Looking for smudge-proof lipsticks with staying power? We put six of the best lasting lipsticks through their paces & share our top tips for giving them extra longevity
Love lipstick but don’t love reapplying it as you eat, drink, sweat and talk throughout the day? Us neither. But there is a solution to this age-old problem: long-lasting lipstick.
Traditionally, the best long-lasting lipstick was often a liquid formula with a matte finish, but now, lip stains and glossier textures are just as common in smudge-proof products – plus, there are some seriously good budget-friendly options to be had.
To help you find your perfect match, our Health & Beauty team has tested some of the best and most hyped long-lasting lipsticks out there – searching for a high-pigment, long-lasting lip colour that stays put. Armed with our top tips, you’re guaranteed to get the most out of them too.
Revlon Colorstay Suede Ink Lipstick
Tried by Jo Hoare, senior editor, Boots Health & Beauty
Whoever called it Colorstay wasn’t kidding: eating, drinking, kissing, whatever you want to put this lippy through, the colour simply isn’t budging.
Drying down to an almost eyeshadow-like feel on the lips, it’s great for more mature mouths, as the no-budge formula won’t bleed or feather. I also love that there’s zero risk of lipstick ending up on teeth, clothes or cheeks as it’s totally transfer-proof. For bold colour I chose the orangey red shade, Feed the Flame, and it gave me peace of mind that it’s not going to look a mess after your first sip of coffee.
It can feel a little drying a few hours in, so make sure you’ve exfoliated and primed your lips with balm before applying it, as it will also show up any dry skin. Nail the prep though, and you’ll savour the benefits.
When it comes to removing it, you’ll need something with a bit of power – don’t do what I did and forget your cleanser on a weekend away and ruin two hotel wash cloths! Micellar water will do the trick, but you’ll need to gently scrub.
Fenty Beauty Fenty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick
Tried by Ayesha Muttucumaru, associate digital editor, Boots Health & Beauty
Rihanna herself rocked this very lipstick in this exact shade – The MVP – during this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. And its staying power, capable of withstanding everything from flying platforms to scene-stealing choreography (all while RiRi was pregnant), was on full display through countless close-ups and TikToks. Suffice to say, it has a stellar track record, but how would it fare against my equally glamorous line-up of morning coffee, rush hour commute and, most importantly, snacks? I found out.
A punchy red lipstick with a matte finish that’s all about high pigment and maximum impact: its shade looked like the perfect disrupter to my current wardrobe of peaches and pinks, so I wore it on a day when I needed a bit of a boost and boy did it deliver. It’s a colour that commands confidence.
Despite looking pretty high-maintenance, it was really easy to apply. It wasn’t cakey or drying like other matte liquid lipsticks I’ve tried in the past – its whipped texture felt light and comfortable, while its doe-foot applicator provided the perfect amount of precision to keep my handiwork sharp and clean.
With a shade as unforgiving as this one, I was concerned about how it would hold up. I did find that it transferred a bit onto my water glass and coffee mug, but as it doesn’t sell itself as transfer-proof, I don’t think I should hold that against it. The colour was still bold and bright – enough to help wake me up from my post-lunch lull – and felt so light and non-drying that it definitely has an edge against matte lipsticks in my collection that claim to be ‘transfer-proof’.
My recommendations? Apply a lip liner underneath for best results. Or blot lips using a tissue and your finger after applying (also great for touch-ups during the day), before pressing your lips together for a stain-like effect. Most importantly though, give it time to dry down (I’d suggest five minutes), to help give it extra longevity. I was impressed overall, but for me, the shade and non-drying texture is what gives this MVP its USP, as well as its full coverage colour payoff.
Kylie Cosmetics® Matte Lip Kit
Tried by Emma Binns, social media community manager, Boots Health & Beauty
I've been searching for an everyday lip combination that will last all day in the summer sun, so when a friend recommended the iconic Kylie Cosmetics Matte Lip Kit in shade One Wish, I had to give it a go.
This was actually the first time I'd tried one of the Kylie Lip Kits. What struck me right away was how pretty the packaging is, and how handy it is having the full set so you know it’ll all match really well.
