The best long-lasting lipsticks are essential in every makeup bag. With the power to stay put no matter what your day throws at you, there's no going wrong with a smudge-proof, transfer-resistant formula.
From the best red lipstick to a simple everyday nude lipstick to enhance what nature gave you, 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," she says.
A bit of prep can also extend the life of any lipstick, says Dominic Skinner, Global Senior Artist, M·A·C Cosmetics. "Prepping is everything. Give your lip plenty of moisture before using a lip scrub to help create a smooth base. Follow this with a lip primer, remembering to let it set for a minute or two. This will help to secure the color, 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
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Haus Labs, created by Lady Gaga, is a newish brand on the market - but it has wasted no time in creating stellar products. The Atomic Shake liquid lipstick has been widely revered as one of the best long-lasting lipsticks out there, and after thorough testing, we absolutely agree.
The small, flat doe foot applicator made precise application a breeze, which is always necessary with a bright red like this - no need for the best lip liners. The formula itself is very smooth and easy to apply, however, we did find that it dries down very quickly. This means that it is not the best for layering, but we highly doubt you'll need more than one coat of this.
What we were most impressed by is the fact that it retains its glossy sheen even after a full day of wear. Many of the best 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. The only downfall is that this product is slightly drying, and we did find our lips to be slightly sticky. However, this is to be expected with a shiny finish. Overall, if you want a lipstick you know won't go anywhere no matter what you get up to, Haus Labs is a winner.
This manages to tick a lot of boxes for a very reasonable price. It feels nice on the lips and has a soft, semi-moisturizing feel that you don't typically get from traditional bullet-shaped lipsticks. It doesn't feel at all waxy which long-lasting formulas often do. And perhaps most crucially, it's highly pigmented, and the color really does stay on all day.
Our deputy digital editor Anna Paul tested it and in the name of research had four coffees throughout the course of the day, copious amounts of water and a bowl of soup for lunch. The lipstick managed to weather all of this and still looked pretty vibrant post-lunch. An impressive eight hours after application, the color was still strong.
For the price point, we were really impressed. However, we did find it cracked a little by the end of the day and it definitely faded a little in the center of our lips when we wore it day-to-night (although a swipe of lip balm helped spread the color a bit and gave it a glossy, more subtle finish which we didn't dislike). We'd also love to see more colors in the range as most of the tones were pretty bright and not necessarily great for everyday wear. But overall, for this price point, you'll be hard-pushed to find a better long-lasting lip cream.
MAC lipsticks are some of the most well-loved in the beauty world, and after years of consistent use, we still turn to the classic matte formula whenever we want reliable color. With an impressive shade range and a reasonable price tag, this is a long-lasting lipstick that we would recommend to anyone. MAC advertises this as a 10-hour wear product, and we found this to be pretty accurate for an average day spent eating and drinking.
Smooth and easy to apply, this classic formulation sits beautifully on the lips. With just the right amount of moisture to glide on without dragging, it can be trusted to sit perfectly intact for several hours. However, those with more flaky lips may find it slightly drying after this time period, but this is the case with almost all matte lipsticks with good lasting power.
After a full day of wear, the color was definitely not as vivid as when first applied. However, we loved the shade we were left with. More like a lip stain, it faded the same across the lips, making for a gorgeous soft hue that didn't budge. If you want to be able to apply lipstick in the morning and know that it won't cling to certain patches or fade strangely throughout the day, we highly recommend this product.
Promising a huge 16 hours of optimal color without compromising on comfort, Dior Rouge Dior Forever Lipstick has a lot to live up to. And on testing, it more than satisfied our needs. In fact, this luxurious addition to our top ten provided incredible staying power and lasted 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 this and braved some very windy weather, and while the color wasn’t quite as bold as when we first applied the shade, we still thought it looked great. The formula is really creamy and silky, too, so it’s a really nice lipstick to apply if you want a comfortable feel.
It's not cheap, but it's lightweight, comfortable, and a pleasure to wear which we think warrants the price tag if you want to splurge on a treat for yourself or a 60th birthday gift that you can be certain they will love.
Since its 2016 launch, Charlotte Tilbury makeup has taken the beauty world by storm and this Matte Revolution lipstick has long been one of the brand's most popular products. These gorgeous lip colors come in 16 shades and we think they should be your go-to for flattering brights to suit all skin tones. From deep burgundy to bold cherry, you'll find a glamorous shade to pair with your best volumizing mascara for a truly glam look.
When testing, we found that the bullet's shape makes it easy to apply on the go and the handy little tube can be thrown in a handbag for quick touch-ups. There's some slip upon application, giving you time to perfect your shape before it dries down to a matte finish, which will also help those with drier lips to get the perfect application.
Overall, we found that the staying power is brilliant for a lipstick that feels comfortable on the lips. It didn't quite live up to the 10-hour claim it makes when we tried it (more like a good 7 hours of touch-up free wear) and it did cling better to our lip line than the center of our lips. However, with any light or nude color, this isn't too noticeable. Like any matte lippie, this could feel a little drying if your lips are dehydrated to start with, but it certainly didn't leave our lips feeling parched or flaky even after a full day of wear.
If you have dry lips and have always struggled to find a long-lasting lipstick that you can wear comfortably, the Fenty lip stain will work wonders for you. The oil-in-water formulation ensures instant hydration that lasts, and the color is just as reliable. It applies as a glossy lipstick that you can either wipe off to get an instant lip stain, or leave on to let it fade naturally throughout the day.
The soft doe foot applicator and long wand meant that this product glided onto our lips with precise application, distributing just the right amount of product. Easily the best pink lipstick if you want buildable color, the shade Poutsicle will give your lips a true juicy finish.
