17 Best Drugstore Lipsticks for Everyday Looks to Big-Time Drama

Whether you’re a longtime lipstick aficionado or a newbie, we recommend trying the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick at least once. This classic lipstick comes in 91 shades, glides on effortlessly and supplies impressive moisture, so your lips will never look dry and flaky. At less than $7, we think it offers excellent results for the price.

As with many moisturizing lipsticks, this product fades and transfers easily, so you will need to reapply throughout the day (and double check your teeth). In addition, not every shade is available at every drugstore.

Want a rich pigment that doesn’t budge? The Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick is our top choice; it lasts longer than the promised 16 hours. We love that it isn’t as drying as other long-lasting contenders, and the small applicator helps you create a precise, bold lip.

Of course, long-lasting wear means the pigment is difficult to completely remove. It may also become drying during the day despite hydrating ingredients, so carry around a clear lip balm or gloss to reapply as needed. Note that a few Amazon customers experience packaging issues with this product.

Lip stain lipsticks are a great way to achieve all-day lip color without the heavy feel of makeup, and the Rimmel Provocalips is an excellent place to start. The staining process is simple: First apply the color and keep your lips apart for 60 seconds while drying. Then, apply the top gloss coat (the other side of the tube) to lock in moisture and shine. The result is a long-lasting color that doesn’t feel sticky or dry.

Unfortunately, some buyers experience flaking after wearing this lipstick all day, and some say that they have to reapply gloss often so their lips don’t feel dry. A few customers have also experienced issues when ordering from Amazon, and worry that the products they receive are out of date.

In this day and age, it sounds impossible to pay less than a dollar for any sort of beauty product, which is why the Wet n Wild Silk Finish Lipstick is such a unicorn. This product retails for $1.19 but often goes on sale for two cents below a dollar. Plus, it leaves plenty of rich pigment and comes off easily at the end of the day.

However, some buyers note that the advertised color doesn’t precisely match the one they receive. This formula also isn’t long lasting, and may dry out lips as a result of the product fading quickly and needing frequent reapplications.

While we don’t believe you have to spend more than $15 to discover a great lipstick, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge. This pricey tube delivers beautiful results; it has a smooth glide and a satin finish, and the formula lasts for 12 hours — which is unusual for traditional lipstick.

For the price, we wish this product came in more nude shades, particularly for people with darker skin. A few buyers note that the formula doesn’t last as long in certain shades, and others think the satin finish is closer to a gloss.

There’s a reason classic lipsticks never go out of style; the L’Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick is tried and true because it applies like butter, never feels drying and deposits a rich color. It comes in an impressive 52 shades, and the price is excellent.

However, this formula may smudge or fade, so reapplying throughout the day is common. Using the L’Oréal Colour Riche Original Lip Liner beforehand and the Infallible Plump Gloss afterward can enhance results, but some buyers dislike having to buy three products. Note that Amazon has experienced shipping issues and some customers receive broken lipstick tubes.

Mature skin needs extra TLC, and unfortunately, lipsticks can be harsh on the lips over time. We love the L’Oréal Age Perfect Luminous Hydrating Lipstick because it is formulated for people over 50. How it works: The outer layer deposits rich color while the inner layer deposits a serum with skin-friendly ingredients like vitamin B5 and jojoba seed oil.

This lipstick comes in just 10 shades, though most customers seem pleased with the shade options. Some buyers note that the product can smudge because of the moisturizing serum, and others wish the lighter shades deposited a little more color.

Struggle to find nude shades that complement your skin tone? Try the Lip Bar’s Vegan Liquid Matte Lipstick. The brand offers shades that work for all skin tones but enhance darker tones particularly well. Our favorite nude and brown-red shades for darker skin include Savage, Naturalista, Rebel and Lowkey. We also love how long this formula lasts — it stays on all day without flaking or smudging.

It’s hard to find cons with this gorgeous lipstick, but a few buyers wish there were more shades available. In addition, some customers note that adding any sort of gloss or top coat causes the product to smudge. As with most liquid lipsticks, this product can be drying.

Matte lipsticks have a reputation for causing dry, cracked lips, but not Maybelline’s Color Sensational Ultimatte Lipstick. Gentle hydrators like silicone and jojoba oil provide long-lasting moisture so you don’t have to apply a top coat of lip gloss. Plus, the lightweight formula has a blurring effect, which helps prevent it from settling into fine lines.

