There's basically an unspoken rule that says if you want to wear liquid lipstick, you've got to accept the fact that your lips will feel like dry, stiff, wrinkled raisins. But hey, at least they're matte raisins, right?
Welp, we say screw the rules, because there's absolutely no reason why you can't wear a liquid lipstick that actually feels soft and hydrating on your lips. Yes, they really do exist, and yes, we've highlighted the six best of them, ahead, so you can stop experimenting and start living your best lip life.
1. Buxom Wildly Whipped Liquid Lipstick
The airy formula feels almost like a super-thin layer of Cool Whip on your lips, which helps it stay shiny and moisturizing the entire time you're wearing it. The tradeoff is that you'll have to reapply it every few hours, but for plumped-looking lips, we're happy to oblige.
Buxom Wildly Whipped Liquid Lipstick, $21
BUY IT: sephora.com.
2. Lancôme Matte Shaker High Pigment Lipstick
Basically like a Baby Bottle Pop for your mouth, this shakeable bottle has a reservoir of smooth, surprisingly hydrating lipstick that seeps into the squishy sponge tip as you shake it.
Lancôme Matte Shaker High Pigment Lipstick, $22
BUY IT: sephora.com.
3. Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint
The word paint might conjure images of bedroom walls, but this lipstick is anything but chalky or flat. It sticks to your lips like a paint—which is a good thing, when you want long-wear cover—but has enough silicone in the formula to stay soft and moveable.
Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint, $20
BUY IT: sephora.com.
4. Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color
With 19 shades ranging from dusty rose to straight-up gray, the ultra-pigmented formula in each of these lipsticks stays dewy for a few minutes before drying down to semi-matte finish.
Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color, $8
BUY IT: ulta.com.
5. Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick
The squeeze tube has an angled, fuzzy applicator, making it easy to really swipe on an opaque layer of super-creamy and mega-shiny color.
Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick, $21
BUY IT: sephora.com.
6. Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick
There's a reason why this hyper-pigmented lipstick is a cult-favorite: It stays put for hours (even through a day of snacking) and never sucks the moisture from your lips. Sure, it'll take a makeup wipe to get the last few remnants off at night, but is lasting too long really a problem?
Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipsticks, $24
BUY IT: sephora.com.
