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Best Matte Lipstick Formula (Non-Liquid!)

What's the Best Matte Lipstick Formula (Non-Liquid!) that you've tried?

I’m a big fan of Urban Decay’s Matte Revolutions, which have that really comfy, velvety consistency but still retain a more matte finish. Estee Lauder Pure Color Matte Lipsticks also has a similar formula, which is easy to wear.

— Christine

42 Comments

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Kat Avatar

I have a pretty high tolerance for drying lipsticks, so I have to say the MAC Retro Matte formula, but the Maybelline Creamy Matte formula and the Urban Decay matte formula are both more comfortable and wonderful! The MAC regular matte formula is great as well, it’s often their best lipstick formula.

Nivedita Avatar

I love the Lakme Lip Pouts in India. Those are twist up lip crayons, matte as anything, but does not dry up and the best part is that they are intensely pigmented, long lasting and I wouldn’t even remember that I am wearing anything on my lips!

Deidre Avatar

Maybelline Creamy Matte and Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution are some of the best I have found that do not dry out my lips. I am not a huge fan of matte lipsticks that dry my lips out so I don’t own a lot of liquid lipsticks for this reason.

MissJae1908 Avatar

Colour Pop Lippie Stix in the Matte X formula. They only released two limited edition shades (Trust Me and Poppin’) so far, but I heard they are going to expand the line. #Excited

Dua Avatar

Agree .. they feel good on the lips and I think they turn a bit powdery but they stay on the lips till the very last moment (before taking off makeup).

Stephanie Avatar

Love Maybelline’s mattes along with Estée Lauder’s color envy mattes, and the Nars Audacious line. I recently tried the Smashbox Be Legendary Mattes and I’m really impressed with the formula.

Fran Avatar

I’m not a fan of the matte finish on myself, so I only buy a matte lipstick if I really want the specific color. I’m pretty sure I only have two, both by MAC — Stone and Heroine. With a bit of Prep & Prime for lips under them, they’re reasonably comfortable for me — and my lips tend to dry out fast.

pavspeak Avatar

MAC’s mattes for sure. I never have issues with bleeding or patchiness with any of those! My favorites are D for Dangerous and Persistence.
Close second would be Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution lipsticks – these are super comfortable to wear, and have unique almost-nude shades that actually show up well on my lips.

Nancy T Avatar

Depending on the shade, MAC regular matte lipsticks and even Ruby Woo in the Retro Matte formula seem to do very well on me, especially the staying power!
But comfort wise, I would say UD Matte Revolution and the mattes by Maybelline and Nyx ( black tube twist-ups) are super comfy for mattes.
And NOW, I am dying to try the ColourPop Liquid Satins, as they look matte, and reviewed very well and look gorgeous!

Tova J Avatar

For some reasons I gravitate towards comfortable creamier mattes than super matte lipsticks nowadays! I think my current faves are ColourPop Matte and Isadora Twist Up Matt lips.

Lulle Avatar

I really love 2 of the formulas that Lancôme released for fall: the L’Absolu Rouge Definition, which is more of the semi-matte, depending on the shades, and the Matte Lip Crayon. That one is perfect for an every day matte, but I think they may have been limited edition (sold out in most places).

Denise Avatar

I very rarely wear matte lipsticks because I find that the older I get, wham here comes the wrinkles on my lips. But there are a few that I must say are very smoothing to the lips,non drying and comfortable. YSL Rouge Pur Couture ,Mac and a new one I just recently tried is Charlotte Tilbury. Oh forgot just purchased Tom Ford, beautiful, long lasting, radiant and fragrantly awesome to wear. I am a wearer on Tom Ford from this day forward. Especially his newest (sorry its not matte) ultra rich lipsticks.

Ali Avatar

Classic MAC matte lipsticks. They’re iconic for a reason! They embody a comfortable and non-drying lipstick that isn’t glossy or shiny.

Marieke Avatar

MAC matte formula works for me, but I prefer the lesser known BeYu Color Biggie Matt lip pencils. Those are SO long-lasting, like a liquid but with the comfort of a regular lipstick.

Kylie5 Avatar

The Mac matte lipsticks although I find that some colours are more comfortable to wear than others. Are there 2 different matte formulas or is it just a subjective feeling that I have ?

Irene Avatar

MAC has their Retro Matte (like Ruby Woo) and their regular matte formula (like Russian Red). The former is very flat and tends to feel drying.

PRNoir Avatar

I love the NYX matte lipsticks! I love the formula and the color selection. I haven’t tried the Urband Decay ones you mentioned, but I have heard good things. I have some ELF matte lipsticks and I hate the formula and the colors don’t seem to be very opaque on me at all. I also, like the Kat Von D matte lipsticks. I don’t own any of the full size ones. I just have a couple of different deluxe sample sizes from online Sephora orders and such.

Irene Avatar

MAC’s regular matte formula is my favorite (like the Von Teese & Starlett Scarlet lipsticks). Super long lasting, non drying, and very pigmented.

Laura Avatar

If you are going to say “liquid lipsticks” Jeffree Star is at the top of the list, followed by Ofra (which you can usually find a code for on a blog or something). KVD and Colourpop make me feel like razors are on my lips.

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

None. Even UD, one of my favorites, is too drying. I may be an exception bc I take a medication twice a day that is very drying too.

Shoffiya Avatar

I love Shu uemura rouge unlimited matte lipsticks. They go on smooth, velvety like a mousse consistency, highyly pigmented, doesn’t drying and long lasting too!

Thiel Avatar

Milani Color Statement Moisture Matte lipsticks have the best balance of matte finish, staying power, and comfort of any matte I’ve tried, drugstore and high end alike. My lips are incredibly dry and these don’t cling to my flakes or give me desert mouth. And they still stay for hours! They’re my HG matte lipstick.

Emilie Avatar

I love the Urban Decay Revolution Mattes and the Mac Retromattes best! Both of them kind of set after a bit of wear and become transfer proof on me with all the comfort of a traditional lipstick (UD is more comfortable, but I wish they had more shades). I actually would rather wear those than liquid lipstick most of the time.

Kalindrome Avatar

The Bite Beauty Matte Creme lip crayons are my all time favorites — probably because they are not true mattes! They are creamy and go on easy and don’t have that flat matte cast that I’m just not a fan of. I also like Urban Decay’s matte formula and KVD’s studded lipstick mattes (at least in the shade Lolita). Basically any matte that is a little “unmatte”!

Pami Avatar

I’m generally not a fan of true mattes, or especially “ultra mattes”, but I have an Estee Lauder Pure Color Velvet Lipstick in Violet Crush that I love. It’s really pretty. Most lipsticks disappear from my lips within an hour and this one lasts several hours on me. I tried a WnW matte but it was way too drying.

Astrild Avatar

I have very dry lips so I’m not a fan of matte formulas, but my favorite not-so-terrible-to-wear formula is the velvet matte lip pencils from NARS. I have a couple of MAC matte and NYX matte lipsticks and I like them a lot but I haven’t used enough of them so I can’t swear if the formula is consistently comfortable for me or I’ve had luck with the shades.

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