For many, many years I was a minimalist makeup kind of girl: the “no makeup” makeup look was the only kind I wanted. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve started to have a lot more fun with makeup—especially when it comes to lipstick.
I was talking with a friend recently about my small but mighty lipstick collection (small for obvious reasons, mighty because I love every one of these colors so much!), and was reflecting on how I found the ones I use the most. Ten years ago, my favorites were all ones I chose myself: I bought them in person after trying them on. But I realized that is only true of one of my current favorites.
That got me to wondering: where and how do you find your favorite lipsticks? Here’s a quick peek at my go-to lipsticks and how I discovered them.
The drugstore find: Cover Girl Outlast All-Day Lip Color with Topcoat in shades 621 and 555. I picked out these exact shades at Target after a local makeup artist raved about this lip color and these shades in particular, which she loved for their subtlety and versatility. I’m going to pass along the tip she gave me: use the clear gloss that comes with it so your lips don’t dry out!
The launch party gift: Sephora #Lipstories in #28 Popsicle Lips. I LOVE this whole line of Sephora Collection $9 lipsticks (they’re 30% off today thanks to the sale that ends 12/11), but this cheerful red is the one that started it all. Because we (briefly) talk about lipstick at 90% of our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club events, one thoughtful reader brought this as a gift to my Don’t Overthink It launch party. This color is bright, happy, and easy to wear: I took to it immediately!
The fruits of an internet deep dive: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Sexy Sienna. I want to start by saying I never do this, but is that protesting too much? Because of my skin tones, I have long been drawn to lipsticks in the coral family, and I wanted to find something akin to a shade Jennifer Aniston frequently wears. So I googled up a storm, and finally found an interview with her makeup artist that pointed me towards this warm, friendly neutral. I know we have a lot of Charlotte Tilbury fans around here but this is the only product of any kind I own (so far).
The gift from a chic friend: Westman Atelier Lip Suede in Les Rouges. This lip palette was a very nice gift from a friend who cheekily describes herself as a Westman groupie. I particularly like how the colors can easily be combined: the fuchsia + tomato red is my most-used blend.
The one I bought the (er, my) old-fashioned way: Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Bichette. The Westman Atelier line is getting easier to find (now it’s even at Sephora) but before it was everywhere, I jumped on the opportunity to try it when I visited a CosBar while traveling. I use this product most frequently as a lipstick, even though it’s technically a “blush stick”: a big part of its appeal is that I can and do use it for cheeks, lips, and eyes which makes morning makeup easy, easy, easy—especially when I’m on the road. I love this layered with Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip Balm in Garçonne for fall and winter.
Now it’s your turn to share. What are your favorite lipsticks and, importantly, how did you discover them?
P.S. Tried and true beauty and skincare products I never want to be without, and 13 skincare favorites for winter weather.
39 comments
Clinique- Angel Red
I’m constantly on the hunt for the perfect red. Maybe I’ll find it here in the comments.
Lisa Eldridge lipsticks are my absolute favourite, and she has an amazing selection of reds -whether your perfect shade is bright and punchy, deep and vampy, or something in between. My favourite formula is the Intensely Saturated line – it’s more on the matte side but still has a hint of sheen, smooths over any lip lines, and is comfortable for all-day wear. However, I have shades in all her formulas, and I love every single one of them. Highly recommend!
Charlotte Tillbury Red Carpet Red is amazing. I saw it on a salesperson In Nordstrom and I haven’t looked back!
I love Gressa’s Aux Rouge – such a great red.
I’m a big fan of Flower Beauty lipsticks. My favorites are Buttercup and Spiced Petal.
Clinique – Black Honey
or
Burt’s Bees – Starry Night
Both are similar in color, but the second choice is more affordable!
Pat McGrath lipsticks (available at Sephora!) have the best texture of any lipstick I’ve ever used. They don’t dry my lips at all but last and last.
