Sometimes, only the best long-lasting lipsticks will do—the kind that can power through kisses, cocktails, and three-course dinners without the need to constantly reapply. “What makes a lipstick long-wearing is usually high pigment—it’s a lot of color payoff that doesn’t fade quick,” pro makeup artist Naïma Bremer tells Vogue, noting these formulas can still have a smooth application without being too emollient. “More more emollient-rich products tend to slip off and move around more easily.”
Vogue’s Favorite Long-Lasting Lipsticks:
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In other words, the more pigment-packed the formula, the more staying power you’ll get—without needing to babysit your lips. That means fewer touch-ups between meals, less stress over smudges during cocktail hour, and more confidence that your lip look will still be intact when the night is over. Ahead, we’ve rounded up 11 of the best transfer-proof lipsticks that deliver across every skin tone, finish, and price point.
Best All-Day Wear: MAC Cosmetics Locked Kiss 24hr Lipstick
- Why We Love It: Think your lipstick can survive a full 24 hours? MAC’s long-lasting formula is up for the challenge, taking you seamlessly from 9 a.m. meetings to late-night dance floors. Bremer describes this pick as comfortable, gliding on without tugging thanks to passion fruit oil. Plus, it offers high-intensity pigment. “It is also a very easy formula to achieve a lip stain look when you just dab it on and blend with your fingers or you can fully coat your lips in one swipe for full coverage,” she says. As a pro tip, Bremer advises letting the product set for two minutes and then blotting your lips to ensure it stays super transfer-proof.
- Shades: 18
- Finish: Matte
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, synthetic wax, Passiflora edulis seed oil
- Staying Power: 24 hours
Best High-Gloss: Chanel Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue
- Why We Love It: If you’re into glossy lips but refuse to deal with smudges, Chanel’s liquid lip duo is your answer. One end delivers bold, stay-all-day color, while the other locks in shine with a glassy, hydrating top coat. Pro makeup artist Emily Gray considers Chanel’s Le Rouge Duo Tenue in a class of its own when it comes to liquid lipsticks. “Thanks to its impressive high-shine finish,” Gray previously told Vogue, “the only thing you need to refresh your lips is the clear gloss throughout the day.” Gray stresses just one golden rule for this pick: let your base coat dry completely before swiping on the gloss topper. Of course, you can skip this step if you prefer a matte lip.
- Shades: 26
- Finish: Matte base coat, with gloss top coat
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, isododecane, trimethylsiloxysilicate
- Staying Power: The liquid base coat is will last all day, while the gloss top coat can be reapplied.
Best Stain Effect: Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color Moisturizing Lipstick
- Why We Love It: Celebrity makeup artist Brandy Allen compares Bobbi Brown’s hydrating lipstick to the ultimate soft lip stain—effortless yet long-lasting. “What I love about this lipstick is it stays in place for up to eight hours,” she previously told Vogue. Unlike many mattes that can feel drying, this one’s balmy texture nourishes lips with castor oil, vitamins E and C, and beeswax, offering all-day comfort. And the pièce de résistance? Despite its creamy formula, the matte finish keeps color locked in place, no matter what the day throws at you.
- Shades: 20
- Finish: Satin
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Castor oil, vitamin C, vitamin E, crushed pigments, beeswax
- Staying Power: Up to 8 hours of wear
Best Drugstore: Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Lipcolor
- Why We Love It: Around the Vogue office, one senior beauty editor is practically synonymous with a bold red lip. Her rouge of choice? Maybelline New York’s Vinyl Ink. “The only compliments I ever get on my beauty look are when I’m wearing Maybelline New York’s Vinyl Ink. It’s the best of both worlds—stays on all day just like those OG lip kits (no dry, cakey coverage here) and super glossy and shiny,” Vogue’s senior beauty and wellness editor Margaux Anbouba previously shared. Celebrity makeup artist Buster Knight is a fan, too, keeping the formula in his kit for star-studded clients. “If I want to use lipstick with a little more oomph [on my clients], I go for any of the SuperStay formulas. They don’t budge and give a great color payoff,” Knight tells Vogue.
