The best long-lasting lipsticks will pack in your desired level of colour payoff and finish with impressive longevity to boot – making them an essential in every makeup bag. With the power to stay put no matter what the day throws at you, there's no going wrong with a smudge-proof, transfer-resistant formula.
With options covering everything from the best red lipstick to a classic everyday nude lipstick, there has never been a better selection of long-lasting lipsticks on the market, with all manner of finishes and formulations. "A satin finish is perfect as the formula falls somewhere between a matte and a cream," explains Saffron Hughes, makeup artist expert at FalseEyelashes.co.uk. "The subtle shine makes imperfections less noticeable, so you won’t need to top up as much."
A bit of prep can also extend the life of any lipstick, says Dominic Skinner, Global Senior Artist for M·A·C Cosmetics. "Give your lip plenty of moisture before using a lip scrub to help create a smooth base," he advises. "Follow this with a lip primer, remembering to let it set for a minute or two. This will help to secure the colour, keeping it in place all day."
We tested each lipstick in this guide for a minimum of eight hours, eating and drinking throughout, to get a true representation of how long they last. We can confidently say we've found the best of the best, with guaranteed flawless and long-lasting results every time.
The best long-lasting lipsticks, as chosen and tested by our beauty team
RRP: £26 | Shades: 6 | Finish: Shine
This liquid lipstick is widely revered as one of the best long-lasting lipsticks and, after thorough testing, we absolutely agree. The small, flat doe foot applicator made precise application a breeze – always necessary with a bold shade. The formula is smooth and easy to apply, though dries down very quickly, meaning it's not the best for layering but we highly doubt you'll need more than one coat.
We were most impressed by the fact that it retains its glossy sheen after a full day of wear. Many long-lasting lipsticks are matte, as they tend to last better, but this product has proven that gloss and longevity can go hand-in-hand.
Reasons to buy: Easy to apply, gives a glossy sheen
Reasons to avoid: Slightly drying and sticky (which is expected with shiny finishes)
RRP: £9.99 | Shades: 8 | Finish: Creamy matte
This ticks a lot of boxes for its reasonable price. It feels nice to wear with a soft, semi-moisturising feel you don't typically get from traditional bullet-shaped lipsticks. It doesn't feel at all waxy, which long-lasting formulas often do. And most crucially, it's highly pigmented, and the colour really lasts.
In the name of research, our tester had copious amounts of water, a bowl of soup for lunch and four coffees throughout the day – and the lipstick still looked pretty vibrant post-lunch. An impressive eight hours after application, the colour was still strong. For the price point, we were really impressed.
Reasons to buy: Long-lasting for affordable price
Reasons to avoid: Became a little cracked and faded with wear, limited shades
RRP: £26 | Shades: 8 | Finish: Glossy
If you're looking for a subtle colour with long-lasting hydration, this one is for you. On application, we found that it easily glides onto lips and, out of all the formulas we tested, has a subtle colour with lasting hydration. Because it's a tint, it should last for hours. We found that we wanted to keep reapplying because of the smooth formula and subtle finish so you can apply on the go without a mirror.
Formulated with castor seed oil and collagen-boosting fatty acids, this lip tint offers a subtle dose of colour production and leaves your pout looking fuller and smoothed; this moisturising lipstick envelops lips in an irresistible dose of non-sticky, comfortable colour with a soft shine finish.
Reasons to buy: Nourishing, gorgeous everyday shades
Reasons to avoid: Not the strongest colour
RRP: £22 | Shades: 34 | Finish: Matte
MAC lipsticks are some of the best-loved in the beauty world and, after years of consistent use, we still turn to the classic matte formula whenever we want reliable colour. With an impressive shade range and a reasonable price tag, this is a long-lasting buy we recommend to anyone.
MAC bills this as a 10-hour wear product, which we found was pretty accurate for an average day of eating and drinking. Smooth and easy to apply, this classic formula sits beautifully on the lips. If you want to be able to apply lipstick in the morning and know that it won't cling to certain patches or fade throughout the day, we highly recommend this product.
Reasons to buy: Impressive shade range, easy to apply, super long-lasting
Reasons to avoid: Can feel slightly drying
RRP: £37 | Shades: 30 | Finish: Matte
Promising a huge 16 hours of optimal colour without compromising on comfort, Dior Rouge Dior Forever has a lot to live up to. On testing, it more than satisfied us. In fact, this luxurious addition to our top 10 provided incredible staying power – well into its claim – without transferring or smudging.
When testing, we found that this is more matte than some of the other long-lasting lipsticks on this list, but it definitely lasts; we ate a fairly messy meal while wearing it and braved some very windy weather and, while the colour wasn't quite as bold as when we first applied the shade, we still thought it looked great afterwards. The formula is really creamy and silky, too, so it's a nice one for a comfortable feel.
