The 7 Best Long-Lasting Lipsticks That Stay Put For Hours… And Hours

The whole point of a great lipstick is that it showcases your signature color, and it does absolutely no good if it disappears the moment you go about your day. The best long-lasting lipsticks apply smoothly and evenly, providing soft, vibrant color without making lips parched in the process. After extensive testing, our winning picks—from brands like Pat McGrath Labs, Chanel, L’Oréal, Dior and Merit—proved to be wearable and flattering for a range of skin tones, and you won’t spend all day reapplying them.

According to experts a great, lasting formula is highly pigmented, contains innovative silicones and polymers to help the color stay put, and is comfortable to wear. Whether you’re looking for a gloss, matte, liquid or cream, here are the best long-lasting lipsticks for extended wear time.

Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Matte Lipstick

Creamy, Lasting Color That Fades Evenly (Eventually)

Pat McGrath Labs’ long-lasting formula is a standout because it’s comfortable to wear, and our tester found that it stays on for an entire eight-hour day. While matte can be synonymous with drying, this cream-to-powder formula glides on smoothly and dries down to a velvety texture within minutes. (Translation: It provides intensely saturated, weightless color without sucking the moisture out of your lips.) Our tester said that the pigment receded subtly and evenly over time, without flaking or leaving strange patchiness or an outline. It has a teardrop-shaped doe-foot applicator for precise lining and filling. While the formula comes in only twelve shades, they are chic, modern and flattering across a range of skin tones. Our only gripe is that it can be difficult to find availability in some of the shades.

L’Oréal Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick

(Lightweight Formula That Looks Great For Hours)

L’Oreal’s formula is infused with hyaluronic acid, making it deeply moisturizing but it doesn’t have a lot of slip. This means that the formula doesn’t slide right off your lips; instead, the powdery matte texture lasts without smudging, flaking, or transferring onto clothing or the lid on your latte. The brand claims it lasts up to 12 hours, which is not a dramatic oversell; in my testing, it lasted for an impressive ten hours. Its diamond-shaped doe-foot applicator created a crisp outline, and the formula didn’t migrate or feather outside my natural lip line. While I wished it were slightly creamier in texture, I found it to be nicely pigmented without making me look overdone. It also comes in 22 shades, which is impressive enough for most to find a flattering option or two.

Hermes Rouge Hermes Matte Lipstick

(Enduring Lip Color With An Elevated, Moisturizing Feel)

Full disclosure, this is not the longest-wearing lipstick on our list, but it is the most luxurious. Made with nourishing vitamin E, it has a lightweight, buttery feel that’s creamy without being heavy, according to Forbes Vetted deputy editor Jane Sung. “The best part of this lipstick—besides how incredibly chic it is—is how nice it feels on my lips, hydrating and velvety,” she says. While this formula admittedly faded after a few hours, it didn’t creep outside the lip line. The high concentration of pigments combined with its non-drying feel earns it a permanent spot on our vanity. Plus, the gorgeous tube is just nice to look at, and the satisfying magnetic closure never gets old. This luxury pick comes in 11 shades that provide excellent color payoff with just one swipe, according to Sung.

Chanel Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue

(A Two-Step Formula With Juicy Shine)

For times when you want an ultra-longwear lipstick with glossy shine, consider this one the best of both worlds. One end of the tube has the main formula in a matte texture, made with rich micro-pigments and polymers that resist water and oils. The other is a gloss topper that has excellent longevity—but without being sticky. Our testers love it for its precise, easy-to-manipulate applicators and shiny, hydrated finish. Another bonus? Chanel’s Le Rouge Duo is available in a broad range of 19 shades. The spectrum of colors, ranging from satiny fuchsia pinks to statement-making deep brick reds, complements a variety of skin tones.

Violette_FR Petal Bouche Matte

(Soft, Diffused And Buildable)

The true mark of any standout matte lipstick is that it doesn’t smear or bleed or leave you with telltale cracks due to dryness. Violette’s formula executes on this promise, and then some. It allows for a perfectly buildable French girl lip, with the color deepening and becoming more intense if you decide to add layers. While our testers found that it could fade after several hours (especially if eating and drinking) and had to be reapplied, the soft look was difficult to replicate with many other formulas. “This lipstick is especially great for a diffused statement lip,” says Sung. “You can use your finger to blend the edges so they’re not super precise—which kind of takes the pressure off getting a ‘perfect’ lip line.” It comes in just three colors, Amour Fou, Cerise Desire and Coeur Infidèle, which may sound limited but they’re all vibrant and with varying undertones to suit a range of skin tones and preferences.

