16 Best Lipsticks of 2022 for every occasion, mood and skin tone

With 24 highly-pigmented shades to choose from, Huda’s Power Bullet is the crème de la crème of matte lipsticks. Enriched with sweet almond oil, its silky-smooth texture glides on without skipping or dragging, setting it apart from other matte lipsticks that can be on the drier side. From warm reds to cool berries (and literally everything in between) choose one or ten of these cruelty-free shades for an unparalleled matte pout.

The hype: “Absolutely love this lipstick. The formula, look and feel are all spot on. They’re not drying at all and are intensely pigmented. Can’t fault it.” - Ambrin, customer review

Created by Make Up For Ever’s professional makeup artists, this lipstick combines the intense pigment of a matte lipstick with all the comfort of a satin lipstick. The result? All-day colour in just one swipe. In 41 shades to wear alone or mix, MUFE definitely understood the assignment. The lipstick’s sleek shape takes inspo from pro lip brushes, offering one-hand application for a flawless pout if you’re on the go. Swipe en route to your next party and thank us later.

The hype: “Love the design! It makes application so much easier than your typical lipstick. The colour is rich and beautiful and it’s not so matte that it makes your lips look dry or flaky. It’s long-wearing and has definitely found its place in my daily makeup routine.” - Jupitter, customer review

Liquid lipsticks are the obvious choice for when you want a powerful punch of colour - and Armani’s Lip Maestro certainly delivers on that front. Its velvety texture keeps your lips hydrated while delivering a highly-pigmented matte finish. Made with innovative backlighting technology, the brand’s first ever liquid lipstick leaves your lips with a luminous, lit-from-within glow. Ob-sessed.

The hype: “Armani’s Lip Maestro is my favourite liquid lip by a mile. Excellent pigmentation, smooth and not drying on lips. It wears beautifully through the day even as it fades and re-applies well. Worth the investment!” - Chelsea, customer review

Just as chic on a night out as in the office, a great nude lip will take you anywhere. But the best nude lip? Well, that’ll change your life (seriously). Enter: Natasha Deonona’s I Need A Nude. This is our winning nude lipstick for a few reasons. Firstly, its Amorosa shade is a perfect natural mauve colour to suit all skin tones. Secondly, its featherlight formula is creamy enough to hydrate and soothe dry lips. And finally, the luxurious texture is just an all-round joy to apply. The hot pink packaging and dreamy vanilla scent just add to the party.

The hype: “This is the first Natasha Denona lipstick I’ve tried and I’m impressed! It feels nice on the lips - not drying at all. BEAUTIFUL nude-mauve colour. Absolutely stunning.” - Cori, customer review

Colouring lips and cheeks with the sexiest flush since the ‘70s, this rose-tinted stain has straight-up cult status. Sheer and buildable, it stays put all day (or night) for the ultimate rosy-lipped look. Our tip? Wear under your favourite lipstick or gloss for double the pigment power.

The hype: “I absolutely LOVE this product. I've tried so many different tints, glosses, lipsticks, etc. and spent so much money to find the perfect colour for my lips. This product is The One. I will never use anything else again!” - Kat, customer review

With pomegranate and jojoba oils to seal in moisture, this lipstick is your ticket to a silky-smooth lip colour. Worn by Hayley Bieber herself, it’s the first mineral-infused, vegan lipstick on the market, delivering a rich pigment in just one swipe. Officially Biebs-approved, you have literally zero excuses to not go out and buy all the shades. Unsure where to start? Pick shade Joy - the perfect candy pink to suit every skin tone.

The hype: “For her lips we used the bareMinerals Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick, tapping it onto the lips to create a stained effect. No sharp lines, just effortless and clean… almost like she just had a basket of berries.” - Denika Bedrossia, Hayley Bieber’s Makeup Artist

The best thing about a medium-coverage lipstick is the buildability options. Sheer formulas let you choose how much pigment you really want, so if you’re after a touch of colour or a bold, bright lip, your bases are covered. YSL’s Volupté Shine is no exception: its lipstick-meets-balm formula glides on for a hydrating pout, and you can dial it up or down as the mood suits. Just blot between applications for a bolder colour.

The hype: “Absolutely love my YSL Beauty Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick, it goes on so nicely and lasts for ages, and I feel so decadent when I take this beautiful lipstick out of my bag to pop it on.” - Sharon, customer review

For the days when you have zero energy for a full lipstick look, it’s all about the lip tint. Just like NARS’ Orgasm Afterglow, lip tints are best when blended with a lip balm - delivering the dreamy combo of shine and hydration. This one’s infused with antioxidants to nourish and protect lips, while the cheekily-named Orgasm shade has the perfect blend of peachy pink and golden shimmer to nail naturally-flushed lips.

The hype: “I can't even count the number of times I've gotten hit on while wearing this lip balm - and, to be completely frank, it's not like I get hit on that often. It's all about the balm and the confidence I have after dabbing it on.” - Hallie Gould, Byrdie

The secret to fuller lips without the filler? This iconic lipstick from Charlotte Tilbury. Made with light-reflecting 3D pigments, it creates the illusion of wider, fuller lips from your very first swipe. Its popularity speaks for itself: one Matte Revolution is sold every two minutes(!) And out of all the lipsticks we’ve tried, this remains our ride-or-die for a plumper-looking pout.

The hype: “This didn't scream "I'm wearing nude lipstick" the way many liquid matte formulas do, nor did it look like concealer on my mouth. It just made my lips look full, flushed and juicy.” - Sable Young, Allure

Made with nourishing mango butter and boasting a handy refill mechanism, this lipstick is a sheer (sorry) joy to apply. The glide-on texture goes on like a silky dream, enveloping lips in weightless hydration while delivering intense colour. Its matte blurring effect creates that sought-after soft focus look. Swipe away for the perfect amount of ‘just-been-kissed’ colour.

The hype: “This is the most beautiful lipstick I own, the packaging is out of this world gorgeous but the product itself is also outstanding. I find matte lipstick quite hard to wear but with this being a sheer matte it’s so much more comfortable and flattering.” - Katie H, customer review

The MVP in any flawless lip look? Lip liner. This one from Huda has been touted as a ‘lipstick-liner hybrid’ - aka, a liner that does both. If you want to outline your lips and cupid’s bow for a fuller pout, it has your back. But if you want a highly-pigmented finish, then go to town and fill in your pout all over. Enriched with nourishing soybean extract, it works just as well as lipstick to create a creamy look while staying put all day long. Added lipstick on top = optional.

The hype: “These will not budge. Even after your third cup of coffee. Even after oily pasta. They’re like a lipstick-liner hybrid - the best of both worlds. And every shade looked great." - Allure