As expected from a stain, it fades perfectly throughout the day to leave a light wash of color on the lips. We love that we can apply our favorite clear lip balm over the top and still have the pink hue shine through without disrupting the color. We only applied a thin coat when testing, but have since gone in with thicker layers to get a deeper color that stays vivid for longer. There are so many different ways to wear this product, making it the best long-lasting lipstick for dry lips or a customizable look. It is also ideal for pairing with the best clear mascara for a natural makeup look on toned-down days when you still want a bit of color in your face.
Our budget-friendly option is Catrice Matte Pro Ink Liquid Lipstick, and at less than $8/£5 it's hard to beat when it comes to price. But does this mean compromising on wear time? We can say after thorough testing, absolutely not. The formula itself is full of hydrating moringa butter and applies smoothly to the lips, giving an incredible color payoff. Initially, it feels like silk before quickly drying down to a comfortable matte texture.
With a pointed applicator and soft doe foot it was easy to get a precise application, and we loved that it faded equally well across the lips rather than clinging in certain patches. This liquid lip boasts a wear time of 12 hours and while it didn't quite meet that claim, it was impressive nonetheless. Through eating and drinking, the color stayed put without leaving our lips feeling parched.
It is very matte in finish, so if that's not your thing then this might not be the best choice. However, if you want to avoid dousing yourself in the best makeup setting sprays this summer and instead want a product you can trust to stay put, Catrice really delivers.
This long-lasting lipstick is made with apricot seed oil, castor oil, and mango seed butter, all of which help with softening and soothing the lips. If you're after a glossy finish that also hydrates as you wear it, this is the product to go for.
When testing, we found that this lipstick feels really hydrating - it’s quite ‘wet’ so it gives quite a glossy finish, but without being too shiny. We loved how buildable it is, meaning you can do a quick swipe if you’re not wearing too much makeup, or really add to it for a more bold look.
However, we wouldn’t say this doesn’t budge at all, as there was some movement throughout the day. But we've worn it for hours - including for eating and drinking - without needing to reapply it, and we actually prefer the way the color and shine looks on our lips when it has very slightly faded. For a natural long-lasting lipstick that will keep your lips looking and feeling their best, Color Block has our vote.
If you want vivid color and long-lasting formula with a beautiful shine, look no further than Revlon ColorStay Satin Inks. With a soft and satin formula that applies effortlessly, it is another one we recommend for those who are after a long-lasting lipstick that won't cause flaking or dryness.
We don't think it quite lived up to the promised 16-hour wear with the lighter pink shade we tried, however the color 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.
The downside of these is the limited shade range. Offering just 9 shades means some people may struggle to find a color to suit them, especially if you're after a true nude shade. However, we were very impressed with the performance of this product, and it will make an ideal pick for comfortable yet reliable mother of the bride makeup.
Wearing long-lasting lipsticks can often mean dry, flaky, and uncomfortable lips - but not with Sisley Le Phyto Rouge Lipsticks. If you're looking at how to fix dry skin, this is an ideal makeup product to add into your routine to keep moisture levels up in your lips. The sumptuous and creamy formula of these buttery, balm-like colors is incredibly easy to wear and has a fantastic shade offering, so there is really something for everyone.
Packed full of hydrating hyaluronic acid, this lippie is instantly plumping on the lips and has the sort of weightless feel as if you're only wearing 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 color had separated slightly by the end of the day, it still felt extremely comfortable and retained a vivid wash of color that we always look for with the best long-lasting lipsticks.
This is a fab skincare-packed lipstick that caters to everyone, but that comes at a substantial price. If you can afford it and you're looking for a satin lipstick that goes the distance, this should be your choice.
How we tested the best long-lasting lipstick for this guide
A selection of the long-lasting lipstick we tested for this guide
Beauty brands make huge claims about their long-lasting lipsticks, from 16-hour wear to completely transfer and water-resistant formulas, but it’s tricky to know which live up to their promises. We tested dozens of lipsticks for this guide, as well as including some old favorites we've been wearing for years, assessing them for:
- Durability for normal wear
- Transfer-proof powers when eating, drinking (or kissing!)
- Comfort
- Ease of application
- Pigment and finish
- Shade range and packaging
How to make your lipstick last longer
The trick to applying a long-lasting lipstick is to prepare your lips from the beginning. Start off by using 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 a primer before your color.
Your ‘primer’, in this case, takes the form of your best lip balm that will nourish away dryness and keep your lips comfortable, especially if you’re wearing a particularly matte texture. Applying a lip balm underneath will also mean that you won’t feel the need to lick your lips as often and therefore, you’ll have much longer-lasting color (it will also stop your lips from staining and make it much easier to remove when you eventually want to wash it off)
Another great, time-old beauty technique for giving your long-lasting lipstick its best shot is to apply one coat, blot with a tissue, then apply another coat. This layers your color and results in 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 in our make-up bags, when you need your lip color to last, a long-wearing formula can’t be beaten. Most long-wear formulas tend to be a matte texture as they don’t slide around like creamy satin finishes. Of course, there are exceptions with satin lipsticks that have been developed to last (and you'll find some in our round-up) but in general, a matte formula is your safest bet.
Another thing to look out for is the color pay-off. Lipsticks often fade with wear but find one rich in pigment and you shouldn’t need to reapply. A formula that coats the lip in color with one swipe should also be on your radar. These tend to last a lot longer than sheer lipstick which can disappear with one lick of the lips. Knowing how to stop lipstick bleeding and feathering by using a lip pencil first can also make a huge difference to the longevity of your look.
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