Alyssa Brascia
Not to brag, but I'm pretty good at discovering hidden gems in the drugstore. It's my job, after all, to read reviews, research product labels, and test formulas to determine which high-end products are actually worth their spendier price tags and which ones you could skip in favor of a drugstore hero.
Admittedly, lipstick tends to skew toward the latter camp. Unless you have a luxury lippie you can't imagine parting ways with (I certainly have a few!), you can probably find a very similar option for $10 or less. According to the pros, drugstore picks can often be just as good (or even better!) than some spendier picks—you just need to know what to look for.
“When I’m looking for a good drugstore lipstick, the first thing I focus on is how it feels on the lips,” says celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard. “Lip feel, wearability, cushion, and length of wear matter the most to me.”
Don't let the budget-friendly prices fool you into thinking they aren't high-performing. From velvety mattes to glossy lip balms and long-lasting liquid finishes, these drugstore lipsticks below rival cult-favorite formulas three times their price. Keep scrolling—I'd wager you'll find a new makeup-bag staple.
The Best Drugstore Lipsticks, at a Glance
- Best Overall: Milani Color Statement Lipstick
- Best Satin: Covergirl Clean Lip Color
- Best Matte: Nyx Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream
- Best Long-Lasting: Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
- Best Hydrating: Maybelline Serum Lipstick
Best Overall: Milani Color Statement Lipstick
Pros: Comforting formula, skincare-infused, smooth color payoff
Cons: TBH, none
Shades: 23 | Finish: Satin
Who What Wear beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock has waxed poetic about this drugstore lippie so many times that I’m officially adding a few to my cart. (It doesn’t hurt that each tube is just $6.) McLintock favors the red hues Best Red and Matte Confident but can attest to the efficacy of the beiges, earthy browns, and pinks that also make up this line. “This lipstick costs a fraction of others I own, yet its hydrating formula and satin finish give my lips a nice, moisturized look,” McLintock previously told WWW. If you’re looking for a solid, low-priced, classic lipstick, this is the one to nab.
Customer review: “This lipstick is such a gem! The color payoff is bold and vibrant, and the formula feels creamy and comfortable on the lips. It glides on smoothly and wears beautifully without drying out. Plus, it has a light, pleasant scent. A high-quality lipstick at an affordable price—love it!”
McLintock wearing Milani's Color Statement Lipstick
Best Satin: Covergirl Clean Lip Color
Pros: Hydrating formula, skincare benefits, great for mature lips
Cons: Some shoppers debate its staying power
Shades: 23 | Finish: Satin
This satin-finish lip color is infused with squalane, plus avocado and aloe butters, to smooth lip lines and keep your pout hydrated. Despite the creamy consistency, these will not smudge or feather midday, which is a major pet peeve of mine. The creaminess reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Luxe Hydrating Lipstick ($45, BTW)—which I find super nourishing—and the pinky-brown shades are practically identical.
Customer review: “I have found a lipstick that is made for mature lips. Let's be real. I'm old. My lips are dry and cracked. I noticed recently that the lipstick I had been using was settling into my chapped lips. I ordered this lipstick and was pleasantly surprised at the moisture it provided in addition to a stunning color. It even stays on for a decent length of time.”
Best Matte: Nyx Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream
Pros: Comfortable formula, lightweight texture, impressive pigmentation
Cons: Small tube
Shades: 17 | Finish: Matte
Matte liquid lipsticks often feel like car paint. No matter how hydrating the formula seems in the tube, I often find my lips parched and flaking moments after swiping on the color. However, this drugstore hero from Nyx Cosmetics defies the odds with its whipped, weightless consistency and comfortable formula. I honestly forget that I'm wearing lipstick at all. It reminds me so much of the Nars Air Matte Lip Color ($28) with its dreamy shades and pillowy finish, except for a fraction of the price.
Customer review: “This looks so good on me and is honestly transfer-proof. It's so beautiful, I'm definitely repurchasing!”
