The Best Long-Lasting Lipsticks That Wear For Hours, Based On Testing
The best long-lasting lipsticks make it effortless to wear your signature color, whether it’s the rosy nude you swipe on for work or the bold crimson you want to last through the day. Their rich pigments coat your lips for hours yet also feel soft and flexible, not drying, which is a tricky balance to strike. They usually set within minutes so they won’t rub off, fading slowly and evenly over time. After testing for these factors as well as considering the range of available shades, I found Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick to be the best long-lasting lipstick overall because it sets within minutes, doesn’t smudge or feel dry, lasts for up to eight hours.
I tested 16 long-lasting lipsticks to find the most wearable, comfortable ones on the market.
The L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain (a hybrid of a stain and liquid lipstick) is my top value pick because of its pleasant although less creamy texture, even fade and expensive-feeling doe foot applicator. (Read my in-depth reviews of the Pat McGrath Labs and L’Oréal Paris lipsticks here.) Here are all the winners from my testing process—and below them a list of other options I tested that didn’t make the cut.
Pat McGrath Labs’ long-lasting liquid-lipstick formula strikes the ideal balance between endurance and comfort. It dries to a no-smudge matte finish in minutes. I touched my hands to my lips to see if the lipstick had set at the 2-minute mark, and nothing came off on my fingers. Hours later, the pigment was still evenly in place. For me, it lasted (meaning the color was noticeable and consistent across both entire lips) for 6 to 8 hours. That’s shorter than some of its competitors, but the even fade-out is worth the trade-off. I never looked as if I were wearing a bright lip liner only. The pigment recedes subtly without flaking or leaving an awkward outline.
Then there’s the way it feels: This Pat McGrath Labs tube delivers the most comfortable texture I tried. Dougherty says, “The rule is, the creamier and more moisturizing the lipstick, the less long-wearing it will be.” This one finds a middle ground. It goes on creamy and dries quickly to a matte, almost powdery finish. It feels like coloring your lips in with a creamy pencil, but it looks much more even—and it’s much easier to do.
With 15 shades, this Pat McGrath Labs lipstick has a smaller color range than some other brands, but you might say it’s just tightly curated. As Dougherty says, part of what you’re paying for is McGrath’s eye for color. These shades are designed to be chic and modern, and flattering across a wide range of skin tones. For many people, myself included, this simplifies the color-selection process and is a pro rather than a con. The one true red in the collection is also an instant classic: the blue-leaning Elson 4 spotted on the likes of Taylor Swift.
My pick for best long-lasting lipstick overall, the Pat McGrath LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte … [+]
Although it’s a professional-quality product, the flat, teardrop-shaped doe-foot wand makes putting it on simple for anyone to do. It’s pointy and not too fluffy, so you can get a crisp, tight edge. I also appreciated that it didn’t leave any residue behind that required an oil-based makeup remover to tackle; it faded effortlessly.
Overall, this is the lipstick I wish I had had for my wedding. I had been hesitant to choose a long-lasting formula because I didn’t want to risk my lips looking flaky and dry; I would rather grab the tube from my purse and reapply. This formula would have given me exactly what I wanted. Pink Desire is the vivid warm pink I didn’t know I needed.
My long-term testing update: Since I first started testing lipsticks, this one has still been far and away my favorite. I still haven’t tried another with a texture and longevity that can compare. It feels creamy and matte and plush but lasts through dinners and drinks—I’ve done so. The only downside in my view, the relatively narrow color range, is one you can easily overcome if you’re willing to buy more than one tube. The colors are made to be mixed. I’ve found that I like layering Pink Desire and Wild Orchid to get my perfect pink.
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Don’t let the word “stain” in the name fool you: This L’Oréal lip color has more heft and plenty of staying power—roughly 6 hours in my tests. Like my best overall pick, it also faded evenly over time, which differentiated it from other drugstore contenders.
The pointy, diamond-shaped doe foot is great for getting a very precise application. It’s thoughtfully designed, more like what you’d expect to see on lipsticks from L’Oréal sister brands Lancôme or Armani Beauty, but not necessarily on a drugstore tube.
A hybrid formula, the affordable L’Oreal Matte Lip Stain is one of the most comfortable and durable … [+]
Color-wise, you have a range of about 20 options to choose from. Finding them in stock at your drugstore or online is a bit of a crapshoot, but it’s worth the hunt to find your forever shade.
Where it doesn’t perform as well as my best overall pick is in the texture category. I like how lightweight it feels, but it isn’t as creamy as the Pat McGrath Labs lipstick. Still, it doesn’t feel as dry or sticky as many of the other contenders that cost quite a bit more, and it doesn’t flake, peel or crumble.