A few buyers note that the finish is actually between matte and satin, thanks to the hydrating ingredients. In addition, the formula doesn’t have the staying power you may expect from a matte lipstick, and may smear as a result.

There’s nothing like a richly-pigmented, mattifying lipstick to bring your entire makeup look together, and the NYX Lip Lingerie XXL is the best product for the job. We love that this formula feels weightless but doesn’t budge or fade during all-day wear. Plus, the small foam applicator helps you apply the formula precisely before it dries.

The downsides: This formula is drying, so buyers who dislike that dry feel recommend applying vaseline or a clear gloss on top. Just note that doing so may cause the color to smudge. And though the cake batter fragrance is delicious, it may cause irritation on sensitive skin.

Looking for a creamy, classic lipstick that doesn’t look too wet or shiny? We love the Covergirl Continuous Cover Lipstick for this reason. It has a smooth application and deposits plenty of pigment, and the moisturizing formula keeps limps hydrated. Plus the shades are soft and flattering on a wide range of skin tones. The color we love most for every skin tone: It’s Your Mauve.

While this product doesn’t smudge as badly as highly moisturizing formulas, it does fade throughout the day. A few buyers were also disappointed to find that certain shades didn’t match their expectations and that the product seemed old, which may be a problem when purchasing from Amazon.

If you like the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid but prefer a satin finish, try the Super Stay Vinyl Ink Lipcolor. This liquid lipstick offers the same long-lasting results but with a slightly brighter finish that helps reinstate moisture. We love the 20 rich shades offered.

On the other hand, a few buyers found that the finish was somewhat tacky. Because it can stick to itself, it may pill in the corners of your mouth. Others found that it smudges if you apply a gloss or simple vaseline on top.

If you’re looking for a lipstick that truly won’t budge, consider a lip tint over liquids and cream-based formulas. The Etude Fixing Tint is our first pick because it provides waterproof color. To use it, apply it to your lips with your mouth open, and leave your mouth open for at least 60 seconds before closing. Once it dries down, it won’t budge!

Since this color stays all day, it’s difficult to remove. It can also be drying, so we recommend applying a gloss or clear moisturizer on top. A few buyers were disappointed in the color choices, and noted that the dry color is different from the wet color.

The Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Color is a great alternative to the SuperStay Vinyl Ink and SuperStay Vinyl Ink if you want a hydrating, glossy finish without sacrificing staying power. Here’s how it works: First, apply the liquid lipstick with lips open, and let it dry for two minutes. Then apply the ultra conditioning balm. This works better than just applying gloss or vaseline over matte lipstick because it’s formulated so that it won’t cause smudging.

The downsides: We’ve found that the balm needs a reapplication or two throughout an evening of eating and drinking, but the color lasts a long time. A few buyers disliked the small tube size, and others felt that it was too difficult to remove.

Unfortunately, many lipsticks can cause your lips to look overly dry and cracked, which is a sign of irritation. The Bare Minerals Mineralist Lipstick is a great option to try if you have sensitive skin, because it’s formulated with non-irritating, hydrating ingredients that protect your lips from further damage. It comes in 21 shades with primarily pink and red hues.

Some buyers wish that Bare Minerals would expand the shade range to include more nude colors. In addition, this product is likely to smudge and fade because of its hydrating ingredients, so you will need to reapply it frequently.

The Burt’s Bees Lipstick performs just as well as the lipsticks of established brands, only it uses natural ingredients that are less likely to irritate your skin or get flagged as potentially toxic. We love the creamy, satin finish and the 18 rich and hydrating shades, though a few shades are somewhat lackluster.

Buyers note that this product tends to smudge and fade, so you will need to reapply throughout the day. In addition, certain shades don’t apply as smoothly as others. This product is also not vegan because it contains beeswax.

Looking for a matte, liquid lipstick that promises non-toxic, clean ingredients? Try the Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick. Hydrating ingredients like avocado oil and hyaluronic acid prevent the cracked, dry appearance of traditional matte lipsticks. We also like that this product pairs well with the Honest Beauty Tinted Lip Balm if you want to create a softer, muted color.

What we don’t like: This product comes in just eight shades and there are no nude colors. We also wish the brand showcased the lipsticks on people with different skin tones (not just Jessica Alba), so that buyers could see what the different colors might look like on their skin. This formula is not as long-lasting as other liquid lipsticks.