There's nothing quite like finding the perfect lipstick. A lipstick may be just the right shade to complete your favorite outfit, or in a hue that compliments your natural look for both daytime and nighttime wear. However, finding the right color may not be enough because you’ll also want your lipstick to feel as amazing as it looks and, potentially, to last throughout your evening. There are plenty of standards by which one can measure the best lipstick. Of course, true makeup connoisseurs know that, as with most good things, you can’t have just one.

In the past, lipstick came in a limited number of shades and was made by a limited number of manufacturers. Now, however, you can get lipstick in almost any color from emerald green to bright yellow. While some lip colors are more common than others, even today, the manufacturer pool has also significantly expanded. You can now find lipsticks that hydrate your lips, lipsticks that are extra long-lasting, and even lipsticks that change their color to customize to your mood! Even better than the choices? The availability. And we've made it even easier by rounding up the best 10 we could find and reviewing them all.

If you’re on the market for a new lipstick, be it for a special occasion or for daily wear, we have you covered with plenty of choices for best lipstick. Our diverse selection is sure to have something to pique your interest!

Don’t be fooled by the applicator, Stila’s Stay All Day long lasting lipstick is not glossy or flimsy. Instead, Stila delivers bold, long lasting color that will keep up with your busy schedule.

One of the biggest downsides to a lot of great lipsticks is the reapplication process. The idea that one must constantly reapply lipstick, because so many lipsticks tend to transfer, is so common that it’s all but become a cultural trope. After all, most of us are used to carrying out lipstick, and maybe two or three just in case, in our bag in order to ensure that our lips maintain the color that we’d chosen in the beginning of the night. Likewise, we can often rely on using our lipstick to mark our glass at a party.

With Stila, however, you won’t have to make a quick stop to ensure that your lipstick hasn’t faded. Stila gives you twelve hours of full, creamy-matte coverage that won’t transfer or stain. You’ll need to label your glass, or keep in in hand if you’re wearing this lip color because you won’ be able to look for that lipstick stain- which really is a good thing!

But wait, the price of long-lasting lipstick is often chapped, dry lips. Fortunately, Stila is enriched with Vitamin E and avocado oil to help ensure that your lips stay moisturized throughout the day.

Stila comes in a great variety of vibrant colors and, in case you need another reason to consider this for the running of best lipstick, they’ve recently gained cruelty-free status!

Key Features
  • Long-lasting lipstick
  • The pop of color to last throughout your day
  • Matte lipstick
Specifications
  • Package Size: 4.9 x 0.6 x 0.6 inches ; 0.32 ounces
  • Finish: Matte
  • Coverage: Full
  • Number of Shades: 20
  • Important Ingredients: Vitamin E
Pros
  • Stays on very well
  • Lipstick stays on lips- doesn't transfer to napkins etc.,
Cons
  • Hard to fix if you mess up
  • May dry out your lips a little bit

Maybelline New York Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick has earned Amazon’s award for best formulation thanks to its hydrating, color-rich formula. With this lipstick, you don’t have to choose between vibrant colors and soft, kissable lips. The color selection and potency is why we’ve put Maybelline in the running for best lipstick as well.

One of the biggest challenges for lipstick shoppers is whether or not the lipstick will look the same on their lips as it does in the advertisement. While skin tones must always be considered, Maybelline’s highly pigmented formula delivers the splash of color that you’d expect- instead of a paler, more washed out version that’s common among other lipstick brands.

Maybelline’s lipstick comes in 20 super-saturated shades including classic rich ruby. The tubes are small and easy to carry in your purse for touch ups. The lipstick doesn’t transfer easily, but it can come off and transfer when you eat or drink. User recommended trick to keep your lipstick going: use a matching lipliner to increase durability.

Grab two or three of your favorite shades to complete any daytime, nighttime or special event makeup look with amazing, vibrant colors.

If you’re looking for something reliable, Maybelline New York manufactures a full range of cosmetics and sells worldwide. They were acquired by L’Oreal in 1996, and subsribe to many of the same policies. Unfortunately, this also means that Maybelline is not a cruelty free brand, which may deter more conscious consumers.

