18 Best Moisturizing Lipsticks for Juicy, Hydrated Lips
@oliviahancock / Byrdie
Reviewed by Ashley Rebecca
The best moisturizing lipsticks double as a salve and a style statement. In addition to conditioning the lips—making for the smooth, supple smile we all covet—they can pull together an entire beauty book. Whether you're after a matte, shimmery, or sheer wash of color, there's a hydrating lipstick that will give you a pout worth smiling for. To help you navigate the, ahem, oversaturated market of moisturizing lipsticks, keep reading. We've rounded up 18 of the best hydrating formulations, sprinkling in insights from top makeup artists.
Meet the Expert
Alexis Oakley is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist.
Marlena Orlowska is a makeup artist at the Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa.
Natalie Gee is a makeup artist and the co-founder of Gee Beauty.
Dior Lip Addict
Dior Dior Addict Lipstick ($35)
Is it a balm or a lipstick? This cult classic blurs the lines, with an oil-infused formula that locks in shine and leave lips super hydrated. The balm/lipstick hybrid doesn't sacrifice color for the sake of moisture. Plus, it's available in an array of shades—from baby pinks to rosy nudes—that'll suit a variety of skin tones and makeup looks.
Milk Makeup Lipstick
Milk Makeup Lipstick ($24)
Achieve a modern matte lip that stays in place with this second-skin formula that provides one-swipe coverage. Natural ingredients from shea butter to coconut and grapeseed oils soften and moisturize lips throughout wear. We're huge fans of the demi-matte finish, which is shine-free but won't dry out lips. Layer it on top of a lip liner or not—either way, the formula is made to last.
Kevyn Aucoin The Expert Lip Color
Kevyn Aucoin The Expert Lip Color ($35)
Enjoy all-day color via a single swipe of this moisturizing formula that promises full coverage and rich pigment. This pick gives off a satin finish, meaning there's a slight, but not overly glossy, sheen—perfect for brunch with the girls or when you want to glam up an otherwise boring day of errands. Either way, the key to hydration here is wild mango fruit butter, which intensely moisturizes even the driest of lips.
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick ($19)
If you crave options when it comes to color, this is the range for you. It's available in a rainbow of hues in high shine, matte, metallic, satin, and shimmer finishes. The best part? This creamy lip formula conditions lips with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, avocado, and babassu oils.
Hourglass GIRL Lip Stylo
Hourglass GIRL Lip Stylo ($34)
This pick from Hourglass ranks high on our list. It allows us to treat ourselves to a high-intensity lip color that hydrates with a blend of shea butter, jojoba, mimosa, and sunflower seed. The result: softer, more hydrated lips and gorgeous color to boot. Plus, we love the chubby pencil-style applicator for precision's sake.
Tom Ford Lip Color
Tom Ford Lip Color ($58)
If you're looking for full coverage and a deeply moisturizing formula, you've found it in this pick. Brazilian murumuru butter, soja seed extract, and chamomile flower oil blend to create a creamy texture and super-smooth application. And when it comes to packaging, TF hit the nail on the head—this tube is vanity-worthy.
Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($27)
Matte, but make it hydrating. These cult-favorite pencils are small enough to double as a lip liner but pigmented enough to stand on their own. Thanks to vitamin E and emollients, the pencils really do feel like velvet on the lips. Throw the softening formula into your purse for easy touch-ups on the go.
Chantecaille Lip Stick
Chantecaille Lip Stick ($40)
Vitamins A and C, as well as SPF, protect lips in this creamy formula that makes for the perfect beach bag or pool day accompaniment. It moisturizes while delivering vivid color, and the sun protection is a delicious added benefit.
MAC Satin Lipstick
MAC Satin Lipstick ($19)
The satin finish of this lipstick line leaves lips looking velvety and soft, while the creamy formula moisturizes and hydrates your pigmented pout. Makeup artist Alexis Oakley is a fan of this formula, touting the fact that it's extremely buildable and creamy. The expansive color range spans nudes, neutrals, and neon-bright hues.