Color The World (colortheworldlipsticks.com) is a family-run company in Raleigh, N.C. They use all natural ingredients and donate a portion of their sales to different charities. They have a bunch of fun colors that come in really cute biodegradable cases. A possible downside is that they’re online only, but since first ordering from them, I never buy lipsticks anywhere else. They also have eye makeup, face creams, etc. My everyday go-to is Empowered, but honestly, they’re like potato chips–impossible to choose just one!
I am super pale with blonde hair and I’m over 60 so I’ve given up on lipsticks and any form. I’m convinced there’s nothing that’s going to look natural on me especially since my lips are thinner because of age. I just use Chapstick.
Lauren, you should try Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick. I am in nearly every way the polar opposite of you- under 60, brown skin, black hair, full lips but this stuff works on everyone for a very subtle lipstick look. I don’t know how! Go to your local Clinique counter and give it a try.
My current favorites are Smashbox Be Legendary cream lipstick in Fig and Tula SOS in Blackberry Velvet. I found both when I went to Sephora to buy foundation.
I read a book about how not to look old. It said that we should wear pink after 60, but a noticeable pink. Lipstick matters, do not give up!!!
Lipsticks always dry out my lips horribly. I am SO glad I found Beauty Counter (discovered on IG) because their lipstick is so moisturizing it’s just like putting on lip balm. My favorite color (same for my mom and MIL) is Raisin, a brown berry.
Mine too! I love Beauty Counter lipstick in Raisin. It’s so smooth and moisturizing. I have several tubes all over my house and purse!
My current favorites are Smashbox Be Legendary cream lipstick in Fig and Tula SOS in Blackberry Velvet. I found both when I went to Sephora to buy foundation.
I saw the MAC Amplified Brick-a-La on my cousin’s lips. It was the perfect color for her and since we have similar coloring, I started wearing it immediately. 15 years later, it’s still the only color I wear.
I have high hopes yet zero confidence when it comes to choosing lipstick. A drawer full of mauvy-pinks attest to my fear and indecision! And investing in a stick that doesn’t work is always disheartening. I, too, want to get more into lipsticks — but how?!
Do you have a Sephora nearby? You can get some guidance and choose samples from a salesperson.
My current favorites are Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk and Cliniques Black Honey. Both are excellent for my coloring
CoverGirl Outlast is my go-to choice, no matter what the color. It’s a Stain and therefore does not bleed out of the tiny wrinkles around my mouth. AT 70 years old I guess I should be glad that these are the only wrinkles I have so far…
I have 3 favorites that are go-to for me.
#1 is Lancome lip gloss color 323. I first got this free with purchase, then in a buy two get one!
#2 is OFRA, Madison Miller long lasting liquid lipstick in shade Oh My
#3 is Sera phone Berry +juice in Rose Current.
The last two I found in a beauty box Ipsy subscription. And repurchased at their site. I no longer get the boxes as I have enough product to last me for at least 5 years!
My method is entirely unscientific and unsophisticated—when I was young, my lips were naturally very red, it was embarrassing, all my schoolfriends would taunt me and ask if I was wearing lipstick. Nobody wore lipstick in the 70s in school! NOW my lips are draining of color as I age (and I wish I could have back my natural red lips) so I always look for a lipstick that most imitates my natural, old color, but just a tad darker, so they show up! I just go to the drug store and look for a brownish–dark red color, and what I have been wearing for years now is Revlon Super Lustrous “Rum Raisin” 535.
This looks like another color that may work for a variety of skin tones. I mostly use the long last lipsticks that don’t smear and don’t need touching up but will have to try this.
Love this thread. I am struggling because I am finding many lipsticks, including Clinique, to be very irritating, as if I have an allergy. Any suggestions for someone like me with skin sensitivity?
Try Beauty Counter!
I love love love the Cashmere Wet and Wild lipstick! It’s so glossy and nourishing & only cost less than $2. I’ve worn it for years. Tried other expensive lipsticks but don’t near meet my expectations! Hard to believe how good this inexpensive lipstick is!
