Lipsticks (Under $15) | Editor's Favorites
Best of 2017
Lipsticks (Under $15)
As 2017 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect back on the products I’ve reviewed during the past year and share with you my personal favorites. It wasn’t a particularly outstanding year for traditional lipsticks under $15–at least from what I reviewed–and I noted that over the year, a lot of my “under $15” testing for lip colors went to liquid lipsticks (which I’ll have a list for later!). I’d love to hear if you discovered any new favorite, budget-friendly lipsticks this year! Share yours in the comments 🙂
P.S. — View swatches of my favorites here!
Maybelline Molten Bronze
Maybelline Molten Bronze Color Sensational Matte Metallics Lipstick ($7.49 for 0.15 oz.) is a deep, reddish plum with subtle, warm undertones and a... Read full review.
ColourPop Faded
ColourPop Faded Lippie Stix ($5.00 for 0.352 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark rosy plum with strong, warm undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish.... Read full review.
NYX Street Cred
NYX Street Cred Matte Lipstick ($5.99 for 0.16 oz.) is a bright, medium pink coral with warm undertones and a satin finish. It was intensely... Read full review.
NYX Eden
NYX Eden Matte Lipstick ($5.99 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium-dark, pinky red with cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It was richly pigmented with a... Read full review.
ColourPop Bee's Knees
ColourPop Bee's Knees Blotted Lips ($5.00 for 0.035 oz.) is a medium-dark raspberry pink with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had... Read full review.
Maybelline Almond Rose
Maybelline Almond Rose Color Sensational Inti-Matte Lip Color ($7.99 for 0.15 oz.) is a slightly brighter, medium-dark pink with subtle, warm... Read full review.
Maybelline Toasted Truffle
Maybelline Toasted Truffle Color Sensational Inti-Matte Lip Color ($7.99 for 0.15 oz.) is a muted, dark plummy brown with warm undertones and a... Read full review.
NYX Siren
NYX Siren Matte Lipstick ($5.99 for 0.16 oz.) is a deep, reddened berry with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. The consistency was lightly... Read full review.
Maybelline Brown Blush
Maybelline Brown Blush Color Sensational Inti-Matte Lip Color ($7.99 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with neutral-to-warm undertones and a satin... Read full review.
Maybelline Gunmetal
Maybelline Gunmetal Color Sensational Matte Metallics Lipstick ($7.49 for 0.15 oz.) is a deep, bluish black with cool undertones and flecks of teal... Read full review.
Woohoo! I actually do have 2 of the above mentioned! CP Faded and Bee’s Knees!
I really should hop on the NYX train. I only have brow products from them.
Brown Blush and Bee’s Knee’s are gorgeous! The both look a lot like more expensive products I’ve had my eye on, actually. Haha.
I have more expensive taste in lipsticks and tend to eventually destash any that I buy at the drugstore (NY’s resolution: no more drugstore lipstick!). However, the one I do love and keep is Revlon Black Cherry.
Black Cherry has literally been around for at least 30 years! It was a fave of mine in the mid ’80s and a fave today.
Gorgeous picks. These three brands do the best DS lipsticks, IMHO. E.l.f. does great ones, too, but nothing from them really was outstanding to be, aside from maybe Beautifully Bare Satin Lipstick in Touch of Berry. I ended up loving that one.
I love the Maybelline Molten Bronze shade, but for under $15 I still think the Milani Colour Statement lipsticks are the best value – particularly the shades of Candied Toffee, Bronze Beauty and Cinnamon Spice.
Oh, I forgot about those. They’re excellent, too.
I’m a fan of the new-ish L’Oreal Matte Addiction lipsticks!
I have 3 cheapo favorites. Wet and Wild Liquid Catsuit is amazing. L’Oréal Balmain Paris is also really nice. I think it’s actually a 2018 color but Ulta released it online a couple months ago. I only have Legend, a really deep, matte taupe but they have a lot of interesting shades. Last but not least, another new one that just dropped last week, Sephora #LIPSTORIES. For $8, you can’t go wrong, They have 3 formulations, creamy, matte and metallic. I have 2 colors so far, 1 matte nude, Love Love, and the very gorgeous metallic red, Hong Kong at night. I’m probably going to pick up 1 more matte in hot pink. The reviews give them almost a solid 5, not bad at all!
Are the #LIPSTORIES good? I’ve been interested in them for the price and shade range but wanted to hear some reviews! Is the matte one you have drying?
Actually the matte one feel very silky and smooth. They are not uber matte, though, more like a suede or velvet formula. The matte one has better staying power than the metallic, too. It’s not completely transfer proof like a liquid matte SHOULD be but I touched up after lunch when I wore it to work. It was mostly still on. It’s better than a lot of high end lipsticks IMO. Love Love does have gray undertones like many of the reviews say, and is pretty light but I like pale lip products as much as I like deep and in your face colors.
Longtime lurker, first time commenter (awesome blog and job you’re doing Christine!).
Favorite drugstore lipsticks I’ve found this year have been the Wet n’ Wild MegaLast Lip Color (basically your standard bullet). Bought one on a whim for 0.99 in a burgundy color I’ve always wanted to try, and figured if it didn’t work at least I wouldn’t break the bank. The color (Cinnamon Spice) ended up being the perfect red for me! Get a ton of compliments on it, and no one can tell the difference between it and some of my more expensive lipsticks. Now it’s the first brand I check out when I’m in the mood to test new colors (picked up an orange that looks great!). They are a little drying, and typically last 4 hours before you need to reapply, but again for the price I think those are two minor quibbles for a great product =)
I’m going to give props to the ColourPop Blotted lipsticks (in the tube) just for being so unique. I love the way they look, I love the sheerness. I just wish they were a little more hydrating but I’ll live with that for the cool matte finish.
Wet n Wild Fantasy Makers MegaLast Lip Colors were actually a huge hit for me this year! I even wore Galaxy Blue into a Sephora and all the employees there were complimenting it, having no idea it cost less than $2. lol