At first I wasn't sure if it was going to be too dry or if the colour was going to be right for me, but as soon as I put it on, I absolutely loved it! I was surprised at how smoothly it went on, especially as it was a matte lipstick. It didn't feel drying at all, and it felt so natural on my lips. I put it on at 10 in the morning, and after multiple coffees and lunch, it was still firmly in place!
This is definitely one to try if you're looking for a nude summery lip.
Huda Beauty Lip + Cheek Stain
Tried by Andrea Leebody, associate editor, Boots Health & Beauty
I have to confess, I’m not usually the biggest fan of a lip stain. In my mind, one false move and you’re scrubbing mistakes off those lips for days. But, having been promised (by TikTok, obviously) that new gen lip stains are more hydrating and forgiving than their predecessors, I was willing to give Huda’s latest lip offering a go.
Super-easy to apply with the reservoir doe-foot applicator, the formula was creamy and dried to a matte-lipstick look – my usual comfortable go-to. When the stain was semi-dry, I smoothed the edges by dabbing with my finger for a slightly blurred look. Dry lips – another classic bugbear of lip stains – wasn’t an issue as this felt surprisingly hydrating (it’s boosted with hyaluronic acid powder and coconut extract).
As for the shade? At first, I was worried the pigment was a little lacklustre but once it dried, the colour popped to a really pretty, wearable coral – true to its shade name, Coral Kiss. I’d definitely keep this one in my bag for daytime summer socialising or trips to the office.
But the big question is, how long does it last? Well, first off, this one passed the transfer test. I’m someone who grapples with lip products often smudging on my teeth, so this was an unexpected perk of a lip stain!
Just don’t expect it to last all day; I reckon I got around four hours of wear at a BBQ, which, to be fair, included eating, drinking, and grappling with a toddler. However, despite not lasting quite as long as I expected, it did fade pretty evenly to a less punchy coral that still had a little touch of colour.
All in all, I’ve been won over to the benefits of a stain in my make-up bag – mainly for its one-swipe-and-forget-about-it charm.
No7 Pro Artist Matte Muse Lipstick
Tried by Lydia Sansome, beauty content specialist, Boots Health & Beauty
I don’t usually reach for No7 lipstick, but the new Pro Artist Collection looked so sleek that I had to give it a try.
Before I even got to the lipstick, I couldn't help but notice how gorgeous the packaging is – and it has a really satisfying magnetic click when you open and close the lid!
When it comes to the lipstick itself, I love its creamy formula because it doesn’t feel drying, and it’s not sticky either. I put it on at 11am, and when I checked again at 7pm, the colour hadn’t budged all day – this was after food and drink too!
Even though I don’t tend to go for ‘nude’ colours – I always thought darker shades suit my skin tone best – I picked the colour Modern Nude Chic, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was the perfect finishing touch to a natural make-up look. And even though it stayed put all day, it was easy to remove with a make-up wipe.
Now I’m excited to try the Rose Couture shade too!
Maybelline® SuperStay Vinyl Ink Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick
Tried by Olivia Perl, digital writer, Boots Health & Beauty
Good news, fans of budget-friendly beauty, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a genuinely good long-lasting lipstick. The Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink has been part of my make-up collection for the last few months and I reach for a brilliant red shade, such as Wicked, more often than I ever thought I would when I first tried it.
Not quite a lipstick, not quite a lipgloss, the hybrid, latex-like finish instantly piqued my interest and when I first slicked the decidedly rock ‘n roll shade over my lips, I couldn’t help but notice that my pout looked fuller and juicier.
Was it love at first swipe? Honestly, no. It takes quite a bit of time for the lippie to dry down and when I touched it with my finger, it felt tacky and transferred. But once it has – give it five minutes before you eat a pizza or drink a cup of tea – the magic begins. It doesn’t move.
I wore this just the other day to eat picky bits and enjoy a tipple in the sun. I confidently left the little rectangular tube at home because I knew I wouldn’t need to top it up, even though the shade I was wearing was a vibrant red. Red is a particularly difficult shade to wear because it’s so obvious when it comes off, but with this little hero you’ll be fully covered.