What fun! Thanks for the peak and for the Sephora popsicle lips recommendation. It’s one of my favorites now too. Here are the rest of them.
Drugstore finds: (1) Chapstick House Red made for Target, (2) L’Oreal Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in Varnished Rosewood (this is my perfect nude), (3) Neutrogena Moisture Stick in Classic Red and Fresh Orchid, and (4) Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20 in Fresh Plum.
Sephora finds: Ilia Balmy Tint in Wanderlust
Online finds: (1) Clinique Black Honey, and (2) Clarins Lip Comfort Oil Shimmer in Burgundy Wine.
I always like Clinique (Angel Red) and occasionally Revlon, but a few years ago I was going to be in a wedding where our hair/makeup was being done at 10am, and the wedding was at 5pm. I hit up a friend who sells LipSense and it’s now my go-to. I do occasionally go back to Clinique (I use them for almost everything else) and my daughter is getting into make-up – I plan to start her there.
Maybelline 24 hour SuperStay Fuscia. Reasonably priced.
Perfect color with lip gloss /moisturizer works for me, and it truly stays on ( unless you eat greasy food).
I just went to Sephora the other day to browse and ended up trying on (and buying) two lipsticks. One is YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm in Rouge Studio — it’s a subtle pinkish red tint that looks and feels amazing. The other is YSL Rouge Pur Couture Satin Lipstick in Rouge Paradoxe. This is a bold red that’s perfect for the holiday season! I like trying them first because I’m picky with the texture and finish of lip products.
I was on the hunt for the perfect red lipstick for years. I would stop people on the street to ask what color they were wearing, but I couldn’t find one that looked right on me – some went too orange, some too blue/purple. Finally, I message the meteorologist at our local news station and asked her what color she wore. She raved about Sephora’s Lip Stain in Always Red because it is a true red under the tv lights. I tried it and fell in love – it’s all I wear now. Although I did find that Fenty in the color Uncensored is a very close match. However, it’s hard to beat the $15 Sephora price.
https://www.sephora.com/product/cream-lip-stain-liquid-lipstick-P281411?skuId=1296060&icid2=products%20grid:p281411:product
https://www.sephora.com/product/stunna-lip-paint-P39787544
Fantastic read! I jotted a few colors down to check out! Thanks!
I use LipSense it lasts all day.
I have always had lines that love to suck the lipstick up to make my lips look like porcupines. Of course it has gotten worse with age. I saw a real pretty color on one of my daughter’s friends and commented on it. She said she has the same issue but this one doesn’t run. I tried it on and am hooked. Maybelline Super Stay Ink Crayon #45.
Amy said Clinique Black Honey and I totally agree. It is known as the shade that looks good on all skin. It looks very dark in the tube but it goes on perfectly and I can attest, looks good on everyone I have seen use it.
I rarely wear lipstick but when I do it’s Blck Honey by Clinique. I have a drawer full of lipsticks I’ve tried and I keep going back… I’m 70+, my lips seem to be thinning bit.
Maybelline Color Sensational in Pink Wink (105) is my everyday go to lipstick and my daughters love it too! It is creamy without being sticky and not over the top. I’m 72 and though can easily go without most make-up I won’t leave the house without lipstick. It makes me look just a little pulled together.
I like the Sephora Popsicle lips!
A classic is Revlon’s Fire & Ice, supposedly a color Marilyn Monroe wore.
I love a bright red that is not orangey toned.
I’m one of those people who natural lip color turns lipsticks strange colors to the point that I’ve had a number of professional make up artists do a double take (and I can’t wear Black Honey!). And with my fair skin and darkish hair, they always want to use red. So I’ve been experimenting on my own for years. I have an number of pink-mauve-YLBB (your lips but better), but I also love a coral lip, so much that I ordered Ann’s rec and I love it!! My favorite coral is a now discontinued Laura Gellar but I think the Jelly Balm in Just Peachy is close. I also really love Jones Road lipsticks (Bobbi Brown’s new co). They look bright in the tube but are really beautiful on. I recommend Pink Rose