Seemingly every day we’re inundated with press releases for lipsticks that ‘last for 24 hours’ or have ‘zero transfer’ or are ‘kiss proof’.
But do any of these claims really hold up?
Dailymail.com staffers put 15 long-wear lippies to the test by applying them before an intense make-out session and photographing how well each one did – or did not – stay put.
Now, it’s important to note that there are things you can do, like exfoliating your lips regularly and covering lipstick with a translucent powder that will make any color stay longer, but for the purposes of our experiment, we applied the ones we tested right out of the tube, with no lip prep beforehand and no use of a lip liner or setting powder.
Another caveat: Formulas can wear differently depending on the person, so your experience may vary from our testers.
And even make-up artist Huda Kattan, whose Huda Beauty liquid lipsticks are loved for their longevity, says, ‘Let’s be real, if you really like your partner, then no lipstick will be kiss-proof!’
With that in mind, see which lip colors our testers thought were best for a hard-core make-out session, a quick good-night kiss or a girls’ night out.
GOOD FOR THE MAJOR MAKEOUT
The lip color: Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in Rock Steady
The price: $9 (on sale from $18)
The claim: ‘This is Vice Liquid Lipstick—a waterproof formula so life-proof, it’s not going anywhere until you take it off. (Just imagine the possibilities.) What makes Vice different? Our high-tech formula provides longer-lasting wear with zero transfer.’
The result: ‘This is the best product for kissing, eating and drinking without losing any color on the lips. While kissing, it didn’t smudge or leave anything behind on either party’s face. I wore it all day, too, and there was no lipstick stain or residue on anything the entire day.’ —Regina Graham, 30, Features Reporter
The lip color: Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Throwback Jam
The price: $24
The claim: ‘This matte liquid lipstick will make you say – Yep! It’s still on! – due to its Advanced Polymer Technology that makes color last up to 8 hours on set.’
The result: ‘First of all, my selfies don’t do this shade justice. It’s gorgeous on, and the angled, doe-foot applicator makes applying it a breeze, even for someone as clumsy as me. After putting it on, I let it set for about three minutes before grabbing my husband and pulling him in for a super-passionate kiss. Afterward, there was only a faint pink shadow around my mouth, and the rest of the color stayed put until I literally scrubbed it off the next morning.’ —Lindsey Unterberger, 34, Beauty Director
The lip color: Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipstick in Showgirl
The price: $20
The claim: ‘The lightweight formula glides on a thin coat of color that intensifies as it sets to a matte, transfer-free finish with amazing staying power.’
The result: ‘This was my favorite of all the lipsticks I tried. It was easy to apply and I like the matte finish. After kissing my husband I was surprised by how well it stayed put. I didn’t see any smudges and it didn’t really come off on him either. The color is great, too.’ —Angela Yard, 36, Senior Fashion Finder Writer
The lip color: Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Dagger
The price: $20
The claim: ‘Eye-catching matte lipstick in a comfortable liquid formula with transfer-proof long wear.’
The result: ‘This really stayed on and didn’t smudge on me or my partner. I even had to use two lipstick wipe removers – yes, that’s a thing I own – just to get it off.’ —Kristen Vetter, 26, Assistant Picture Editor
The lip color: Covergirl Melting Pout Matte Lipstick in Back Talk
The price: $6.99
The claim: ‘…a comfortable, lightweight lipstick that provides and intense color result. Its creamy formula wears comfortably, designed to last through eating and drinking for up to 24 hour wear.’
The result: ‘Based on the price, I was surprised by how good this was. I did, however, put on five coats because of how thin the formula is. Save for a little bubble near my lower lip and a few specks of color in my fiance’s beard, though, it didn’t rub off after kissing.’ —KV
The lip color: Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lip Color in Pioneer
The price: $7
The claim: ‘Ink your lips in up to 16 HR saturated liquid matte.’
The result: ‘I’m constantly trying out new lip stains and this is my new gold standard. I wore it while voraciously eating a cheeseburger and it didn’t smear. The waitress saw it on the table and said she, too, was in love with this lipstick and she wears the pink shade every night while she runs around and chugs water repeatedly and it has never failed her. My mother-in-law wore this lipstick during a run and it behaved perfectly. And despite my husband commenting on the sticky texture, it even held up during our make-out session.’ —Clemence Michallon, 26, US Femail Reporter
GOOD FOR A GOOD-NIGHT KISS
The lip color: L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-matte Liquid Lip in Plum Bum
The price: $7.99
The claim: ‘The brand’s first 24HR liquid lip color with ultimate staying power. Featuring intense matte pigments that fix upon lips for instant lip perfection these liquid lipsticks offer a creamy finish with no transfer.’
