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Matte lips have made a major comeback as of late, popping up on the red carpet, runway, and magazine pages alike. The upside of opting for matte finishes, aside from their on-trend potential, is that they generally tend to be longer-lasting than their glossy or creamy counterparts. The downside? They can often be drying and start to crack or settle into lip lines as time goes on. That’s why finding a matte lip that doesn’t veer into chalky or flat territory is so important. “Choose a formula that has all the perks of a satin: emollient, creamy, and easy to wear,” says makeup artist Janice Daoud.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is L’Oréal’s Colour Riche Matte Lipstick, which has a rich and creamy formula that delivers a flawless matte finish and applies as smooth as a satin formula. We also love NYX’s Matte Lipstick for its unbeatable Shade Range and silky feel that never leaves the lips feeling dry or chalky.
We conducted hours of research on the best drugstore matte lipstick formulas, consulting with two makeup artists for expert-recommended picks. We evaluated each product on shades, texture, and skin feel. After considering dozens of options, we landed on the best in show.
Ahead, find the best drugstore matte lipsticks.
Best Overall
L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lipstick
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Target
Wide shade range selection
Creamy smooth application that feels nice
Lasts all day
Color is rich in pigment
Reviewers note shades shown online look different in person
Celebrity makeup artist Janice Daoud counts this formula as one of her all-time favorites due to its smooth application and long wear. Intensely rich and creamy, this somehow strikes that magical balance between going on and feeling completely comfortable while still delivering a perfectly matte finish. If you’re used to traditional lipsticks and looking to experiment with mattes, this is a perfect place to start since you truly won’t be able to tell the difference based on texture alone. Available in a wide range of 16 shades, from neutral nudes to bold brights, there’s something to fit any and every preference.
Price at time of publish: $8
Shade Range: 16 | Formula: Cream | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget
Wet n Wild MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick
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Ulta
Color is highly pigmented
Long-lasting
With its rich and creamy liquid texture, it feels really nice on the lips
It does run a bit and you may need to reapply frequently throughout the day
To be fair, all 12 of the lipsticks featured here are completely affordable, but ringing in at under $6, this is the most wallet-friendly of them all. Don’t be surprised when the liquid formula goes on wet and glossy; it quickly dries down to a flawlessly matte and highly-pigmented finish. It glides on easily and stays put, and the angled doe-foot applicator makes it easy to get completely precise color coverage.
Price at time of publish: $5
Shade Range: 7 | Formula: Liquid | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Longwear Formula
Maybelline New York SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
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Ulta
30 shades to pick from
Color is super rich in pigment
Lasts more than 16 hours
Reviewers say it doesn’t dry down as quickly as they would like and can end up feeling sticky
As a general rule, any kind of matte color will last longer than a glossy one, but the staying power of this formula is truly unparalleled. We’re talking up to 16 hours of wear—for us, it’s stayed on through a full day’s (and night’s) worth of eating, drinking, and even a make-out session.
The arrow-shaped tip makes it easy to apply, though a bit of advice—don’t press your lips together after swiping it on and be sure to give it a minute or two to set. Once it’s dry, it’s not going anywhere until you want it to. Plus, the matte finish is just matte enough without turning chalky or dry, no matter how long you wear it.
Price at time of publish: $11
Shade Range: 30 | Formula: Liquid | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Hydrating Formula
Revlon Matte Lip Balm
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Amazon
Easy to apply
Made with shea butter, mango, and coconut butter to provide hydration to lips
Has a super smooth velvety feel
Reviewers note it goes on too light and may need multiple swipes for standout color
Makeup artist Miguel Lledo is a big fan of lip crayons for their ease of application; they are totally fool-proof. You can easily swipe these on anytime, anywhere, even if you don’t have a mirror handy. Thanks to a base made with a trio of ultra-hydrating shea, mango, and coconut butter, this retractable crayon truly goes on and feels more like a lip balm than a lipstick. Case in point: Reviewers repeatedly comment on the moisturizing look and feel. Still, the color has a gorgeous velvety matte finish and is also buildable, too.
Price at time of publish: $9
Shade Range: 11 | Formula: Crayon | Finish: Velvet Matte | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Liquid
The Lip Bar Vegan Matte Lipstick
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The Lip Bar
Color is rich in pigment
Lasts up to 12 hours
Doesn’t dry out lips
Comes in a wide range of shades
Reviewers say that it doesn’t come off easily
Liquid lipsticks can be great when you’re looking for a matte finish and extra staying power, though many can be tacky and drying. Not the case here. These liquid formulas from The Lip Bar apply as a silky gloss before drying down to a flawless matte, providing you with intense color payoff that lasts up to 12 hours without ever drying your lips out. Plus, the formula is clean and vegan, giving us all the more reason to stock up on every shade.