Key Features
  • Creamy texture with a burst of color
  • Non-drying formula
  • 20 super-saturated shades
Specifications
  • Package Size: 0.8 x 0.8 x 2.9 inches ; 0.16 ounces
  • Finish: Matte
  • Coverage: Long lasting
  • Number of Shades: 20
  • Important Ingredients: Bold pigment
Pros
  • Great color intensity
  • Won't dry out your lips
Cons
  • Limited options
  • Not cruelty free

Milani Matte Color Lipstick presents a variety of decadent colors that are sure to make your lips pop. No matter your skin tone, or shade preference, you are sure to find one, or two, or ten, shads among the 24 colors that Milani offers.

Whether you’re enticed by the brilliant shades of red, the soft pinks, the cool plums, or the witchy browns Milani is a great choice for both every day and special occasions. With so many options, it’s no wonder that Milani’s Matte Color Lipstick won Amazon’s Color Range award.

Milani Matter Color Lipstick does more than help you complete a makeup look- the lipstick is infused with vitamins A and C to help nourish your lips while making a statement. Vitamin A is known for promoting skin health, and it can certainly help the skin on your lips feel moisturized and pampered. Meanwhile, vitamin C serves as a potent antioxidant that not only protects your lips from new damage but helps promote wound healing from those days when you maybe forgot to bring your chap stick on the plane or during a cold night out.

Milani was born in East Los Angeles and embodies the variety of cultures and fashion trends that call the City of Angels home. Milani carries a strict credo of no judgement and embraces individual, real life experience. Best of all, they are completely cruelty free, so you don’t have to worry about your lipstick having been tested on animals.

Key Features
  • Cruelty free
  • 24 different shades
  • Fortified with vitamins A and C
  • Brilliant matte color
Specifications
  • Package Size: 014 oz
  • Finish: Matte
  • Coverage: 12 hr
  • Number of Shades: 24
  • Important Ingredients: Vitamin A and C
Pros
  • Nourishes and protects your lips
  • Plenty of amazing shades
Cons
  • Some colors may require several layers to achieve desired result

AlfFore cosmetics are cruelty free, all natural, and without any animal byproducts. Plus, they are also free from harmful chemicals including parabens and sulfates. In case you’ve been struggling to find lipstick because you’re super sensitive to gluten, they are also gluten free. You can’t get any cleaner when it comes to makeup than you can with AlfFore. And, with six different shades, this lipstick has a color for everyone.

In addition to priding its self in clean beauty, Altfore is also dedicated to inclusivity, which means that their colors are universally flattering present options for various skin tones. This doesn’t mean that every single color will be a perfect match, but it does mean that you can find a couple to add to your look.

In addition to being environmentally conscious, Altfore’s lipstick is also nourishing with emollient castor oil to help hydrate your lips and protect them even against the harshest environments.

Being committed to a chemical free lifestyle just got easier with Altfore’s lip stick; and you don’t necessarily need to sacrifice color to accomplish the task. While the lipstick is all natural, it’s also durable and won’t fade or stain- giving you the color pop you crave without the yucky chemicals you’ve been striving to avoid.

Pick up a shade or two for yourself and maybe a few for a friend because this is the best lipstick for individuals who are committed to clean, conscious makeup!

Key Features
  • Hydrating lipstick
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Long-lasting, paraben-free
Specifications
  • Package Size: Not provided
  • Finish: Glossy
  • Coverage: All day
  • Number of Shades: 6
  • Important Ingredients: glutten free
Pros
  • Gluten and paraben-free
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Luxurious color that lasts all day
Cons
  • Limited number of choices
  • Some colors may not be exactly as expected

We couldn’t round off the list for best lipstick without including Fran Wilson’s MOODmatcher Lipstick.

