When liquid lipsticks first exploded in 2015, they set a new standard for the best long-lasting lipsticks. Bold, highly pigmented formulas that didn’t budge became the new standard—but, let’s be honest, that staying power often came at a cost. Dry, stiff lips were the trade-off, and matte formulas were the only option if you wanted color that lasted. Fast forward 10 years, and long-lasting lipstick has evolved. New formulas still deliver all-day wear, but they greet lips with velvety, more forgiving textures that actually feel comfortable. No more tugging, cracking, or that “parched” feeling—just smooth, solid color that won’t rub off with your first sip of coffee. Whether you prefer a classic bullet, a convenient lip crayon, or a lip stain, today’s lipsticks prove that you no longer have to choose between color that lasts and lips that feel kissable.
Our Top Long-Lasting Lipsticks
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Valentino Liquirosso 2-in-1 Lip & Blush Stick
Why it’s worth it: In years of testing liquid lipsticks, we’ve found that most formulas are a one-swipe wonder, delivering bright pigment the second the applicator touches your lips. Not Valentino’s Liquirosso 2 in 1 Soft Matte Liquid Lipstick & Blush: One layer of this lip color offers a sheer wash of color, while multiple layers give a bold pop—without feeling dry or heavy, thanks to barrier-boosting amino acids and antioxidant-rich peony extract. The lightweight formula makes it perfect for the cheeks, too. Use the applicator’s pointed tip to line the lips, use the flat side to fill them in, then swipe it across the cheeks for an instant flush. Wherever you apply it, it delivers a soft-matte finish with zero fuss—and it has the widest shade range of any product on this list.
Tester feedback from editorial assistant Jennet Jusu
“As someone who’s not a fan of lipstick due to the constant need for reapplication and the fear of staining my teeth, I can relate to the annoyance of that grueling process. However, Valentino’s lip stain has been a game-changer. It stays in place, even when I’ve used straws and eaten messy food, for more than a few hours. It stays secure, and the fact that it’s not a hard and dry matte texture makes it a breeze to remove at the end of the night. This convenience is a relief for someone who doesn’t wear lipstick on the regular!” —Jenet Jusu, editorial assistant
Best Lightweight: Smashbox Always On Longwear Matte Liquid Lipstick
Why it’s worth it: Matte liquid lipsticks can feel (and look) thick and dry, but Smashbox’s Always On Longwear Matte Liquid Lipstick flips the script. The formula is soft and comfortable to wear, giving lips a suede finish instead of the dreaded parched, chalky look. But don’t let the lightweight feel fool you: Once it sets (give it a minute), the color refuses to fade for hours. The precision tip makes lining and filling seamless—no pencil needed, even with deeper shades. Check out Miss Conduct, a beautiful burgundy that complements sweater weather. Our only caveat is that this formula can fade a touch at the outer corners after a few hours, so you might want to keep it in your bag for quick touch-ups if you’ll be out all day long.
Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
“I haven’t reached for a matte liquid lip in a long time—they can be so drying!— but Smashbox got it right. Always On feels very thin and soft on my lips, but doesn’t smear or feather once it dries down. I also love the pointy applicator—it makes it easy to draw sharp lines and get the corners of my mouth. Even better, it stays put through long days at the office (even after a meal). The shade Yes Honey is my go-to: not too pink, not too brown. Just right!” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
Best Stain: Clarins Hydrating Water Lip Stain
Why it’s worth it: Toronto-based makeup artist Andrea Claire previously told Allure that the Best of Beauty Award-winning Clarins Hydrating Water Lip Stain has a transfer-proof formula that’s one of her all-time favorites. It’s made of 75% water, plus hydrating aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and antioxidant-rich green tea to keep lips soft and plump. Recently, Clarins added soothing raspberry water and free-radical-fighting nipplewort (yes, that’s a real plant), so every swipe feels like a mini spa treatment for your pout. Because it’s a stain, it’s not too pigmented, making it perfect for everyday office looks if you want something long-lasting. One coat gives you a soft wash of tint, but you can also layer a few more for a buildable bright lip.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“I love a bold lip, but I find it too high-maintenance for everyday wear. This lip stain has pretty much changed my life: It stayed put through a Stanley tumbler’s worth of water, my soup-and-salad lunch, and even a hot coffee in the afternoon. After seven hours of wear, it still looked pretty vibrant and pigmented, and there were zero smudges to be found.”—Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
Best Blurring: Violette_FR Plume Lip
Why it’s worth it: Long-wearing lipsticks can be very pigmented and tricky to work with, so if you’re a little intimidated by the process, try something that’s a bit more forgiving. Enter: Violette_FR’s new Plume Lipstick (a best-seller!). Its whipped, cloud-like texture makes it feel less like a liquid lipstick and more like a soft satin stain—it blends and blurs effortlessly to hide any harsh lines. The formula glides on with such ease, it’s basically designed for mirrorless application. Once applied, it dries down matte and locks in place for up to 12 hours, yet still feels weightless, thanks to humectants that nourish lips without ever feeling heavy.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“Liquid lipstick and I were like *crosses fingers* in my college and early NYC days but I’ve all but abandoned them over the past, say, seven years. Of course, I’ve tried one here and there (I do test products for a living!) but none have stuck. Until now! Amongst my usual lip tint rotation now lies Violette_FR Lip Plume, which kind of reminds me of a stain/liquid lipstick hybrid—in that it’s super easy to blend out with my fingers for a blotted look. I’m very hesitant when a lip product claims to be blurring but it actually does hide some of my less prominent lines. The staying power is pretty impressive—the color inevitably fades a bit throughout the day but I don’t feel the need to reapply like I normally would. It still looks pretty after eight hours, which is very impressive.