- Shades: 20
- Finish: Shine
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, tocopherol
- Staying Power: Up to 16 hours of wear
Best Shade Range: Dior Rouge Refillable Lipstick
- Why We Love It: Dior’s long-wearing lipstick does more than deliver color—it delivers covert skincare too. Red-peony flower extract provides lasting hydration (like a lip balm), while pomegranate-flower extract adds a plumping effect. Celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony praises the formula for its wide shade range and up to 12 hours of wear. His personal favorites are the flattering pinks, especially striking on mature skin. “I think a fresh pink lip with a bit of sheen is a really lovely way to wake up the complexion,” Anthony previously told Vogue. For an even longer-lasting option, Rouge Dior Forever wears up to 16 hours while still offering 32 shades to choose from.
- Shades: 74
- Finish: Two finishes—satin or matte
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Red peony extract, jojoba
- Staying power: 12 hours
Best Bold: Pat McGrath Liquilust Legendary Wear Lipstick
- Why We Love It: When it comes to bold, statement-making lips, few do liquid lipstick better than beauty icon Pat McGrath. From vibrant reds to shimmering metallics, each shade glides on effortlessly with a tapered applicator for precision. The whipped formula, reinforced with synthetic beeswax, prevents dragging and sets into a comfortable, transfer-resistant finish. It’s little wonder that Taylor Swift counts on this lipstick to lock in her signature red, performance after performance.
- Shades: 15
- Finish: Matte, metallic
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Kaolin, synthetic beeswax
- Staying Power: 12 hours
Best Matte: Nars Power Matte Lipstick
- Why We Love It: Bremer calls this pick a must-have for anyone seeking a bold, statement-making lip. “It has great color payoff and does not budge—because this matte formula can be slightly drying, I like to pat a little balm into the centre of the lip to make it more comfortable to wear,” she says. Concentrating the balm in the center preserves the lipstick’s impressive staying power while keeping edges sharp and lips soft. The result? A confident, all-eyes-on-you look that lasts from your first coffee to happy hour.
- Shades: 24
- Finish: Matte
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Lauroyl lysine (fatty and amino acid blend)
- Staying Power: 10 hours
Best for a Barely-There Feel: Hourglass Unlocked Soft Matte Lipstick
- Why We Love It: Once a self-proclaimed lipstick addict, Vogue’s beauty shopping writer Conçetta Ciarlo now mostly skips traditional formulas in favor of the latest trend—juicy lip stains. When she does want a matte finish, she reaches for Hourglass. “I can’t stand the feeling of heavy makeup products—especially a cakey or tight lipstick. This pick, however, is one that I forget I’m even wearing,” she says. Her tip for first-time use? “I do recommend working the product on the back of your hand to warm it up. Over time, it gets a lot softer.” Plus, for fellow animal lovers, the formula is cruelty-free, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Non-Human Rights Project.
- Shades: 12
- Finish: Soft matte
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, synthetic beeswax, carnauba wax
- Staying Power: Up to 8 hours of wear.
Best for a Pillowy Pout: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick
- Why We Love It: The easiest way to “fake it ’till you make it” with a plumper-looking pout? Find the perfect nude. Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick does exactly that—especially when paired with the brand’s Pillow Talk lip liners. Unlike traditional mattes, light-reflecting mica pigments catch the glow just right, giving lips the illusion of extra fullness. (Word on the street is that this is Meghan Markle’s go-to lippie, who reportedly wears the shade “Very Victoria.”)
- Shades: 20
- Finish: Soft matte
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, mica, safflower seed oil, papaya fruit extract
- Staying Power: Up to 10 hours of wear.