The MOODmatcher comes in a variety of shades including green, orange, pink, yellow, light blue, and red. Keep in mind, however, that these aren’t the shades that you’ll be wearing. In this case, each “shade” is especially formulated to react with your individual body chemistry and to change color in order to suit your unique personal style.

The MOODmatcher is infused with vitamin E and Aloe Vera for supreme hydration and nourishment. The color will last all day without bleeding or smudging- so you don’t have to worry about reapplication.

In case you’re new to color-changing lipstick, you should apply MOODmatcher and wait about two minutes in order for the color to settle.

MOODmatcher is a lot of fun for individuals of all ages and, if you have a great sense of humor, you can definitely whip out a non-standard colored MOODmatcher lipstick in public and enjoy the reactions as people try to figure it out! However, MOODmatcher is more than just a toy- it’s long lasting and hydrating lipstick that will survive even the toughest days!

Fran Wilson’s MOODmatcher is the original color changing lipstick and, since each shade customizes to your own body chemistry, this really is an option where one size can fit all.

The downside, of course, is that you never know quite what you’re getting. Your yellow lipstick may turn out rose pink or peach depending of your mood and individual chemistry. On the bright side, you really can’t go wrong with these shades.

Key Features
  • Color changing lipstick changes to suit your mood
  • Matches your unique body chemistry
  • 6 Piece collection
Specifications
  • Package Size: 6 x 5 x 4 inches
  • Finish: Glossy
  • Coverage: 12 hr
  • Number of Shades: 6
  • Important Ingredients: Aloe vera
Pros
  • Fun and different shades
  • Long lasting color
Cons
  • You never know quite what you'll get

CATKIN’s Matte Lipstick is actually pigmented gloss that comes in both soft and vibrant shades to give lips a beautiful, shiny finish.

This contender for best lipstick is water proof and long lasting- so you don’t have to worry about having to reapply during your busy day. Better still, the lipstick won’t smudge or stain, making this a perfect option for kissing and for a dinner out.

CATKIN makes it a point to exclude alcohol, mineral oil and fragrances, which can be damaging to your lips. Instead, the lipstick features nourishing ingredients like Jojoba oil, olive oil, vitamin E and more to help protect your lips despite your busy schedule. CATKIN is also cruelty free, so you have no reason to worry if you're a concious consumer. 

The lipstick leaves a matte finish and comes in a variety of shades including classic Rouge. With plenty of options that range from glossy to richly pigmented, CATKIN lipstick has options for everyone. Pick up a few shades for various major occasions where keeping your lipstick on is of high priority.

The lipstick tubes offer unique designs that are inspired by Chinese art. Each color has a unique image on the tube, which also helps you distinguish CATKIN from you other lipsticks without having to perform a lengthy search.

Key Features
  • Long lasting, pigmented lip color
  • Nourishing ingredients
  • Vegan and cruelty free makeup
Specifications
  • Package Size: 1.4 ounces
  • Finish: Matte
  • Coverage: All day
  • Number of Shades: 16
  • Important Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, olive oil and vitamin E
Pros
  • Nourishes lips
  • Long-lasting color
Cons
  • Shades vary in intensity
  • May not look the same as in the picture

Skin2Spirit offers a great variety of lip colors for the conscientious consumer. If you’re looking for amazing makeup that is all natural and organic, Skin2Spirit has you covered with their variety of lipstick shades.

Skin2Spirit lip colors are infused with natural goodness in the form of shea butter, jojoba oil, castor seed oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil and more! This combination of ingredients is designed to pamper your lips with softness while serving as protection against even the harshest environments. The lipstick is also infused with essential oils to help protect your lips while also healing damage.

Meanwhile, the lipsticks are free of the bad stuck like petroleum, lead, toxins and phthalate. This lipstick is also gluten free, vegetarian and never tested on animals. In other words, this lipstick is actually good for you!

Skin2Spirit prides itself in creating organic, all-natural makeup that’s toxin free. After all, whether or not we like to admit it, we end up accidentally licking or eating a good portion of our lipstick. And who’d want cancer causing substances like lead and petroleum on their lips, or in their mouths?

