip line without relying on a lip pencil.
12. TPSY Dash Lip Marker
Forget what you know about typical mattes, because this lip marker feels like you’re wearing absolutely nothing on your lips. The water-based stain goes on and dries almost instantly, leaving behind a kiss of natural, buildable color that won’t fade or feather. Layer a lip balm or clear gloss on top, as you would on bare lips, and it won’t affect the color or finish. We like to think of it as a low-maintenance must-have for those no-makeup days.
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