We like to think of the best lipsticks as the ultimate accessories. One swipe can easily elevate a white T-shirt and jeans, a wedding guest dress or your go-to “corporate girl” fit. It's true that the lip choices available to us have multiplied, particularly over the last couple of years, with lip oils, tints, lip liners and glosses offering up some pretty impressive competition, but then again, lipsticks have gotten 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 that are practically a lip gloss in form of a bullet, there's a lipstick for everyone, no matter what tickles your fancy.
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.
Best lipsticks at a glance – our top picks
- Best lipstick overall: Merit Signature Lip
- Best nude lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick - Pillow Talk
- Best matte lipstick: MAC Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick
- Best pigmented lipstick: Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick
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Products displayed on the shelves courtesy of Oliver Bonas and Assouline.
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 gate-keep 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.
How to choose the right lipstick - shade, formula and finish
Ah, the age-old question – how on Earth do you go about choosing the right lipstick? To put it simply, it really depends on a variety of factors.
- Your preference: Are you someone who's no stranger to dealing with chapped lips? You may want to avoid moisture-stripping matte formulas as those may dry out the skin on your lips that much further. Are you someone who dislikes the glossy/sticky feel but doesn't quite enjoy the matte finish? Settle for something in-between, like the semi-matte blurring formulas with a skin-like finish (Charlotte Tilbury, we're looking at you).
- The bold shades: Unsure whether you could rock a bold red lipstick? The key is in the details. If you're thinking about wearing a bold shade as part of your everyday ensemble, make sure that the rest of your makeup doesn't take away from the key element (you may want to opt for a soft bronze eye look with minimal eyeliner and a softer base). Going all out for a special ocassion? Feel free to experiment and complement your lipstick with either a fun gloss (shimmer or high-shine, totally up to you) or a darker lip liner for a gradient effect.
- Everyday lip colour: Finding the perfect nude lipstick will never get easier, however, if you know your undertones and if you get your lip combos right, you simply can't go wrong. First, try to determine your undertones: are you a cool-toned girly or someone who looks better in warmer hues? The best way to tell is to take a look at your foundation and check whether you tend to opt for something with a pink undertone, warm or neutral. Based on this, picking your nude shade will be ten times easier. And don't forget to play around with different lip pencils, lip glosses, lip oils and lip tints to uncover new ways to rock your everyday lip.
How we tested the best lipsticks:
Throughout the years, the GLAMOUR team has tested hundreds of lipsticks, ranging from matte and transfer-proof formulas to the more hydrating and satin iterations that are staples in our everyday routines. When reviewing and rating each lipstick formula, we've considered everything from the pigment to the finish, packaging, price point, and the shade range. Find out more about how we test.
The best lipsticks for every preference, ranked:
Merit Signature Lip Matte
Best lipstick overall
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, 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.
