The Best Lipsticks of 2023, According to Editors

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The Best Lipsticks of 2023, According to Editors
By Anvita Reddy

Updated on 7/1/2023 at 6:10 PM



As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.



Our editors try hundreds of new beauty products each year, which means we've swiped on our fair share of lipsticks and can tell a good formula from a bad one with our eyes closed. The best lipsticks have staying power, high-impact pigment, and a wearable feel that sits comfortably on the lips. If you're on the hunt for a new lippie, we've got plenty of recommendations to help you narrow down your options. We've tried everything from the best eye-catching red lipsticks to TikTok-viral products that you can only snag if you're lucky to catch them in stock.

The right lip can make all the difference in pulling your makeup together. It can make you feel effortless, confident, and beautiful with one swipe. We curated the ultimate list of top-tier options to fit every preference under the sun. Whether you're looking for a long-lasting formula or one with a matte, creamy, or high-shine finish, we've got a shade for you. You'll also find everything from moody maroons and mauves to flattering neutrals and statement-making bright pinks and purples galore. Trying to save money? No problem — we found a ton of high-quality drugstore lipsticks, proving there's something for every budget.

Shop the best lipsticks to add a few to your collection in 2023.

— Additional reporting by Macy Cate Williams and Renee Rodriguez





Best Overall Lipstick
Lys Beauty Speak Love Lipstick ($20)


This matte lipstick is a POPSUGAR Beauty Award winner, and it's easy to see why. It moisturizes like a balm but is as long-lasting as your favorite long-wear lipstick. It comes in seven different shades, but Moody, a warm mauve, is our absolute favorite.

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Best Vegan Lipstick
Gxve Original Me High Performance Matte Lipstick ($26)


If you've been searching for the perfect vegan lipstick, the Gxve Original Me High Performance Matte Lipstick is the best option in the game. It comes in six matte shades, which are all extra luscious and highly pigmented. It's editor-loved because the formula glides on and lasts for hours without fading.

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Best Hydrating Lipstick
Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick ($26)


The Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick has the pigment of a liquid lipstick, the feel of a lip balm, and the finish of a lip gloss. It has a buildable color payoff with a buttery soft, moisturizing texture, perfect for those who have dry lips. The lipstick has comfortable wear that is lightweight and flexible on the lips. It comes in eight shades ranging from neutrals and browns to pinks, reds, and corals. Read our in-depth review of the Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick. One editor's favorite shades are Tiger, a brick red, 1990, a deep brown, and L'avenue, a berry-brown.

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Best High Pigment Lipstick
Ilia Color Block High Impact Lipstick in Rococco ($28)


You don't have to choose between pigment and moisture with the Ilia Color Block High Impact Lipstick in Rococco. It's a hydrating formula with a satin finish that will basically replace your tinted lip balm.

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Best Matte Lipstick
Makeup By Mario Ultra Suede Lipstick ($26)


The Makeup By Mario Ultra Suede Lipstick delivers a bold pigment with a weightless feel. It's a matte lipstick that's nondrying and makes the lips feel soft and suede-like. The long-wearing formula has a smooth-matte, soft-focus finish that looks airbrushed. It comes in 20 shades, including reds, pinks, and browns. Read our in-depth review of the Makeup By Mario Ultra Suede Lipstick. One editor's favorite shades are Amanda, a deep plum, Rasa, a midtone rosy pink, and Fanda, a rosy brown.

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Best Matte Liquid Lipstick
Rare Beauty Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick in Inspire ($20)


Selena Gomez's favorite and go-to shade will be your new favorite bold red. It's a weightless matte lipstick that feels velvety soft on your lips. It's nondrying as well, and it comes in a ton of different shades. Read our in-depth review of the Rare Beauty Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick. One editor loves the shades Inspire, Fearless, a deep, cool-tone brown, Heroic, a berry magenta shade, and Brave, a muted terracotta.

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Best Buildable Lipstick
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick ($35)


The Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick is famous for its cult-favorite Pillow Talk shade, but it also comes in a ton of universally flattering shades. It has a matte finish with a long-wearing, buildable formula. It's hydrating and pigmented, and it's the finishing touch to a glam look. Pillow Talk is a stunning nude pink shade for those with lighter skin tones, however, the shade Pillow Talk Medium is perfect for those with darker skin tones. Read our review of the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick.