While I wouldn’t call it moisturizing (a tall order to begin with!), it is comparatively so to many liquid lipstick formulas—and feels a lot lighter than most. Because I have naturally dry lips, my tip has always been to apply a coat of lip balm, lip gloss, or a lip mask for ~10 minutes and wiping off the excess before swiping on your heavier-duty lipstick or stain of choice. True to the brand’s entire makeup lineup, the intense color range doesn’t disappoint. Rose Fumé is a gorgeous bright pink that’s not too over-the-top, which is usually my fear, as someone who leans towards deeper pinks and berries.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Finish: soft-matte
- Shades: 5
More long-lasting lipsticks we love
Best Crayon: Pat McGrath Labs Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil
Pat McGrath Labs
Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil
Why it’s worth it: A 2025 Best of Beauty winner, the Pat McGrath Labs Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil delivers the Dame’s signature precision straight to your vanity. Its creamy texture spreads beautifully, the tapered point defines lips effortlessly, and the 12-color shade range is home to nudes, pinks, and reds that flatter a variety of skin tones (something else McGrath is known for nailing). Once it’s applied, you have a few minutes of playtime to tweak or clean up your lines. But once it sets, you’ll need makeup remover (and a little elbow grease) to get it off.
Tester feedback from senior art director Ingrid Fowler
“I love these lip pencils, which are more crayon than pencil, by my definition. The tip is large and round enough to easily fill in lips, but pointed enough to be precise around the edges. It has a super creamy formula and it’s weightless—a perfect formula for everyday wear.” —Ingrid Fowler, senior art director
Best Drugstore: Essence Makeup The Slim Stick
Essence
Makeup The Slim Stick
Why it’s worth it: You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg for a top-notch matte lipstick—Essence’s The Slim Stick proves it. A 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner for Best Matte Lipstick (no small feat), this under-$5 gem delivers rich, velvety color payoff without the dreaded dryness. It’s also one of the most pigmented picks on our list, drenching lips in full-coverage shades like Nice Spice (a warm orange-red) or Choc-o-holic (the ultimate fall brown). The formula is packed with nourishing oils like jojoba, coconut, and macadamia, so it feels moisturizing and comfortable enough to rub your lips together without any tacky drag. And, despite the soft feel, the staying power is no joke: During Best of Beauty trials, our testers clocked up to eight hours of wear, no fading in sight.
Tester feedback from Allure senior copy manager Leslie Lipton
“For literally pennies—well, 499 of them—this lipstick has a creamy, matte finish with the staying power of others that cost 10 times more. The velvety, saturated color (loving Nice Spice right now) goes on after my morning coffee and lasts through lunch. Plus, the skinny, angled tip makes precise application a breeze—lip liner not required. —Leslie Lipton, senior copy manager
Best for Fine Lines: Armani Beauty Lip Power Longwear Satin Lipstick
Armani Beauty
Lip Power Longwear Satin Lipstick
Why it’s worth it: If you have prominent lip lines, long-wearing matte lipsticks can be unforgiving, emphasizing every crease. Armani Beauty’s Lip Power Longwear Satin Lipstick delivers the pigmentation and staying power of a matte, but swaps a potentially harsh, line-accentuating finish for a soft, almost-balm-like satin. While it doesn’t include any botanical oils like some of our other picks do, it has synthetic emollients that offer cushion and spreadability, without the need for touch-ups. Los Angeles-based makeup artist Robin Black told Allure that it lasts for six hours, adding, “I’ve even worn it through a client lunch, straight into a meeting without a touch-up in between!”
Best Hydrating: Merit Signature Lip Matte
Why it’s worth it: Many matte lipsticks claim to be hydrating, but few actually deliver—usually, they end up having more of a satin finish than mate. Merit’s award-winning Signature Lip is the rare exception (although it does come in a satin formula, too, if you’re into that). Infused with plumping hyaluronic acid and conditioning sesame seed extract, it gives lips a blurred, true-matte finish that feels plush and never tight. The eight-shade lineup spans warm browns, peaches, and pinks, each one practically guaranteed to earn you a “What lipstick are you wearing?” compliment.
Frequently asked questions
What ingredients should I look for in a long-lasting lipstick?
Long-lasting lipsticks get their staying power from three main types of ingredients. New Jersey-based cosmetic chemist Smitha Rao, CEO of Pareva Beauty, explains that film formers—synthetic polymers like trimethylsiloxysilicate and dimethicone copolymers—create a flexible layer on the lips to lock in color. Volatile solvents, such as isododecane, evaporate quickly to deliver instant payoff, while emollients keep lips soft and moisturized for comfortable wear.
What are the best tips for applying long-lasting lipstick?
New York City-based makeup artist Carly Giglio recommends starting with exfoliation to smooth the lips, followed by a hydrating mask (or lip balm) early in your makeup routine, so the moisture has time to absorb. If you’re short on time, apply lip balm, let it sit for a few seconds, then blot away any excess. “Next, line your lips and fill them in to create a base before applying your lipstick from the center outward,” she says. For creamier long-wearing formulas (as opposed to fast-drying liquid lipsticks), Giglio suggests blotting with a tissue and adding a second layer, which helps remove extra product while building longer-lasting color.
Meet the experts
- Smitha Rao is a New Jersey-based cosmetic chemist and CEO of Pareva Beauty
- Carly Giglio is a New York City-based makeup artist
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide, inclusive shade range with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is the packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best long-lasting lipstick, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete review process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.