The lipsticks glide on easily and are still able to give you vibrant colors. You will need to reapply as the color won’t stay forever, and you may not get the pop that you get with other lipsticks, but a few coats will generally give you great results- and the lipstick is easy to carry for reapplication. Besides, with so much goodness in one tube, you’ll definitely want to reapply!

Key Features
  • Smooth and nourishing
  • All natural lipstick
  • Free of parabens and toxins
Specifications
  • Package Size: 2.8 x 0.8 x 2.8 inches ; 0.8 ounces
  • Finish: Matte
  • Coverage: a few hours
  • Number of Shades: 8
  • Important Ingredients: Vitamins A, E, B1, B2, B6 & Calcium! Infused with REAL Vanilla Extract and other Essential Oils
Pros
  • Free of harmful chemicals
  • All natural and cruelty-free
Cons
  • Limited color range
  • Colors may not look precisely as advertised
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If you’re struggling with dry lips, Super Moisturizing Lipstick by Luscious Cosmetics may be your answer. This lipstick is infused with grape seed oil and vitamin E to nourish lips while also providing plenty of hydration.

Fortunately, you won’t have to sacrifice color for moisture; the Super Moisturizing lipstick gives you plenty of pop while still caring for your lips. This best lipstick contender has been featured in various fashion and beauty magazines including Allure and Vogue for its high quality.

With seventeen unique shades, you have plenty of options to choose from in order to find your perfect match. The shades go on smoothly and leave you with a chromatic, luxurious finish.

This lipstick won’t last forever, but it’s easy to reapply and, because it’s vegan and made with high quality ingredients, you don’t have to worry about accidentally ingesting some with your food or while licking your lips.

Founded in 2007, when high-quality, vegan and cruelty-free products were both expensive and difficult to find, Luscious Cosmetics is committed to bringing quality products to conscious consumers without the hefty price tag. The company is also committed to creating blunder free, safe cosmetics, which is why they are very careful when it comes to safety testing for all of their products.

Key Features
  • Luxurious, soft finish
  • Flatters all skin tones
  • Conditions lips while delivering vibrant color
Specifications
  • Package Size: 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.2 inches ; 0.16 ounces
  • Finish: Satin
  • Coverage: 12 hours
  • Number of Shades: 18
  • Important Ingredients: Vitamin E and grape seed oil
Pros
  • Will leave your lips feeling amazing
  • Cruelty free
Cons
  • May melt in high heat
  • Some colors only suit specific skin tones

If you’re looking all-natural is a must-have in your best lipstick, look no further than Burt’s Bees Satin Lipstick colors. Burt’s Bees is known for their commitment to natural products and for their ability to produce vibrant colors without synthetic chemicals and parabens.

The Burt’s Bees lipstick is enriched with red raspberry and moringa oil and is a 100% natural lip color that provides 8 hours of moisture. The long-wearing formula has a creamy texture that won’t dry out your lips thanks to the beeswax and vitamin E that’s been added to ensure that this lipstick is among the most comfortable for extended wear. Each shade has a warm hue that does double duty as a lip balm- whoever said that you have to choose between healthy and colorful lips needs to try Burt’s Bees lipstick.

With so much goodness and no toxic ingredients, it’s no wonder this best lipstick also won a 2016 Allure Best of Beauty Award!

The applicator is great for travel and comes in recyclable packaging. You can use the packaging as an extra safety case or opt out and simply use the lipstick tube. You’ll definitely want to carry the tube with you, in case you need to reapply, or in case of dry weather.

An all-natural brand like Burt’s Bees must also be cruelty free, right? That’s actually a complicated question. While Burt’s Bees claims that they always were, and will be, cruelty free, they’ve also recently began selling in China, which mandates animal testing. Conscious consumers should probably dig a little bit deeper before making their decisions about this lipstick brand.

