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Some of the best liquid lips on the market can be purchased at your local drugstore.
By Elizabeth Blasi — Written on Sep 07, 2018
With so many liquid lipsticks out there, how can you break through the noise to discover which brand is for you?
Below, we've rounded up the best drugstore liquid lipstick options that are low-cost, ranging from matte, satin, metallic, gloss, and lacquer finishes. These choices for the best liquid lipstick prove that beauty products (in particular, liquid lips) don't have to be luxury or super pricey to get a perfect end look.
1. Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
Noted from famous beauty influencer Laura Lee as "gorgeous with a comfortable feel," Maybelline hit the nail on the head when it comes to a liquid matte lipstick. While many lip liquids in matte dry down uncomfortably on the lips and show fine lines and crack, the Matte Ink formula is a tad bit mousier.
Additionally, the name isn't kidding around! When they say Super Stay it means super stay...ing on forever.
(Amazon)
2. e.l.f. Liquid Matte Lipstick
Fans rave about the texture of e.l.f.'s formula. As it's tricky to get a matte liquid lip that feels both truly matte and comfortable of the lips, e.l.f's creamy texture glides on smooth and dries down with more flexibility (but also matte), making the seemingly impossible, possible.
In addition to the matte formula, e.l.f. also carries the metallic finish for the $5 price point, and for the budget-friendly beauty go-ers, a $1 liquid lip as well.
(Amazon)
3. AOA Wonder Matte Liquid Lipstick
Speaking of a $1 price point, what could be more fun than experimenting with tons of different shades when all you have to spend is one dollar? From pretty purples and blues, to your perfect nude, by trying a whole bunch of $1 liquid lips you're bound to find the color that fits you best (even those shades you may be too scared to try initially).
Miss A's $1 formula comes in over thirty shades and truly encompass shade diversity fitting both warm and cool undertones. And even though the formula only cost $1, the product itself is quality with nice elasticity on the lips.
(Miss A, $1)
4. NYX Slip Tease Lip Lacquer
The claim to fame with the Slip Tease Lip Lacquer? The hourglass applicator. Giving your lips the perfect amount of evenly applied coverage, the applicator makes it easier to cover those hard to reach places.
Along with the applicator, the highly pigmented color last throughout the day and night! Bonus fact: the formula smells like thin mints.
(Ulta, $6.99)
5. Wet n Wild MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick
When it comes to liquid lipstick, "Wet n Wild stepped up their game" with the catsuit formula, according to beauty influencer Tati. While the shade range and the formula give this product a lot of thumbs up, it's important not to forget the applicator.
The doe foot on the applicator makes putting on the liquid lip easy, and hugs perfectly in all the right spots.
(Amazon)
6. Burt's Bees Moisturizing Liquid Lipstick
Why not trust the brand you use to help bring moisture to your lips, to also bring in a little color? Burt's Bees' new line of liquid lipsticks are receiving rave reviews online, claiming to be all natural.
These shades will give you plenty of moisture as they're packed with shea butter and babacu oil. Not only are they "healthy" in the lipstick world, but the huge variety of fun shades also makes them exciting and bold.
(Amazon)
7. Revlon Ultra HD Matte & Matte Metallic Lipcolor
When Revlon originally introduced the HD liquid lipsticks, the formula was still as amazing as it is today. The only drawback? The small amount of shades in their collection.
Fast forward a couple of years and boom! They introduced not only more colors, but metallic finishes as well. These buys have also been beauty influencer Tati approved, and are known for a good daily wear.
(Amazon)
8. The Lip Bar Matte Liquid Lipstick
While considered drugstore/mass market, the Lip Bar feels like a luxury brand with its packaging and formula. The collection comes in incredibly bold colors, which is always a fun aspect to lipstick (one that we can play around with).
Something important to remember: hydrate your lips before application as the end look dries down to a super matte finish.
(Target, $12.99)
9. Colour Pop Ultra Satin Lip
While not considered drugstore and sold in stores like Sephora, given Colour Pop's low cost and excellent product quality, they deserved a shout out on this list of the best drugstore liquid lipstick options.
Beauty influencer Jaclyn Hill placed the Ultra Satin Liquid Lips from Colour Pop into her current beauty favorites when talking about their nude shade offerings, because we know everyone loves a good nude lip. While focusing on their satin lip range (which feels like butter on your lips), their liquid lips also come in finishes like ultra mattes and metallics.
(Amazon)
10. L'Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick
As mentioned in the above video by LeSassafras, the Infallible lip shades by L'Oreal stood up against the Ramen test. After a meal of oil and hot soup, the matte liquid lip stayed perfectly attached and bold, and if that's not a true liquid lip, we don't know what is.