Reasons to buy: Lightweight, comfortable, lovely to wear
Reasons to avoid: More expensive than other options
RRP: £37 | Shades: 13 | Finish: Satin
The Victoria Beckham Beauty range is just as iconic as VB herself, and this lipstick is one of her best products. It promises to be super moisturising over long-lasting, but we were pleasantly surprised by how long the colour stayed put. It's formulated with nourishing oils to keep lips plump and hydrated all day. Also easy and smooth to apply, we were immediately impressed with the vibrancy of the colour payoff considering its nourishing formula.
We found that we wanted to reapply this one just because of the balmy, hydrating feel – but when we didn't, the pigment still stayed on the lips for hours. The satin finish also means it doesn't dry down, so it's not transfer-proof, but the packaging is so gorgeous you will want to have this in your bag for top-ups.
Reasons to buy: Moisturising and plumping, comfortable for all-day wear
Reasons to avoid: Satin finish isn't transfer-proof
RRP: £27 | Shades: 16 | Finish: Matte
Since its 2016 launch, Charlotte Tilbury has taken the beauty world by storm and Matte Revolution lipstick has long been one of the brand's most popular products. We found the bullet shape makes it easy to apply on the go and throw in a handbag for quick touch-ups. There's some slip upon application, giving you time to perfect the shape before it dries down matte. This will also help those with drier lips to apply it perfectly.
Overall, we found its staying power is brilliant for a comfortable lipstick. It didn't quite live up to the 10-hour-wear claim (it was more like seven for us) and it did cling better to our lip line than the centre of our lips. However, with any light or nude colour, this isn't too noticeable.
Reasons to buy: Good shade range, super easy to apply, lasted well
Reasons to avoid: Can feel a little drying on already dehydrated lips
RRP: £19 | Shades: 4 | Finish: Glossy
If you have dry lips and struggle to find a long-lasting lipstick that wears comfortably, Fenty's lip stain works wonders. The oil-in-water formula delivers instant and lasting hydration, and the colour is just as reliable. It applies as a glossy lipstick, which you can either wipe off like a lip stain or leave to let it gradually fade throughout the day.
The soft doe foot applicator and long wand meant it glided onto our lips with precise application and just the right amount of product. As expected with a stain, it fades perfectly throughout the day, leaving a light wash of colour on the lips. We loved that we could apply our favourite clear lip balm over the top and still have the pink hue shine through.
Reasons to buy: Can be layered to customise the colour
Reasons to avoid: Can't be reapplied quickly as a stain
RRP: £28 | Shades: 15 | Finish: Satin
This long-lasting lipstick is made with apricot seed and castor oils, plus mango seed butter, which all work to soften and soothe the lips. If you want a glossy finish that moisturises while you wear it, this is the one to go for. When testing we found it really hydrating and quite wet, which gives it a glossy finish that's not too shiny.
We loved its buildability; you can do a quick swipe for a minimal makeup look or layer it on for a bolder finish. However, we wouldn't say it's completely budge-proof as we did experience some movement during the day. But we've worn it for hours – including through eating and drinking – without feeling the need to reapply it. In fact, we actually prefer the way the colour and shine looks when it has faded slightly. For a natural long-lasting lipstick that keeps lips looking and feeling their best, Colour Block gets our vote.
Reasons to buy: Natural formula and comfortable
Reasons to avoid: If you want a matte finish
RRP: £9.99 | Shades: 9 | Finish: Satin/shiny
If you want vivid colour and a long-lasting formula with a beautiful shine, look no further than Revlon ColorStay Satin Inks. With a soft, satin formula that applies effortlessly, it's another we recommend for those after one that doesn't cause flaking or dryness.
For us, the lighter pink shade didn't quite live up to the promised 16 hours of wear, however, the colour definitely had a staining effect on our lips that was only totally removed with the best cleansing balms (the sign of a truly reliable lipstick). However, we were very impressed by its performance – it would make an ideal pick for reliable mother of the bride makeup.
Reasons to buy: Long-lasting, shiny, non-drying
Reasons to avoid: Limited shades
RRP: £48 | Shades: 24 | Finish: Satin
Long-lasting lipstick can cause dry, flaky and uncomfortable lips – but not with Sisley's Le Phyto Rouge. If you have dry skin, this is an ideal product to add to your routine to keep your lips' moisture levels up. The sumptuous, creamy formula of these buttery and balmy colours is so easy to wear. There's a fantastic shade offering, too, so there's something for everyone.
Packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid, it's instantly plumping on the lips and has the sort of weightless feel of a nourishing lip balm. We found that this lipstick survived lots of talking and lip licking - and because it's creamier than a true matte it's simple to reapply when it eventually fades. Although the colour had separated slightly by the end of the day, it still felt extremely comfortable and retained a vivid wash of colour that we always look for with the best long-lasting lipsticks.
Reasons to buy: Skincare-packed formula
Reasons to avoid: It's pricier than many other options
RRP: £33 | Shades: 8 | Finish: Satin
A lipstick, a lip stain and a lip serum all in one, this unique formula is the first of its kind. Created by Rose-Marie Swift, a renowned makeup artist with 30 years of experience, it's long-lasting and not at all drying.