My long-term testing update: After several months of trying different long-lasting lipsticks, I still reach for this one when I want really lightweight color that lasts. I love how it works like a stain that takes longer to fade. I find that’s exactly what I want in the summer when I’m wearing less makeup overall. Compared with other long-lasting formulas I’ve tried, this one is more no-makeup makeup friendly. You won’t look odd if you go out wearing only this, mascara and your favorite sunscreen.
This pricey tube is a bit more of an investment than my best overall and value picks, but it sets within minutes to a transfer-proof matte finish that really lasts—in my testing, all day and well into the night. I tested Dior’s iconic 999 Forever Dior red and 100 Forever Nude, and they held on longer and felt more sophisticated than most competitors. Inexpensive long-lasting lipsticks can look a bit theatrical; this one makes a matte finish look polished, not painted on.
Where the Pat McGrath Labs lipstick has a unique powdery texture, this one feels more like a traditional lipstick—velvety with a slight sheen when you apply it and hours later. I didn’t feel a desire to apply balm the way I did with some of the other contenders. The film it forms on the lips is light, flexible and imperceptible. You forget you’re wearing lipstick until you see yourself in the mirror.
It also offers a rich range of shades—18, more than the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Legendary Wear, including plenty of strong reds. If you prefer variations of a classic statement color like a tomato or brick red, you’ll find plenty of options here.
As with my other picks, this lipstick has a user-friendly diamond-shaped doe foot that makes it easy to avoid staining your skin. You simply fill in your lips and let them dry for 5 minutes before rubbing them together.
My long-term testing update: I still think that this plush, long-lasting lipstick is worth $11 more than my best overall pick from Pat McGrath—from its chic tube (that matters to me) to its plush, classic lipstick feel. I love the pointy applicator and velvety finish in classic Dior colors I’m familiar with. It’s a bonus to me that I could wear the same shade I know and love in another lip product from the brand, say Dior 720, and get this long-lasting version for special occasions when I know won’t be able to reapply. It’s great for when you’ve settled on a signature color and want exactly that, whereas the Pat McGrath is more about experimenting and mixing.
Long-lasting lipsticks rarely feel—or look—as juicy as one you apply straight from the bullet. However, this two-step formula delivers the megawatt shine of a gloss that lasts a very long time—in my experience, all afternoon, through a multicourse dinner and even overnight.
The texture of the matte lipstick, the first step, alone feels quite drying, but it’s slick and comfortable after you brush on the included gloss. The gloss feels satisfyingly thick—you can tell it’s there—yet not tacky or heavy.
Both applicators make it possible to get very crisp lines and an even color distribution. The end of the doe foot on the color side is rounded and tapered. I’d prefer a triangular one, but the brush for the gloss on the other end makes up for that because it’s so satisfying to use. It has soft bristles and a fine tip that feels luxurious.
The Chanel lineup is especially strong in its bold pinks and reds. With 26 shades to choose from, you’ll find great options for all skin tones and undertones.
My long-term testing update: I’m continually impressed by how long this high-shine glossy lipstick lasts. If you want a glossy finish, this brush-on formula is the absolute best. When I put it on to go out to dinner, it makes me feel like I’m in a lipstick advertisement. The glossy formula might seem tricky to use, but I swear it really isn’t. I have never had it travel onto my teeth or skin. If it weren’t for the expectation that long-lasting lipsticks are matte, this one would be my favorite overall; it’s a clear winner in its category. I’m still using 47, Daring Red—I love how this cool red looks on my fair skin with blue undertones.
Other Long-Lasting Lipsticks I Tested
I tested 16 products, and 12 didn’t make the cut. Here’s why.
NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream: Reviewers rave about this $7 liquid lipstick’s creamy texture, sweet scent and durability, but it didn’t last as long as its competition. It faded for me in the center after about 90 minutes, leaving a lip-liner-only look behind.
Violette FR Petal Bouche Matte: This French company makes your life easy: It offers only three shades, and all promise to give you that Parisian je ne sais quoi. It smudged, felt drying and faded fast, but I loved how soft and blotted it looked.
Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick: This lipstick was promising because of its soft, moisturizing texture. It also comes in 74 shades, including really edgy colors like teals, violets and dark browns. It didn’t last as long as others I tested, but it’s a great affordable choice.
Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lipstick: I had the common experience with this one of winding up looking like I’d run out of the house with only lip liner on by lunchtime. And it was medium drying, like most of its competition.
Kjaer Weis Matte, Naturally Liquid Lipstick: Fans of this brand like that it uses certified organic ingredients and refillable packaging, but it wasn’t long-lasting by any means. It smudged all over the place, although it had a beautiful texture and rich pigment.
Out of the 16 options I tested, 12 didn’t make the cut because they felt too dry, faded unevenly, or … [+]
Maybelline Super Stay 24 Two-Step Liquid Lipstick Makeup: This OG long-lasting lipstick lasts too long—you have to intentionally take it off. The bigger issue is that it doesn’t stay fully intact and starts to look patchy, though it is easy to touch up.