It’s no secret that I am a lipstick lover! As much as I like the feeling of unboxing a beautifully-packaged Chanel lipstick, I can’t afford to splurge often enough to feed my lipstick addiction.
As a result, I’ve learned to cut corners (in terms of cost—definitely not quality!) Strolling through the aisles of the drugstore and testing out numerous products, I’ve found quite a few amazing and reliable drugstore lipsticks that give me the pop of color while staying easy on the wallet – good news all around!
Below I have listed the best drugstore lipsticks, lip stains and lip glosses that seriously deliver in the pigment and texture departments. Hope this list will lend your lippie game a helping hand!
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor – Revlon is one of my favorite drugstore brands, and this new lippie is just another chapter in my love affair with them! This liquid lip color has a soft, velvety feel and provides the dry look of a matte without the uncomfortable dry feel, which is a major plus for me!
What I love is that it has more of a satin matte finish that looks matte, but isn’t dull. The color payoff is vibrant too and the lightweight formula wears incredibly well, lasting for a solid five hours without migrating, feathering and looking dry. My favorite shades are Flirtation and Temptation. If you like liquid-to-matte lipsticks, you’ve got to give this one a try!
Flower Beauty Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color – True to its name, this creamy lipstick from Flower Beauty has a lovely soft glossy finish with a silky-smooth, moisturizingly lightweight feel. It doesn’t take much at all to get a lot of color, and the color sticks around post-breakfast through lunch for me without a need to reapply (not always the case with glossy lipsticks!) I am also a fan of the chic black and gold packaging! My favorite shades are Rose Bud and Apricot Blossom.
L’Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain – L’Oreal did a fabulous job with the consistency and pigmentation of this lippie that combines the texture and shine of a lip gloss with the long wear of a lip stain. It’s lightweight, glides on smoothly and delivers great color that really lasts.
Unlike many other lip stains, it doesn’t feel drying ands stays put without feeling like it’s sucking the moisture out of your lips. The color never bleeds and also wears off evenly. It is one of my long-time favorites and also a great dupe for a popular high-end department store lip stain…check out my Best Drugstore Dupes list to find out more!
Rimmel Provocalips 16 HR Kissproof Lip Colour – Talk about a true beauty bargain! Not only does Provocalips rock in the pigment department but also delivers on all its long-wearing claims – kiss proof, transfer proof and food proof! It’s a two-step product so you apply the liquid color first, give it about a minute to set, then apply the clear gloss to add moisture & shine. The color payoff is excellent with an even matte finish.
The gloss does wear off after some time but the base color stays put and lasts through lunch and 3 cups of coffee (without any stain left behind on the drinking cups!) I like to reapply the gloss as needed to keep the dryness away but the lip color wears tenaciously all day. If you like applying your lipstick in the morning and then forgetting about it until it’s time to remove your makeup at night, this one is a solid performer!
L’Oreal Colour Riche La Lacque Lip Pen – This sleek twist-up lipcolor is super pigmented and glides on effortlessly. The formula is light & creamy with a subtle shine and holds up well for about five hours (without much eating).
Unlike many long-lasting products out there, these are not harshly dry on the lips and maintain their cushiness. Another plus is that the convenient lip pen doesn’t need any sharpening. My favorite shade is lacque and roll.
Burt’s Bees lipstick – This is my newest favorite drugstore lipstick that’s 100% natural! Made with naturally moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E, beeswax, moringa and raspberry-seed oils, it offers vibrant full-coverage color.
With its hydrating formula, there’s no tight feeling or dry lips and I don’t have to worry about any nasty chemicals while kissing my little one! The formula is a joy to apply and wear! I recently picked up the shade Sunset Cruise and love it! What’s more, the packaging is recyclable (and cute!)
NYX Cosmetics Full Throttle Lipstick – The newest addition to NYX’s lipstick range, this matte waterproof lipstick is the bomb when it comes to full-on color! It goes on smooth and then sets to a completely matte finish that lasts amazingly well, even through eating and drinking and doesn’t bleed or smudge.
An ultra-matte lipstick like this takes getting used to as it does feel a bit dry once set, especially if you have dry lips like mine. I would recommend exfoliating your lips if they are a dry or flaky, because this lipstick might accentuate any dryness. I use a light layer of lip balm as base, and it makes the wear more comfortable without affecting the performance of this lipstick. If you are mad about mattes, this one is a must-try!
Maybelline Lip Studio Color Blur Matte Lip Pencil – This dual-ended twist-up cream matte pencil is more of a lipstick, and a good one at that! It has a lot going for it – from a bold color payoff in just one swipe to a soft matte finish that isn’t drying. The formula is incredibly smooth and lightweight, and glides across lips with ease.
The color wears off in about three to four hours for me (even quicker if I have a meal), but some shades leave behind a stain as they fade. My favorite shades are Cherry Cherry Bang Bang and Fast & Fuchsia. It also comes with a blurring smudger on the other end to create a softly blurred look but personally, the faded out lip look isn’t really my thing!
NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick – NYX makes great lipsticks and this one is truly a gem that does what it says! It’s creamy & lightweight with a hydating satin finish and packs a pigmented punch! The formula can easily be layered and is fairly long lasting. I’m currently coveting the new hot pink shade called Hot Nights.
NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream – There are quite a few NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams in my makeup collection and for a really good reason! From its creamy matte texture that blends evenly to its non-drying, comfortably long-wearing formula that you can count on for hours of wear, there’s so much to love about this matte lipstick!
And the shade selection is beautiful, ranging from soft pinks to deep plums. These definitely feel a lot more luxe than their $6 price tag!
L’Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color – Yes, another one from L’Oreal..they have been totally rocking it lately in the lip department! With the color impact of a lipstick and high shine of a gloss, this creamy lipcolor is truly a delight with its plush, moisturizing feel and super-smooth opaque coverage! The sponge tip applicator makes application a breeze and offers precise, even distribution.
The color lasts for only about 1-2 hours, but my lips feels comfortably smooth and hydrated throughout the wear. There are plenty of shades to choose from an impressive range of pinks, reds and nudes, as well as brighter, deeper hues. My favorites are Blushing Harmony (my everyday go-to!) and Rose Melody.
Feel free to bookmark this page in case you need a few recs before your next lipstick hunting trip to the drugstore!
What’s your favorite drugstore lipstick? Would love to hear all about your top picks!
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