Price at time of publish: $13
Shade Range: 18 | Formula: Liquid | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best For Light Skin
CoverGirl Outlast UltiMatte One Step Liquid Lip Color
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Ulta
Hydrating liquid formula that won’t dry out lips
Provides up to 24-hour wear
Buildable coverage
Limited shade range
We love that this liquid formula from Covergirl is super hydrating, providing up to 24 hours of flawless, comfortable wear that won’t cake up or dry out. We love even more that it’s transfer resistant, meaning it’ll last you through a good meal and a makeout session. Those with fairer skin tones can trust that most light-to-medium pinks will be super flattering—which brings us to Strawberry Spritzer, a neutral medium pink that lends a nice pop of color without being too bright.
Price at time of publish: $11
Shade Range: 5 | Formula: Liquid | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best For Medium Skin
ColourPop Lippie Stix
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Ulta
Moisturizing ingredients such as vitamin E, avocado oil, and shea and mango butters to nourish lips
Lightweight feel
Buildable coverage
Reviewers note that it doesn’t last long and that you’ll need to reapply often
You never have to worry about your lips feeling dry with this moisture-rich matte lipstick from Colourpop, which is formulated with a blend of vitamin E, avocado oil, and shea and mango butters to keep your pout soft and nourished. We’re big fans of Love Life, a brownish brick red that’s especially flattering on those with medium skin tones.
Price at time of publish: $8
Shade Range: 10 | Formula: Cream | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best For Dark Skin
BLK/OPL Liquid Matte Lipstick
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Amazon
Super rich colored pigment for a bold lip
Shades are bold and stunning on
Contains nourishing ingredients like vitamin C and E
Reviewers say that color does transfer easily
These liquid lipsticks aren’t for the faint of heart, delivering pigment-rich color with a velvety matte finish. The formula is designed to never feather or fade, while added antioxidants like vitamins C and E work hard to protect and hydrate the lips. Deeper skin tones can pull off an array of shades from vibrant berries, reds, and browns to bolder neons, but we’re loving Fab Fuchsia, a vibrant and warm berry-tinged pink.
Price at time of publish: $11
Shade Range: 6 | Formula: Liquid | Finish: Velvet Matte | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Red
Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour
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Walmart
Universal red shade that looks good on all skin tones
Lasts up to 12 hours and does not move
Feels super lightweight on
Reviewers say that it is pretty hard to take off
Is there any makeup look more classic or sophisticated than a red lip? We think not. You can be completely bare-faced otherwise, but swipe on red lipstick and suddenly you can take on the world. But, as anyone who has ever searched for the perfect red can tell you, not all red hues are created equal.
This one may just be the universal go-to, with neither too cool nor too warm of a base, so that it flatters pretty much any and every skin tone. Couple that with the perfect matte finish and long-wear prowess of this formula (because really, who wants to have to deal with touch-ups when you’re rocking a red lip), and your search for the perfect red lipstick just may be over.
Price at time of publish: $5
Shade Range: 6 | Formula: Liquid | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Shade Range
NYX Professional Lip Lingerie XXL Matte Liquid Lipstick
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NYX Professional
32 shades to choose from
Lasts for up to 16 hours
Contains no animal-derived ingredients
Goes on smoothly and feels good on
Reviewers say it goes on more sheer than expected and you may need multiple swipes to get full coverage
We love the whopping 32 shades of this popular liquid matte lipstick. We’re talking everything from your standard nudes and brights to out-of-the-box options such as gray, beige, and plum. Each shade touts the same matte finish balanced out with a silky and plush feel that never leaves the lips dry. Devoted fans love not only all of the shade options but also how long the color lasts and the affordability factor, too.
Price at time of publish: $10
Shade Range: 32 | Formula: Liquid | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Natural
Burt's Bees Matte Lip Crayon
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Walmart
Made with 100 percent natural ingredients
Made with 100 percent recyclable packaging
Made with nourishing ingredients like jojoba and kendi oils and shea butter
It’s a limited shade range of pinks and plums
Enriched with jojoba and kendi oils, along with shea butter, this lip crayon hydrates the lips while enveloping them in rich, creamy color. There are six shades in total, ranging from pinks to plums, none of which have a flavor or fragrance. The real kicker, though, is that the formula is made with 100 percent natural ingredients and 100 percent recyclable packaging, so you can feel good about putting it on your lips.
