• Why it’s -approved: Think your lipstick can survive a full 24 hours? MAC’s long-lasting formula is up for the challenge, taking you seamlessly from 9am 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.
• Key ingredients: Dimethicone; synthetic wax; Passiflora edulis seed oil
• Staying power: 24 hours

• Why it’s -approved: 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 colour, 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 “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.
• Matte base coat with gloss top coat
• Key ingredients: Dimethicone; isododecane; trimethylsiloxysilicate
• Staying power: The liquid base coat will last all day, while the gloss top coat can be reapplied.

• Why it’s -approved: Around the office, one 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. It stays on all day, just like those OG lip kits (no dry, cakey coverage here), and super glossy and shiny,” ’s senior beauty and wellness editor Margaux Anbouba 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 colour payoff,” Knight tells .
• Key ingredients: Dimethicone; aloe barbadensis leaf extract; tocopherol
• Staying power: Up to 16 hours of wear

• Why it’s -approved: 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 . 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.
• Key ingredients: Isododecane; dimethicone; trimethylsiloxysilicate
• Staying power: Up to 12 hours

• Why it’s -approved: 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.
• Key ingredients: Kaolin; synthetic beeswax
• Staying power: 12 hours

• Why it’s -approved Available in six universally flattering shades, this lipstick dries to a soft matte that feels featherlight on the lips – no cracking or flaking to worry about. It’s also a favourite 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 . Pro tip: Shake the tube before applying to fully activate the lipstick’s pigments.
• Key ingredients: Isododecane; dimethicone; trimethylsiloxysilicate
• Staying power: Up to 12 hours

• Why it’s -approved: 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.
• Key ingredients: Lauroyl lysine (fatty and amino acid blend)
• Staying power: 10 hours

• Why it’s -approved: 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 . 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 colour locked in place, no matter what the day throws at you.
• Key ingredients: Castor oil; vitamin C; vitamin E; crushed pigments; beeswax
• Staying power: Up to eight hours of wear

• Why it’s -approved: Infused with red-peony flower extract for hydration and pomegranate-flower extract for plumping, Dior’s long-wearing formulation tends to mature lips with a deft, garden-fresh touch. Also formulated with shea butter, the lipstick hydrates the pout for 24 hours, while the colour stays put for 12. Anthony is a fan of the colours. “Dior Rouge has very flattering soft shades of pink,” he notes. For older women, “I think a fresh pink lip with a bit of sheen is a really lovely way to wake up the complexion.”
• The matte lipsticks have a smooth, velvety feel
• The line offers two “couture” finishes: satin and matte
• Shade range: 74
• Key ingredients: Red peony extract, jojoba
• Staying power: 12 hours

• Why it’s -approved: Once a self-proclaimed lipstick addict, ’s beauty shopping writer Conçetta Ciarlo now mostly skips traditional formulas in favour 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.”
• Key ingredients: Dimethicone; synthetic beeswax; carnauba wax
• Staying power: Up to eight hours of wear.

• Why it’s -approved: The easiest way to “fake it ’til 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.)
• Key ingredients: Dimethicone; mica; safflower seed oil; papaya fruit extract
• Staying power: Up to 10 hours of wear.

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 refer 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 colour 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.

• 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 .
• 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.