The serum lipstick delivers long-lasting colour with one layer and promises to keep lips hydrated for 8 hours – and it did. It's lightweight enough that we forgot we had anything on our lips, but it has a seriously impressive colour payoff. We loved the hybrid formula for the added hydration and applicator when testing. It works by twisting the tube until it clicks and then using the tube's edge for a seamless application.
Reasons to buy: Hydrating, intense colour payoff
Reasons to avoid: Limited shades
RRP: £17 | Shades: 11 | Finish: Satin
Created by makeup artist Aimee Connolly, Sculpted by Aimee's Lip Duo makes adding lip colour the easiest it's ever been. If you've ever struggled to match your lip liner to your lipstick, this takes away all the guesswork. The dual applicator has a satin finish lipstick and a matching lip liner at the other for an easy, 2-in-1 tool.
Though this doesn't claim to be long-lasting, we found that the lip liner made it so. Because we had no excuse not to line our lips first, this ensured colour stayed put all day – and lasted a lot longer than we expected. Though it doesn't match others that claim to last 10 hours, it did last for a good few, though we did need to reapply after eating. It has a satin, shiny finish, so if that's not your thing, check the matte options here. But if you want something hydrating and easy to apply on the go, this is certainly worth a try.
Reasons to buy: Built-in matching liner, easy to apply, super hydrating.
Reasons to avoid: Not transfer-proof
RRP: £36 | Shades: 34 | Finish: Matte
Pat McGrath is one of Britain's most legendary makeup artists and her brand's powerful formulas never disappoint. Mattetrance lipstick is easy to apply, comfortable on the lips and creates lasting, vibrant colour with just one swipe. The unique "powder in a bullet" formula also yields a matte finish.
We were most impressed by the shade range here; there really is something for everyone. These are some of the best colour payoffs we've ever seen in a soft matte finish that doesn't feel too heavy for everyday wear. It's super wearable and really does last all day and night long. When testing, we found to be one of the best matte finishes that's still hydrating and comfortable.
Reasons to buy: Incredible shade range, soft matte finish, vivid colours, stunning packaging
Reasons to avoid: If you don't want a super matte finish
RRP: £9.99 | Shades: 12 | Finish: Matte
While this lipstick didn't live up to its 16-hour-long wear promise, it did give us five hours – and for the price point, it's worth it. Because of its matte finish it can go flaky, so you'll probably need to carry it with you for top-ups or apply some of the best lip balm with it. But it's lightweight, creamy, easy to apply and transfer-resistant, too.
While testing this lipstick, we did appreciate the hydrating hyaluronic acid and its decent shade range. Overall, for less than £10 (and it's often on sale for less), it's a good one to have in your bag or if you want to try out a different shade to your usual go-to.
Reasons to buy: Affordable, fairly long-lasting
Reasons to avoid: It may be worth investing more if you want something longer-lasting
How we tested the best long-lasting lipsticks
A selection of the long-lasting lipstick we tested for this guide
Beauty brands often make bold claims about their long-lasting lipsticks, from 16 hours of wear to completely transfer and water-resistant formulas. But it’s tricky to know which ones will actually live up to such promises. We tested dozens of lipsticks for this guide, as well as including some old favourites we've been wearing for years, and assessed them based on the following factors.
- Durability for an average day of wear
- How transfer-resistant it was
- Comfort
- Ease of application
- Pigment and finish
- Number of shads and range
- Packaging
- Price
How to make lipstick last longer
The trick to applying a long-lasting lipstick (and making it last) is to prepare your lips from the get-go. Start with a lip scrub to buff away flakes and any uneven texture. This creates a smooth canvas for your lipstick to adhere to. Think of it like painting a fence; you wouldn't paint straight onto the raw wood, you’d sand it down until it was smooth, then add primer before your chosen colour.
Your primer, in this case, takes the form of lip balm to nourish away dryness and keep your lips comfortable, especially if you’re wearing a particularly matte formula. Applying a small amount underneath your lipstick also means you won’t feel the need to lick your lips as often and, therefore, you’ll have much longer-lasting colour. (This will also stop your lips from staining and make it much easier to remove when you eventually want to take it off.)
Another great, age-old beauty technique to improve lipstick longevity is to apply one coat, blot it with a tissue, then apply another. This layers the colour and yields a much longer wear time – our grandmothers were onto something with that one.
Which type of lipstick stays on longest?
Although sheer, barely-there balms and sparkly lip glosses have their place, when you need your lip colour to last, a long-wearing formula can’t be beaten. These tend to be matte in texture as they don’t slide around like creamy satin finishes. Of course, there are exceptions with satin formulas that have been developed to last (and you'll find some here in our guide) but generally, a matte formula is your safest bet.
Another thing to look out for is colour pay-off. Lipsticks often fade with wear, but find one rich in pigment and you shouldn’t need to reapply it. A formula that coats the lips with colour in one swipe should also be on your radar. These tend to last far longer than sheer lipstick, which can disappear with one lick of the lips. The trick to how to stop lipstick bleeding and feathering is using a lip pencil first – this also makes a huge difference to the longevity of your look.
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