Price at time of publish: $9
Shade Range: 4 | Formula: Crayon | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Vegan
Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick
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Target
Rich in color pigment
Made with nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and avocado oil to hydrate and soften lips
Long lasting
Reviewers say that it feels a bit sticky
These pigment-rich liquid lipsticks apply like a gloss, then dry down to a matte finish with a flexible feel. Unlike how some liquid lipsticks can be overly drying, this formula is infused with hyaluronic acid and avocado oil to instantly hydrate and soften the lips for a comfortable wear that lasts all day long. More importantly, the formula is 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free, ensuring it's never been tested on animals and contains no animal byproducts whatsoever.
Price at time of publish: $15
Shade Range: 7 | Formula: Liquid | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Nude
Essence This Is Nude Lipstick
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Essence Cosmetics
Provides 13 shades to get you the perfect nude
Smooth creamy texture that feels nice on
Rich in pigment
Reviewers say that they wish it was more moisturizing
This entire line is dedicated to nudes, 13 to be exact, making it super easy to choose the right one for you. It goes on creamy and smooth for easy application and is long-lasting throughout the day. As an added bonus, it is made without alcohol, oil, parabens, and animal byproducts.
Price at time of publish: $4
Shade Range: 13 | Formula: Cream | Finish: Semi-Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best For Everyday Wear
e.l.f. Cosmetics Liquid Matte Lipstick
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Walmart
Contains vitamin E to nourish lips
Rich in color pigment
Diamond-shaped applicator makes it super easy to apply
Reviewers say that it takes a bit to dry
This liquid lipstick makes it so easy for you to wear every day. It has a diamond-shaped applicator that glides on color in one swoop, and you’re rewarded with highly pigmented colors. Speaking of the colors, it comes in 11 gorgeous shades ranging from classic nudes to bolder plums. It contains vitamin E to protect the skin from environmental aggressors and lasts all day as an added bonus.
Price at time of publish: $9
Shade Range: 11 | Formula: Crayon | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Bold Colors
Lime Crime Velvetines Liquid Lipstick
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Ulta
Super rich in pigment
Long lasting
Comes in a wide variety of bold shades
It has a vanilla scent, which might turn some people off
These liquid lipsticks are not for the faint of heart. They go on bold and strong with their pigment, and they for the perfect choice when you want a bold lip. You can choose from 23 deep colors, which range from bold such as black, purple, and orange, to classic neutrals, such as nudes and rose pinks. The best part has to be the staying power; it seriously stays on all day with minimal reapplication required.
Price at time of publish: $15
Shade Range: 23 | Formula: Liquid | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
When it comes to the very best drugstore mattes, we’re giving top honors to L’Oréal’s Colour Riche Matte Lipstick, an intensely creamy formula that delivers a flawless matte finish with comfortable wear. When it comes to liquid formulas, you can’t go wrong with the ultra-long-wearing Superstar Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick from Maybelline.
Meet the Expert
- Janice Daoud is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist whose celebrity clientele includes Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and Demi Lovato. You can find her work on various red carpets and in leading publications and campaigns.
- Miguel Lledo is a New York City-based editorial makeup artist whose work has appeared in leading publications, such as Interview and L’Officiel, and campaigns for brands such as DKNY and Jill Stuart.
What to Look For in a Matte Lipstick
Creamy Texture
Even if your end goal is a shine-free matte finish, you’ll still want a formula that applies smooth and creamy. Something that tugs and skips before it even sets won’t make for an easy application and likely won’t look so great after a couple of hours. Daoud’s advice? “Choose a formula that has all the perks of a satin: emollient, creamy, and easy to wear,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be flat to be matte.”
Non-Drying Formula
Matte lipsticks are notorious for being drying, so according to Daoud, it’s crucial to find a formula that’ll do the exact opposite. If contains hydrating ingredients like plant oils and butters, chances are it’ll leave you with a smooth, matte finish that doesn’t cake up or dry out over time.
“Typically, a lipstick is less drying than a liquid lipstick that’s in a tube with a wand,” she says. Even so, we’re still major fans of liquid formulas—especially for their unbeatable lasting power—so be sure to look for options that are infused with nourishing ingredients and promise comfortable flexible wear. An expert tip on how to apply matte lipstick is to “make sure to hydrate the lips with a balm a few minutes prior to lipstick application,” she says. This way, your lips will be primed and ready for comfortable, lasting wear.
Lasting Wear
Because mattes tend to set after you apply them, they’re not the kind of formula you’ll want to have to reapply constantly—especially if you want to avoid your lips looking clumpy or cakey. The longer-lasting a lipstick is (while, of course, being creamy and non-drying), the better your lips will look by the end of the day.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there.
Audrey Noble has over eight years of experience in the beauty industry, previously holding editorial positions at Vanity Fair, Allure, Byrdie, and Refinery29. Her work can be seen in Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, InStyle, WWD, Bustle, POPSUGAR, and more.
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