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Best Non-Drying Matte Lipstick
About Face Paint-It Matte Lip Color ($16)


The About Face Paint-It Matte Lip Color has a formula so light and flexible, you won't even feel it on your lips. It's a long-wearing, non-drying liquid lipstick with a color payoff that doesn't disappoint. It's an editor-favorite as well; read our in-depth review of the About Face Paint-It Matte Lip Color.

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Best Waterproof Lipstick
Beauty Bakerie Matte Lip Whip ($20)


The Beauty Bakerie Matte Lip Whip has an incredible staying power that lets you eat, drink, and even wear a face mask without transferring. Don't believe us, one of our editors put it to the test; read our in-depth review of the Beauty Bakerie Matte Lip Whip. The formula is smudge-proof and waterproof, and comes in eight shades.

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Best Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick
Stila Stay All Day Long Wear Liquid Lipstick ($22)


The Stila Stay All Day Long Wear Liquid Lipstick is not just an editor-favorite but also congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's go-to, specifically in the shade Beso. The long-lasting liquid lipstick has a matte finish but won't dry out the lips. It comes in 24 different colors from bright red to rosy pink. Read our in-depth review of the Stila Stay All Day Long Wear Liquid Lipstick.

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Best Cream-to-Matte Lipstick
Smashbox Always On Cream to Matte Lipstick in Trending ($27)


The soft cream to matte formula of the Smashbox Always On Cream to Matte Lipstick in Trending is water-resistant and transfer-proof. It's perfect for the spring and summertime.

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Best Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick
Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick ($15)


The Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick has both moisture and staying power. It's a full-coverage, pigmented formula with a matte finish that will actually stain your lips for a flush of color the next day. It comes in so many different shades, including blues, greens, and more.

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Best Multi-Purpose Lipstick
Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick ($11)


The glides on smoothly and promises to last eight hours. It is a product that doubles as a lip liner and has a built-in sharpener. It's smudge-proof with a long-lasting wear, and it's truly a hidden gem.

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Best Drugstore Lipstick
The Lip Bar Vegan Matte Liquid Lipstick ($14)


The Lip Bar Vegan Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bawse Lady is one editor's go-to red shade. The formula is smooth and soft delivering a bold and pigmented matte finish without drying out the lips. It has a staying power for up to eight hours. Read our review of The Lip Bar Vegan Matte Liquid Lipstick.

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Best Lipstick For All Skin Tones
Maybelline New York Color Sensational Made For All Lipstick ($6)


The shades of Maybelline New York Color Sensational Made For All Lipstick were tested on 50 different skin tones to ensure the hues are flattering on everyone. The shade range is so expansive, it's a go-to for an affordable bold lip. It has a satin finish that's conditioning on the lips.

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Best Creamy Lipstick
Nars Audacious Lipstick in Audrey ($34)


You can never go wrong with the Nars Audacious Lipstick in Audrey. It's a creamy formula that doesn't compromise on pigment and color. It's perfect for that red-carpet-ready, glamorous bold lip.

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Best Red Lipstick: Guerlain Rouge G Refillable Lipstick
Guerlain Rouge G Refillable Lipstick ($36)


The Guerlain Rouge G Refillable Lipstick is an editor-favorite for the flattering red shades it offers with different undertones complimenting a range of skin tones and preferences. The formula is creamy and goes on smoothly, leaving the lips feeling hydrated with no smearing or streaks. One editor's favorite red shades are Rouge du Tigre, Rouge Impérial, and Roi des Rouges. Read our in-depth review of the Guerlain Rouge G Refillable Lipstick.

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Best Nude Lipstick
Ctzn Cosmetics Nudiversal Lip Duo ($29)


Our editors agree, the Ctzn Cosmetics Nudiversal Lip Duo is our new favorite budge-proof lipstick formula. Each super-flattering color will last you from your first sip of coffee in the morning all the way to the end of dinner (and then some). The 25-shade range has the perfect neutral and nude for your skin tone, even taking into account undertones. One side of this dual-ended lipstick is a creamy matte lipstick while the other side is a hydrating lip gloss, so you'll have a go-to nude for any occasion. Read our in-depth review of the Ctzn Cosmetics Nudiversal Lip Duo.

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Best Shimmer-Finish Lipstick
Pat McGrath Labs BlitzTrance Lipstick ($40)


This iridescent Pat McGrath Labs BlitzTrance Lipstick will give you a shimmery dose of color that's creamy and shiny. It's a conditioning cream lipstick that comes in four shades. It'll illuminate your lips for a plumper, gloss-like appearance.

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SOURCE: https://www.popsugar.com/beauty/best-lipsticks-45664445