Best Weightless: Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint
- Why We Love It: Available in six universally flattering shades, this lipstick dries to a soft matte that feels feather-light on the lips—no cracking or flaking to worry about. It’s also a favorite of makeup pro Jen Tioseco. “I love Fenty Lip Stunna because, although it’s transfer-proof, it still gives a beautiful satin finish keeping your lips looking juicy without the mess,” Tioseco previously told Vogue. Pro tip: shake the tube before applying to fully activate the lipstick’s pigments.
- Shades: 6
- Finish: Soft matte
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Isododecane, dimethicone, trimethylsiloxysilicate
- Staying Power: Up to 12 hours
Best Transfer-Proof: Violette_FR Petal Bouche Matte
- Why We Love It: Long-wearing and transfer-proof, what doesn’t this lipstick do? “As someone with dry skin, I look for transfer-proof lipsticks that still have some hydration to them or are so thin that they don’t feel like anything on the lips,” Gray previously told Vogue. That’s exactly why she loves Violette FR’s Petal Bouche lipstick, praising it for being weightless, comfortable, and still matte and transfer-proof (no caking or cracking here). “It’s truly comfortable to wear all day, even if you tend to have more dry lips and skin,” Gray explains. The formula comes in two other shades, each with soft, petal-like pigments that make achieving an effortless French-girl lip look a breeze.
- Shades: 3
- Finish: Matte
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Isododecane, dimethicone, trimethylsiloxysilicate
- Staying Power: Up to 12 hours
What is the difference between a long-lasting and transfer-proof lipstick?
You might think transfer-proof and long-wearing lipsticks are the same—but they’re not. While some formulas achieve both, Bremer explains that the terms actually refer to different qualities.
“Long-wearing lipsticks refers to how long a lipstick stays visible on the lips and these formulas usually include film-formers, volatile oils, or polymers that adhere tightly to the lip surface,” she says. Transfer-proof, meanwhile, means the color won’t transfer onto cups, skin, or clothing once it has set.
How to Choose a Long-Lasting Lipstick
Not all lipsticks are created equal—even high-performing formulas can differ widely in texture, wear, and finish. Below, Tioseco breaks down how to choose a long-lasting lip.
- Type: Long-lasting lipsticks come in creams and liquids, with liquids being the most common. When in doubt, Tioseco recommends a liquid formula. “Generally, a liquid lipstick is a transfer-proof formula: one application, and you don’t have to spend your night worrying about touch-ups,” she previously told Vogue.
- Finish: Choosing a long-wear lipstick finish is all about personal preference. Options range from satin to matte, with some formulas blending multiple textures for added dimension.
How to Make Lipstick Last Longer
“When a client needs a long-lasting lip I tend to start by blotting off any balm and slightly concealing and powdering the edge of the lip—this gives the lip products something to adhere to,” Knight explains. Next, he applies a long-lasting lip pencil—MakeUp ForEver’s pencil is one of his go-tos—before finishing with the lipstick of choice. For added assurance, a light swipe of a translucent powder atop your pout acts as a setting powder to keep it locked into place.
- Brandy Allen is a celebrity makeup artist who’s worked with Yara Shahidi, Keke Palmer, Aja Naomi King, and others.
- Michael Anthony is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, and Doja Cat.
- Naima Bremer is a London-based makeup artist with over a decade of work in the beauty industry. Bremer’s clients include Saweetie, Willow Smith, Kali Uchis, Iris Law, and many more.
- Emily Gray is a professional makeup artist based in Nashville. Gray has worked with Lana Del Rey, Kimberly Schlapman, Kelsea Ballerini, and more.
- Buster Knight is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Millie Bobby Brown, Lauren Sanchez, and Kris Jenner.
- Jen Tioseco is a celebrity makeup artist based between LA and New York. Her clients include Cami Mendes, Madelyn Cline, Ariana Greenblatt, Zooey Deschanel, Hilary Duff, and more.