Best Long-Lasting: Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
Pros: Up to 16-hour wear, high-impact pigmentation, comfortable wear
Cons: Difficult to remove
Shades: 24 | Finish: Matte
Spickard’s clients include Ciara Miller, Jenna Lyons, and Tayshia Adams (to name a few)—all of whom need to get glammed for hours-long days of filming and public appearances. Basically, their pouts can’t budge while talking, eating, or drinking. Though Spickard has a kit full of luxury options, the MUA often opts for this 16-hour-lasting Maybelline pick. “For extra-long-wear options, I reach for the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink, which is a classic staple,” he explains. Its smudge- and transfer-proof formula is packed with stay-put pigment, and its tapered doe-foot applicator makes it easy to accent the Cupid’s bow and carve smooth lines. Better yet, it’s surprisingly comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Customer review: “This lipstick was insane. I wore it for 12 hours straight for a festival and I never came close to needing to reapply it. It lasted through drinks, kisses, eating oily food, drinking out of the hose of a Camelback, and looked just as brand new as the moment I put it on. It didn't feather or bleed AT ALL. I got compliments on it all night, my girlfriends at the event kept commenting on how it never budged, and I told just about anyone who asked what product it was… Truly the best lip product I've ever used.”
Yaminah Mayo wearing liquid lipstick
Best Hydrating: Maybelline Serum Lipstick
Pros: Hydrating formula, offers lasting hydration, infused with skincare ingredients
Cons: Nothing to complain about
Shades: 16 | Finish: Satin, also offered in matte
If you want to try something similar to the Merit Signature Lip (currently on sale for $21) without the small splurge, I’d recommend giving the new Maybelline Serum Lipstick a whirl. “One of my new favorite discoveries is the Maybelline Serum Lipstick that launched in October,” says Spickard. “I love the shade range, and the formula has such a luxe, cushiony feel. It wears beautifully and has a long, comfortable wear that truly feels elevated for a drugstore lipstick.” Oh, and did I mention it’s packed with hyaluronic acid—enough to offer eight hours of hydration? Yeah, you need it.
Customer review: “I got two of the satin formula, and I genuinely think this is one of the best lipstick formulas I’ve ever tried! So smooth and beautiful, but still pigmented.”
Best Glossy: e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Core Lip Shine
Pros: Juicy formula, hydrates the lips, stacks up to luxury lookalikes
Cons: Shoppers lament its shorter staying power (but this is to be expected with glossy formulas)
Shades: 5 | Finish: Glossy
One of my all-time favorite lip products is RMS Beauty's Legendary Serum Lipstick ($36). It's richly pigmented yet non-drying, and it has long-wearing abilities like no other. I didn't think any other lippie could measure up, let alone an under-$10 pick, until I came across this e.l.f. number. It deposits a similar wash of color and drenches the lips in hydration without sliding off in minutes. The shade Ecstatic is a perfect dupe for the RMS plum-brown hue I typically reach for, and multiple reviewers also say it looks just like Clinique's cult-famous Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.
Customer review: “Excellent Clinique Black Honey ($28) dupe! Not incredibly long-lasting, but soothing, rich color, and incredible price.”
Jillian Foisie wearing glossy lipstick
Best Balm: L'Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick
Pros: Ultra-hydrating, skincare-powered, rich-looking flush of color
Cons: Shoppers cite a strong fragrance
Shades: 8 | Finish: Natural
"L'Oréal Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipsticks are great dupes for Dior Addict Lip Glow ($42). There, I said it," adds McLintock. It's a hot take, but she's totally right—I mean, even the two sheer, petal-pink shades are pretty similar. L'Oréal's option will only set you back $11, as opposed to Dior's $40-plus price tag, which feels like stealing. Plus, it’s got major skincare benefits: pomegranate extract helps soften, moisturize, and plump your lips for a more pillowy effect.
Customer review: “So pretty, just kind of lightly tinted. The texture felt super hydrating. I like to put on a couple layers for a slightly deeper color.”
Best Sheer: Sheglam Cushion Kiss Lipstick
Pros: Lightweight texture, moisturizing formula, buildable, blurring color
Cons: Not the most long-lasting
Shades: 12 | Finish: Matte
If you’re a fan of the French-girl blurred pout but don’t want to splurge on expensive French lippies, allow me to point you in the direction of this blendable, cushiony lipstick. Infused with nourishing peptides, plumping collagen, and moisturizing shea butter, this richly pigmented formula is equal parts comfortable and beautiful. Its matte finish reminds me of Violette_FR’s Bisou Balm, and I’d say SheGlam’s shade Strut is nearly a dead ringer for Violette_FR’s Mon Cherie—just for $22 less.
WWW senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider wearing blurred, French-girl lipstick
Best Frosted: Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick
Pros: Trendy frosted finish, comfortable wear, enhances the fullness of lips
Cons: Makeup minimalists may not prefer the shimmery finish
Shades: 4 | Finish: Shimmery
Remember Chantecaille's limited-edition Lip Cristal? The twinkling bullet was so pretty I almost didn't want to use it. (I definitely did, and it was stunning.) It's difficult to find an exact replica, but the frosted, '90s finish on this Rimmel lippie has a similar payoff. The shade Iced Rose is just divine, and its pearlescent, highlighting effect makes your lips appear even juicier. Plus, shoppers rave about how long-lasting the formula is and its nourishing, non-feathering wear on mature lips.