The result: ‘Once again, I put on several coats to darken up the color and really saturate my lips. Then I let this set for 10 minutes before making out. It flared a little underneath and transfered to my fiancé but not too much.’ —KV
The lip color: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso
The price: $22
The claim: ‘This creamy, full-coverage lip color provides intense hydration with bold, long-lasting pigment that stays put for up to 12 hours of continuous wear…its color-rich formula does not bleed or transfer.’
The result: ‘Putting this on, you can tell this lipstick has quite a thin, watery texture, so I expected it to hold up well. The downside is that I didn’t get as much coverage as I do with a thicker texture. After a bit of kissing, it did smudge, but there was not too much lipstick on my husband’s face and I only had a light halo around my lips. Nothing too dramatic.’ —CM
The lip color: Physicians Formula The Healthy Lip Velvet Liquid Lip Color in Noir-ishing Plum
The price: $7.99
The claim: ‘Ultra-hydrating, ultra-pigmented, ultra-lasting!’
The result: ‘The Physicians Formula was a lot slicker than many of the other mattes I tried, and it had a lot of shine, which I liked. After my make-out session I noticed faint smudges around my lips and the color had faded a good amount, probably because a lot of it had transferred to my husband’s lips! —AY
The lip color: IsaDora Ultra Matt Liquid Lipstick in Red Romance
The price: $16
The claim: ‘Highly pigmented formula with a super long-lasting hold and a light, fluffy cream texture that leaves an imperceptible feel on the lips.’
The result: ‘This one performed better than I expected: Thicker textures tend to smudge more, so I expected a disaster, and I’m happy to report I was wrong! The lipstick didn’t stay perfectly in place, but it was only a light smudge on my face. After making out, my husband did, however, look like Gwen Stefani before a show, by which I mean he had a lot of red lipstick on and a fierce attitude. Also, I had a lot of lipstick on my teeth.’ —CM
GOOD FOR GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT
The lip color: Lawless Beauty Soft Matte Liquid Lipstick in Dane
The price: $25
The claim: ‘A high-pigment, ultra-nourishing, soft matte liquid lipstick, with a smooth finish and lightweight comfort. This buildable formula hydrates the lips with natural emollient ingredients to provide a long-wearing, yet indulgently creamy experience. This breakthrough formula does not cake or crack, and fades evenly so you can effortlessly reapply on the go.’
The result: ‘OK, in fairness, this liquid lippy doesn’t claim to have “zero transfer” or “24-hour wear”, but it’s a newer brand and I thought it might be a secret weapon in terms of making out. No such luck, but the purple color is a great addition to my lipstick collection and the formula feels less drying than most. Plus, it’s made without toxic ingredients, so at least I don’t have worry about my husband or I accidentally ingesting some of it!’ —LU
The lip color: Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Star Crossed
The price: $6.50
The claim: ‘The boldest formula of our liquid lipsticks – in one smooth swipe, you’ll get intense color payoff that dries down to a super matte, transfer-proof finish.’
The result: ‘I’m a big fan of Colourpop in general, and I’d heard rave reviews about its liquid lipsticks from friends and fellow editors. But while I loved the red color of this one (the blue undertones worked well with my pale complexion and seemingly made my teeth look brighter), I was left with a giant red ring around my mouth after just a few seconds of smooching. I’m still hanging on to the shade to wear during the day, though.’ —LU
The lip color: Tpsy Whipstick Liquid Lipstick in Hotae Hotae
The price: $23
The claim: ‘Non-drying matte finish, all day-all night party lip, strong color payoff.’
The result: ‘This was a sad story for me. I liked the color both in the tube and on my lips. Unfortunately it felt really wet when I applied it and came off immediately on my hand when I accidentally brushed it against my mouth. I reapplied and let it dry before heading into the make-out test, but it didn’t hold up. I’m also pretty sure it’s still in my fiancé’s beard. I’m relegating it to non-date nights from now on.’ —KV
The lip color: Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Velours in 172 Velour D’etincelle
The price: $30
The claim: ‘L’Absolu Rouge Velours is a liquid matte lipstick with a beautiful velvety finish. It contains a unique combination of soothing oils, waxes, velvety gel and matte pigments, which give it its intense color and six times more pigment than a gloss. Long-lasting and comfortable to wear, the lipstick is easy to apply.’
The result: ‘This lipstick is a pretty hue, went on easily and the texture certainly feels nice. But by the end of a short make-out session, I had a huge smear on my upper lip, and there was as much lipstick on my husband’s face as on mine. Luckily it’s a nice color on him.’ —CM
The lip color: Catrice Liquid Lip Powder in Will You Berry Me?
The price: $7.99
The claim: ‘Long-lasting formula leaves a non-drying, feather-light feeling.’
The result: ‘I found this wasn’t the best at staying on completely. There were moments where I had lipstick on my teeth at points during the day, but it did not smear around my face while kissing. I’m not sure I would wear it again, but numerous people said they loved the color on me.’ —RG