Dior Rouge Dior Forever Liquid

(A Range Of Grippy Colors With A Comfy, Bare-Lip Feel)

Dior makeup is so luxurious and elegant that even if you’re new to longwear lipsticks, this one can make you look like a seasoned—and stylish—beauty expert. The formula applies easily, adheres quickly and dries down in a flash for a velvety feel, according to our tester. The best part is, it leaves lips supple instead of dry, and it feels like you’re wearing nothing at all, which is ideal for those who often forego lipstick. Our tester also found the pointy, diamond-shaped doe foot to be helpful for application without staining outside your lip line. It comes in a wide range of 17 rich shades, including several statement reds.

Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Matte Lipstick

(Pigmented And Supremely Hydrating)

Long-lasting matte lipsticks can be challenging for those with dry lips or mature skin, as formulas that promise a blotted look can make lips appear—and feel—even drier. But Merit’s iteration features hydrating and plumping hyaluronic acid to prevent cracking and flaking, and it contains sesame seed extract to nourish, so you don’t get an uncomfortable, weighed-down feel. Admittedly, I’m not much of a lipstick wearer because formulas can tend to feel suffocating, and I find myself irritated and wanting to swipe it off with a tissue after just 30 minutes. However, this lipstick has the feel of a hydrating, lightweight lip butter, and it lasted for four to six hours, even while I snacked, drank coffee, or talked on the phone or in meetings. Merit’s Signature Lip comes in eight matte hues, which is a more limited selection, but the warm neutral shades really stand out.

How To Pick A Long-Lasting Lipstick

“’Long-lasting’ means you can live your life—a full workday or a night out with dinner, drinks and maybe a little dancing—without needing to reapply every hour,” says New York City-based makeup artist Remi Odunsi. “It should hold up through real-life moments, not just a photoshoot.” Here’s what else to consider when shopping for a long-lasting lipstick.

Longevity And Texture

In general, a long-lasting lipstick should grip the lips for several hours, in many cases, six hours or more. “Some brands promise a certain number of hours for wear, but it’s more about how well the color holds up throughout the day, especially when you’re talking, eating, etc.,” says makeup artist Stephanie Orsomarso. All lipsticks will ultimately fade, but you want them to do so slowly and uniformly, without being patchy.

Many long-lasting formulas are liquids with an initial creamy feel rather than stains because stains tend to be thinner and wear away more quickly. It’s important to note that some long-lasting lipsticks require drying down or setting. Formulas with film-forming agents or lightweight polymers tend to wear longer without feeling heavy, says Odunsi.

“There are two main ingredients that I look for in lipsticks—silicones and polymers,” says Orsomarso. “Silicones act as a glue to keep your lipstick on while polymers help the lipstick resist water and oils, and both keep the lipstick locked into your lips long term.” In general, avoid too many oils and alcohols, she says. “Oils will over-moisturize and break down the color, while alcohols will over-dry and potentially flake off the color.”

Finishes

“Most long-lasting lipsticks are matte, simply because they dry down and stick,” says Orsomarso. “However, with modern-day formulas, there are certainly more options out there for longwear glossy and satin finishes.” For instance, Chanel’s formula has a glossy topcoat. “We’re seeing some fun sheer and satin options pop up—especially with the ‘lip peel’ trend making rounds on TikTok,” says Odunsi. Bear in mind that if a formula feels overly waxy right out of the tube, it’s likely that it will slide off your lips faster.

Applicator

Since lipstick is typically the last step when applying makeup, and you want it to last, the application should be precise. Because many long-lasting lipsticks come with an applicator, it’s helpful to look for a triangle or diamond shape or a tailored doe foot, which allows you to get a flat edge along the perimeter of your lips. Another key detail: It’s essential that the applicator dispenses the product evenly, without clumps or blobs of excess color.

Shades

Long-wearing lipsticks come in a wide variety of shades. Some companies, like L’Oreal, offer up to 22 shades for their long-lasting formula. Others, like Violette_FR, have just three fiery, high-impact shades. However, bear in mind that many lip colors—such as those from Pat McGrath—can be blended or layered to create a custom hue. Additionally, each company tends to specialize in certain shades over others or have colors that are cult favorites among users. We’re partial to Dior for reds and Merit for neutrals.