Customer review: “I am older, so I suffer with more dry lips, and Rimmel always has the most moisturizing lipsticks. I love them. It does have a small scent to it, but nothing that is overpowering… Overall, I love Rimmel lipsticks just because they are so moisturizing and I never even have to look to put them on because they never apply bad.”
Best High-Shine: Maybelline Super Stay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipstick
Pros: Up to 16-hour longevity, ultra-shiny finish, budge- and transfer-proof
Cons: Hard to remove
Shades: 20 | Finish: Very glossy
For a glossier liquid finish, you can't go wrong with Maybelline Super Stay. This moody cranberry is all I want to wear in the fall and winter, and it's similar to the high-shine finish of Chanel's Ultrawear Liquid Lip Colour ($50!). Spickard also beelines for this formula when he wants to go glossy. “Both formulas [including the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick] last incredibly well and do not move once they dry down,” the artist adds. “I use the shade Red Hot from Vinyl Ink on Jenna Lyons, and it’s one of her favorites when she wants that bold, signature high-shine lip.”
Customer review: “The shade 35 cheeky is perfect for my lips, and it stays on literally all day, no touchups. I'm so impressed. The price for this quality is insane. I rarely write reviews. This is the best.”
Jenna Lyons wearing red lipstick
What to Look For in a Drugstore Lipstick
- Formula: Not all lipsticks are made the same, and that sentiment surely stands in the drugstore department. Because of this, one of the paramount qualities to look out for in a lower-priced tube is the formula. Today, many drugstore lipsticks have softer, hydrating, and skincare-infused formulas that offer more comfortable wear—yes, even in matte and velvet finishes. However, there are some tubes with little to no skincare benefits, which may eventually feel drying.
- Finish: Another characteristic to keep in mind is the formula you prefer—or should try, if you’re not sure which works best for you. It’s easy to find drugstore lipsticks in glossy, satin, and matte finishes. Though you may be better suited to certain kinds over others. If you have dry lips, try a satin or glossy finish for a more comfortable experience. If your lips are characteristically hydrated, you may prefer a pillowy matte finish.
- Longevity: The last thing anyone wants to do is worry about their lipstick smudging or fading throughout the day. If you’re looking for something really moisturizing, your tube of choice will likely require a few extra applications (it’s the nature of things, unfortunately). But if you want something a little more long-wearing, stay-put formulas like the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink or Vinyl Ink could be great to keep in your rotation.
Which Drugstore Lipstick Is Best for Mature Lips?
Of our winners above, there are two hydrating picks I’d recommend for mature lips. Shoppers over 50 raved about the Covergirl Clean Lip Color and Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick, both of which offer moisturizing formulas, comfortable wear, and even some skincare benefits.
Covergirl stands out for its ultra-nourishing formula—infused with a handful of ingredients like squalane and avocado butter (it nearly feels like a balm)—whereas Rimmel impressed shoppers with its staying power and creamy, light texture. Both formulas resisted feathering into fine lines and wrinkles.
Tennille Jenkins wearing matte lipstick
Which Drugstore Lipstick Stays on the Longest?
Bar none, the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink and Vinyl Ink lipsticks have the longest staying power. If you’re looking for something that will last all day—through eating, drinking, talking, even kissing!—these are the MUA-approved picks to add to your cart. Oh, and each is less than $15. How can you beat that?
How Should You Remove Drugstore Lipstick?
While many lipsticks will eventually wear off with time, long-wearing formulas are a different beast. “Long-wear formulas do take a bit more effort to remove, so I always recommend an oil-based makeup remover paired with a high-quality cotton pad,” advises Spickard. “I love the Shiseido cotton rounds for taking off long-wear lipsticks cleanly and comfortably.”
How We Chose
After WWW beauty editors tested a handful of drugstore lipstick formulas of their own over the years, senior editor Jamie Schneider compiled a list of the best on the market. This piece was later updated by associate editor Alyssa Brascia, who offered her own insights gathered from personal testing and consulted celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard to compare notes. With the artist’s intel and recommendations in mind, we curated the most up-to-date buying guide for the lipstick section of the drugstore.
Why Trust Us
AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
