The best thing about matte lipsticks is that they make your lips look plump, have a feathery light feel, and rarely smudge under a face mask.
The look might go back to as far as the 1930s, but it’s still as current today, and it’s incredible how transformative a swipe of a good matte lipstick can be. Because of their texture and finish, these products are also perfect for wearing under face masks. Unlike glossy or shimmery iterations, the formula here adheres to the lips much better, and is versatile enough to be blurred out at the edges or worn boldly.
Matte lipsticks of the past might’ve gotten a bad rep for being extremely drying for the lips, but times have changed and so have formulations.
From budget friendly picks from L’oreal to bougie versions from Hermès, here are the best options that are comfortable enough for all-day wear, beautifully pigmented, and long-lasting, so you’ll never have to worry about looking like a demented clown when you remove your face mask again.
(Main image: Hermès Beauty)
17 best matte lipsticks worth your money today:
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- Burberry Kisses Matte Lip Colour
- NARS Air Matte Lip Color Lipstick
- Guerlain KissKiss Tender Matte
- Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick
- Rouge Dior
- Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet
- Rouge Hermes Matte Lipstick
- L'oreal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Liquid Lipstick
- By Terry Lip-Expert Matte Liquid Lipstick
- Maybelline Superstay 24 Matte Ink Lipstick
- Honest Beauty Lip Crayon Demi Matte
- Nyx Professional Powder Puff Lipie Lip Cream
- Nudestix Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil
- MAC Powder Kiss Nude Liquid Lip Trio
- Lime Crime Matte Velvetine Lipstick
- Serge Lutens Lipstick Fard à Lèvres Mat L'Étoffe du Mat
- 3INA Makeup Longwear Lipstick
Chances are you have a favourite Burberry lip colour by now. The new Burberry Kisses Matte takes this relationship to new heights by transforming the brand’s classic colours into a rich luminous matte that’s just as comfortable and pigmented as its other iterations. The long-lasting formula — infused with hyaluronic acid — stays in place for up to eight hours too, and imparts a delicate rose scent for a total sensory experience.
Available online at Sephora and at BHG.
You’d be hard pressed to find another matte lip colour that describes itself as “cushiony”, but that’s exactly how NARS’ latest feels. The lightweight lippie sees a Colour Diffusion Complex that creates a soft-focus finish with a creamy feel, so you can build and blend it into your lips to achieve any look. Its custom-designed applicator also ensure you get a matte lip without any mess. You can pick from one of NARS’ iconic shades here, or try a new one like Surrender or Dusty Rose, both pretty nudes that are on trend now.
Available at NARS counters islandwide and Sephora.
Formulated with shea butter and rose petal extract, Guerlain’s latest takes away the familiar feeling of tightness usually associated with matte lipsticks. Hyaluronic acid is also added to leave lips looking and feeling plumper. Expect a soft, second-skin finish with this one.
Available at Tangs, Takashimaya, Metro, and Sephora.
We’ve waxed lyrical about the magic of Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk lipsticks. Now, you can get it in a matte formula for all-day wear under masks. This nourishing lipstick contains antioxidant Lipstick Tree and orchid extracts to soothe and hydrate, while 3D glowing pigments create the illusion of fuller lips. If you already have chapped lips but don’t want the slip and slide of balmy formulas, this one’s for you.
Available at Sephora stores and online.
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Best described as couture for your lips, Rouge Dior is enriched with red peony and pomegranate flower extracts to keep your lips plump and comfortable all day. While we’re big fans of the satin and velvet finishes, the matte versions are just as luxurious for your lips, and come in a range of colours for any look, whether it’s full-on glam or casual chic.
Described to be “as soft and comfortable as velvet”, Chanel’s take on the matte lipstick promises second-skin comfort, but with a matte yet luminous finish. The highly pigmented formula comes in six shades of reds and pinks, all packaged in chic black and gold casings for extra flair.
Launched in tandem with the colder months is Hermes’ limited edition Rouge Hermes Autumn-Winter 2021 collection, this time in three matte shades to convey the beauty of winter. All three are beautiful, but our pick is the Rose Magenta, a cool, dense pink that’s just as intense as it is striking. The moisturising formula here lends a velvety and powdery finish to your lips, and can give you strong, defined lips or a softly blurred one.
This matte lipstick has an incredibly soft matte finish, is ultra-lightweight and is very easy to apply, thanks to an oil-in-water formula that hydrates your lips and keeps the base breathable. It comes in a variety of bold shades which do not smudge, flake, or dry out for as long as 24 hours.
This matte lipstick by By Terry has a rich and ultimate pigmented formula that promises the best colour payoff with just one swipe. The liquid matte lip formula does not dry out the lips and instead hydrates and nourishes them.
This matte lipstick is totally worth its price with its flake- and crease-resistant formula, making your lips look fresh and plump throughout the day. Besides, its velvety texture gives your lips a sophisticated and glamorous look, and is smudge-proof enough to even survive a five-course meal.
With a doe foot applicator that’s creatively curated to give you excellent control, and a matte formula that’s highly pigmented and incredibly long-lasting, the Maybelline Superstay 24 Matte Ink Lipstick is by far one of the best affordable matte lipsticks in the market today. Choose from a wide variety of colours here, and expect it to stay comfortably on your lips all day.
Jessica Alba’s Honest Beauty Lip Crayon Demi Matte is available in a range of colours from nude to berry, and is infused with the goodness of jojoba oil, shea butter and murumuru butter to hydrate your lips, leaving them soft and supple. These ingredients condition the lips against dryness, and the lip crayon has that mostly matte, has a mildly glossy sheen to bring life to dull lips.
This powder puff lip cream, this lip cream has a unique mousse-like formula that feels soft on your lips while applying, before drying to a powdery smooth matte finish. Its soft cushion applicator here is gentle on your lips and diffuses the lip colour quickly and effortlessly. Besides, it’s vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, and available in a range of colours to suit every skin tone.
The Nudestix Intense Matte Lip + Cheek pencil doubles up as a lip balm and a blush. Enriched with antioxidants such as vitamin E, this lipstick keeps your puckers healthy, hydrated, crack-free, and soft throughout the day. Besides, you’ll finally be able to match your lips and cheeks.
This lipstick trio by the MAC Powder Kiss collection is one of the best-selling matte lipsticks at the moment. Its whipped mousse texture promises full coverage, comfortable and long-lasting wear, over 10 hours of moisture, and a cushiony soft matte finish with minimal effort.
With excellent staying power, this matte lipstick feels like a silky coating on your lips which refuses to budge or dry out the lips all day. It’s also infused with French vanilla, so expect wafts of it as your sport this lipstick.
This irresistible formula coats your lips like a dream and has a flawless matte finish, all while providing maximum coverage. Infused with argan oil, the lipstick is moisturising and lends a texture and hues are suitable for all skin types and tones too.
With the easy applicability of a lip gloss and the long-lasting coverage of a lipstick, this version by 3INA aspires to be the best of both worlds. This long-wear lipstick is enriched with beeswax to condition your lips, has a non-sticky formula, gives a feathery feel to your lips, and has an exceptional matte finish that lasts for hours. It is also paraben- and cruelty-free.