Key Features
  • All natural lipstick
  • Best moisturizing lipstick
  • Winner of 2016 Allure Best of Beauty Award
Specifications
  • Package Size: 0.7 x 0.7 x 3.6 inches ; 0.64 ounces
  • Finish: Vibrant
  • Coverage: Long lasting
  • Number of Shades: 18
  • Important Ingredients: Beeswax, Moringa Oil, Raspberry Seed Oil and Vitamin E
Pros
  • Moisturizes your lips
  • All natural lipstick
Cons
  • Goes on light
  • Harder to match on darker skin tones

If you’re a fan of all things vintage, Besame’s Classic Color Vintage Lipstick is a must-have! Remember those classical movies where the heroine always has her hair done perfectly and has gorgeous red lips no matter how many times the bad guys attack? Besame has recreated the classical formula with an added boost of hydration.

Besame give’s you the best of 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s luxury makeup, without the harmful chemicals. You can now be the leading lady in your own life with Besame’s long-lasting, semi-matte lipstick. Just one coat is enough for full coverage that will last all day. The lipstick is also enriched with aloe and vitamin E to provide hydration and ensure that your lips are protected

Created by cosmetic historian, designer and artist, Gabriela Hernandez, Besame is a vintage makeup brand that seeks to honor the style, sensibility, and spirit of female beauty. Besame is vegan as well as paraben, gluten, and cruelty free, which is a big step up from the classical lipsticks which did contain a variety of questionable chemicals.

Because the lipsticks are bright, you will need to consider your own skin tones and undertones before making a selection. Fortunately, Besame has a great variety to ensure that everyone can find a perfect match!

Besame is committed to delivering makeup that you’ll love, which is why they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you don’t love the Classic Color Lipstick that you’ve chosen, you have a full 60 days to get a refund- all you have to do is let them know.

Key Features
  • Vintage, brilliant lip color
  • Semi-matte, feather soft finish
  • Cruelty free
Specifications
  • Package Size: 3.2 x 1.2 x 1 inches ; 0.16 ounces
  • Finish: Semi-Matte
  • Coverage: All day
  • Number of Shades: 12
  • Important Ingredients: Concentrated natural pigment
Pros
  • Satisfaction guarantee
  • Brilliant vintage color
Cons
  • May be too bright for certain skin tones, or for certain occasions
  • Touch-ups required

Lipstick has been used for thousands of years as a way to accentuate the lips for both ceremonial and aesthetic reasons. Lipstick has been loved, hated and discussed for centuries. At some point in the past, only women of a certain stature would wear lipstick. More recently, lipstick was seen as a mark of womanhood, which caused many girls to begin coloring their lips as they felt ready to enter the adult world. Now, of course, lipstick actually serves as a fashion statement while also helping you complete your makeup look.

Lipstick is one of the most essential parts of makeup. You can have twenty different products on your face but, if your lips are naked, the look simply won’t come together.

In the past, lipstick was riddled with harmful chemicals such as sulfates and lead which, we now know, can be a serious problem. Fortunately, lipstick has come a long way even in the past few decades. Now, you can get a lipstick that is completely organic, gluten-free and even vegan without having to perform an exhaustive search. Moreover, you’ll find that most modern lipsticks also feature a hydrating agent to ensure that your lips remain moisturized and protected throughout the day. In fact, ingredients like vitamin E and Aloe Vera have practically become staples thanks to their hydrating nature, which means that your lipstick won’t dry out or flake throughout the day.

Another recent change saw an increase in color variety. Now you don’t have to scour the stores to find a perfect shade of red. Instead, you have the opportunity to try a variety of hues that suit your skin tone and individual style. You can even find a lipstick that will create a unique color based on your individual chemistry. The number of finishes has also increased; you can choose between glossy, matte, semi-matte and more as you browse.

The expanding market for lipstick has also yielded a variety of options. If you’re conscious consumers you can now find plenty of products that are vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free cosmetics. Meanwhile, if your goal is to have lipstick that lasts, you’ll find several options that can withstand even the toughest day!

With so many options, it’s pretty tough to choose a single best lipstick, which is why we have lined up several top contenders.

Resources— Vogue, Allure

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