L'Oreal Riche Plump and Shine Lipstick
L'Oreal Colour Riche Plump and Shine Lipstick ($5)
Need a little help in the volume department? This formula gently plumps lips while delivering shine and hydration. Not to mention, the bright, poppy color selection will have you struggling to choose just one hue.
Kjaer Weis Lip Tint
Kjaer Weis Lip Tint ($25)
Skincare meets makeup in this barely-there pick. This organic tint from Kjaer Weis is packed with jojoba oil and beeswax to condition the lips all while delivering a sheer wash of color. It's also made without parabens or artificial colors. We're big fans of the fact that it's refillable, and that it can be layered or worn sheer depending on the occasion.
Troy Surratt Lipslique
Troy Surratt Lipslique ($34)
Makeup artist Marlena Orlowska recommends this pick if you're looking for a one-two punch of anti-aging benefits and color. "Lip products to 'swear by' are always a challenge to find, especially as we age," she says. "We use our lips more than our own two feet most days, and if the formula isn't ultra-hydrating with five-star components, your lipstick may start creeping up the fine lines around your smile." That's why she recommends this formula from Troy Surratt: it uses antioxidant-rich macadamia seed oil to combat signs of aging while providing long-lasting nourishment and hydration for the lips.
Cle de Peau Beaute Lipstick
Cle de Peau Beaute Lipstick Lipstick ($65)
Silky lipstick lovers can reach for this luscious semi-matte formula in lieu of a stickier formula. Orlowska is a fan: "This formula contains sodium hyaluronate (aka hyaluronic acid) which, alone, offers deep hydration. This is paired with argan oil to lock in moisture as well as titanium dioxide, which will protect the delicate skin of the lips from both UVA and UVB rays, preventing further aging."
E.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick
E.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick ($8)
There are drugstore prices and then there are less-than-$10 prices. E.l.f.'s creamy lipstick bullet is only $8 a tube, but you wouldn't know it just from swiping it on. The emollient formula, available in four classic shades, delivers shea butter and vitamins E, C, and A right to the lips. And with pigment this good, you won't have to layer on heaps of product to reap the colorful benefits.
Pink Lipps Velvet Matte Lipstick
Pink Lipps Velvet Matte Lipstick ($12)
A matte lipstick that doesn't leave your lips drier than a desert? Seems like an impossible dream, but not so with this cloud-like formula that acts as both a long-wearing liquid lipstick and a comfortable lip stain. It has coconut oil for an extra boost of hydration, is weightless, comfortable, and has a velvety-suede texture that feels soft as a pillow.
Gee Beauty
She may be biased, but "Gee Beauty Creamy Matte Lipsticks ($29) are my ultimate favorite," admits makeup artist and Gee Beauty co-founder Natalie Gee. "They just feel so nourishing and hydrating!" As a self-professed "nudes girl," she carries the lipstick in A Gee Thing, Bibi and Roxy at all times. "I love to pair them with our Gee Beauty Creamy Lip Define Pencils ($26) for a lip look that feels effortless and polished," she adds.
Victoria Beckham Lip Tints
"These Victoria Beckham lip tints ($36) feel so hydrating on my lips," Gee says. "I love the soft satin finish they give—perfect for mornings when I'm not wearing any makeup."
Available in five shades—ranging from the berry-hued Cherie to the bubblegum-pink Poupette—the tints are formulated with moisturizing ingredients including squalene and mustard sprout extract.
Monika Blunder Kissen Lush Lipstick Crayon
When she's looking for a red lip with a buttery sheen, Gee grabs for these lipstick crayons from Monika Blunder ($32.) Made with a blend of hydrating botanicals and oils, the light-as-air formulation glides on easily. It can be applied directly from the tube, or blotted on with a finger for a more natural, just-been-kissed effect.
Up Next: The 16 Best Lip Glosses of 2023, Loved by Testers
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