Easier to apply than a lipstick but longer lasting than a lip gloss: the humble liquid lipstick is a makeup tool that's versatile enough to carry you through all occasions.
Perfect for adding a quick slick of colour before heading to work or brilliant for elevating your makeup on a night out, the best liquid lipsticks promise to perform for hours on end without fading, transferring or smudging.
You'll find liquid lipsticks sold at all price points, from ones that cost no more than a few pounds right through to lipsticks that set you back a far larger amount. Before you buy your next liquid lipstick, keep in mind the following:
The formula
Look for a formula that's known for its longevity and can withstand eating, drinking, talking and anything else you may get up to with your lips throughout the day. The best formulas include things like vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and coconut oil that moisturise and nourish the lips without counteracting impressive colour pay off.
The finish: matte, satin, glossy or something else?
Matte liquid lipsticks provide a smooth, velvety finish with no shine. They tend to be long-lasting but can be more drying than other finishes - you'll want to pay closer attention for those aforementioned moisturising ingredients to keep your pout happy.
Satin liquid lipsticks provide a semi-matte finish with a slight sheen. They tend to be more moisturising than matte lipsticks and have a less dramatic look.
Glossy liquid lipsticks provide a high-shine finish with a mirrored sheen. You may find that they’re less long-lasting than matte or satin lipsticks and can be sticky - closer to the traditional lip gloss.
The ingredients
If you've got sensitive skin, look for liquid lipsticks with a shorter ingredients list to avoid irritation.
We've rounded up all of the best liquid lipsticks.
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Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Colour
At first glance, Fenty Beauty’s Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Colour looks a little more like a nail varnish than a lip colour. But this liquid lipstick is one that promises to dazzle before you’ve even unscrewed its pointy mirrored top.
The love child of high-impact colour and low-maintenance longwear, Stunna Lip Paint provides a weightless, 12-hour liquid lipstick with a soft matte finish. Each shade was hand-picked by Rihanna and created to look incredible on everyone - following the same process she uses throughout all of her products.
Buy now £22.00, Boots
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick
Stila’s Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick is a brilliant full-coverage liquid lipstick that offers 12 hours wear and actually lives up to that claim. Available in a huge range of shades, this easy to apply liquid lipstick comes in matte, sheer and shimmer shades with a weightless feel that you’ll almost forget you’re wearing. It’s also transfer resistant, so you’re free to drink coffee, wine or drop the occasional kiss while wearing these shades.
Buy now £17.00, lookfantastic
Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick
He may not be without his controversies as a person but Jeffree Star’s liquid lipsticks can’t be faulted. This lightweight and long-lasting liquid lipstick comes in a huge variety of shades, making it a great choice for a nude daily wear as much as a vibrant and eye-catching night out choice. Each of these vegan shades is free from parabens and gluten and is often called one of the best matte lipsticks around.
Buy now £16.00, BeautyBay
MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipstick
MAC will forever be a leader when it comes to liquid lipsticks with a finish that refuses to budge. MAC’s Powder Kiss Liquid Lipstick is a liquid lipcolour with a whipped, mousse-like texture that delivers soft-focus moisture-matte effect and a comfortable colour with ten hours of hydration. If you’ve tried liquid lipsticks before and been put off by the drying effects, this is the one to go for.
Buy now £13.20, MAC
Clinique Pop Plush™ Creamy Lip Gloss
Clinique may call its Pop Plush a “Creamy Lip Gloss” but we think it blurs the lines between a liquid lipstick and a lip gloss. Rich, creamy and silky smooth to apply, this is a liquid lipstick for those who prefer a softer colour with no harsh lines. It comes in a range of warm and cold nude tones, providing plenty of variety to suit and complement all skin tones.
Buy now £21.00, Clinique
bareMinerals Mineralist Comfort Matte Liquid Lipstick
Run to bareMinerals if you’re someone who prefers to keep your makeup natural or has sensitive skin. Like the name suggests, this mineral-based makeup line is one of the best for delivering all of the colour without all of the chemicals.
The bareMinerals Mineralist Comfort Matte Liquid Lipstick is a velvety matte liquid lipstick that offers up to six hours of wear. Its transfer-resistant formula is paired with a lip-hugging applicator that allows for an effortless and precise application every time.
Buy now £20.00, lookfantastic
NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream
Liquid lipsticks don’t have to be expensive to be good quality, as proven by NYX. This budget friendly makeup line is one of the best around for affordable liquid lipsticks with all of the colour payoff and none of the high prices found amongst other brands.
The NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream is also a little smoother than many other brands, delivering velvet-smooth coverage with a pop of creamy colour that sets to an on-trend matte finish without ever feeling dry or cakey. It also smells delicious with a soft vanilla hue.
Buy now £7.00, Lookfantastic
NARS Air Matte Lip Colour
Nars is another reigning champion in the world of impressive makeup brands and its liquid lipsticks know exactly how to perform. The NARS Air Matte Lip Colour is powered by a featherlight pigment that never compromises on impact.
The result? A colour that looks like it requires heavy application but only really needs a single coat. Thanks to its custom-designed applicator, you’ll also be able to build, blend and define with utmost precision if you are looking to build upon it.
Buy now £24.00, Lookfantastic
Chanel Rouge Allure Ink
If you’re looking to keep things classic in terms of application and colour payoff, you might as well head straight to Chanel. The Chanel Rouge Allure liquid lipstick is a timeless choice from beginning to end, with its classy black packaging and gorgeous array of shades.
Its second-skin texture comes courtesy of its unique array of ingredients including wax (for softness, suppleness and a velvety feel), jojoba oil (for comfort, hydration and protection) and active ingredients - sappan wood, matcha green tea, sweet almond oil and a Vitamin E derivative - for nourishment.
Buy now £35.00, Boots
DIOR Rouge Dior Forever matte liquid lipstick
DIOR’s Rouge Dior Forever matte liquid lipstick doesn’t hold back when it comes to providing a matte finish and, if you’re someone who likes a matte to remain matte throughout the day, this is the perfect choice.
Offering 12 hours of wear no matter how much you’re eating, drinking or kissing, this liquid lipstick is one that holds its own come day or night. Before launching, the brand wanted to spend some time refining its already vibrant shades into this ultra-pigmented matte blend, which offers a brilliant fusion of the two.
Buy now £34.00, Selfridges
Verdict
Fenty Beauty never fails and this liquid lipstick ticks all the boxes for hours of glossy shine. If you’re looking for a new liquid lipstick, look no further than Fenty Beauty’s Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Colour.