Coming in over a dozen shades, this formula has a color for everyone (from the darkest reds, to the modest nudes).
(Amazon)
11. Wat-A-Matte Liquid Lipstick
While the latest craze in the beauty industry are nude lip shades, there haven't been many brands that can nail brown undertoned nudes. That is, unless we're talking about Wat-A-Matte.
This brand can conquer shade ranges like caramel, peanut butter, and chocolate... and do them beautifully. Yes, we've all had our fair share of pink or yellow toned nudes, but mastering brown nudes? That's a real feat!
(CVS, $6.99)
12. Physician's Formula Healthy Lip Velvet Liquid Lipstick
Infused with mineral oils, Physician's Formula wanted to offset the drying nature of a liquid lip and give the formula more of a moisturizing finish. And boy does it work! The velvet finish, otherwise known as satin, does give the lip more of a dewy finish than your traditional matte liquid lips.
(Amazon)
13. Milani Amore Matte Lip Crème
If you're lucky enough to see this product in stock when shopping at your drugstore, go ahead and snag it! The reason these liquid lips by Milani are quickly bought off the shelf is because of the genius formula.
Many individuals aren't fans of matte liquid lipstick because of the pulling nature the matte finish can have on the lips. But that's not the case with Milani's Amore Matte formula. It's breathable and comfortable to wear.
(Amazon)
14. Covergirl Melting Pout Matte Liquid Lipstick
While feeling more like a foil, this thin formula gives off a nice coverage for the amount of product you're using, making your tube of liquid last longer (which is always nice on the wallet). To really have fun with your lipstick, why not try the gray shade Gray Matter and see how you look in a not-so-common lip color.
(Ulta, $7.99)
15. Pacifica Plushious Liquid Mineral Lipstick
Along with being a beautiful lip product, Pacifica's liquid mineral lipstick is also vegan and animal cruelty-free. Meaning you can feel good about your purchase every time you swipe over your lips with your favorite shade.
The slanted doe foot makes it easier to reach the inner corners of the lips and create an overall seamless application. The finish of the formula is more of a shinny/gloss look, meant for those who prefer a dewy finish over a matte or satin look.
16. BH Cosmetic Liquid Lipstick Long Wearing Matte Lipstick
Called out by beauty influencer Shaanxo as both affordable and beautiful, these liquid lipsticks tend to fall off the drugstore radar in comparison with brands like Maybelline and Covergirl, but this is a product to stop ignoring. Coming in ten beautiful shades (with some incredible nudes), there's a good variety to fit every skin tone.
(Ulta, $9)
17. Flower Beauty Miracle Matte Liquid Lip Color
A lip formula created by the lovely Drew Barrymore, so what could be better?! The formula for Flower Beauty's Miracle Matte Liquid Lip is in fact a miracle. Fans rave about how the product feels mousey and give the lips a blurred effect, meaning the ugly fine lines and the worry of cracking lips are not a huge concern during wear.
(Amazon)
18. Ulta Matte Metallic Liquid Lipstick
Assuming that Ulta has seen countless number of known brand's liquid lipstick hitting their shelves, they learned a thing or two about the pros and the cons of each formula. So while again not a drugstore buy, being the store brand product of a traditionally more affordable beauty retailer earns it a spot on our list.
If we could use one word to describe these metallic liquid lips, it would be payoff! The color just from one swoop is so richly pigmented (even on the darker shades) that you don't have to worry about patchy or uneven coloring.
(Ulta, $9)
19. Lottie London Slay All Day Liquid Lipstick
Loved by beauty influencer Becca Rose, the liquid lip is so incredibly creamy that it wears both beautifully and comfortably on the lips. Additionally, if looking to secure more of an opaque finish (and even more long lasting), try pairing the liquid lip with one of the matching creamed lip liners in one of their many lip kits for a complete look.
(Ulta, $6.49)
20. Juvia's Place 'The Festival' Liquid Lipstick
So while many liquid lips dry out, what do those individuals with already dry lips do? Well, besides drink tons of water, brands like Juvia's Place make hydrating liquid lips that keep your lips comfortable. Bonus: one application draws out enough product and pigment that it can finish your entire look without wasting more product.
(Ulta, $12)
Elizabeth Blasi is a New Yorker. A lifestyle & travel writer, who is often seen with a suitcase in hand, jetsetting to her next location. But as a true Digital Nomad, her love of writing and romance novels means her laptop is always beside her.
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