Lipsticks (Over $15) | 2021 Editor's Favorites
Year after year, this is one of the more difficult lists to put together, because there are so many mid-end and high-end lipsticks that I test each year. In 2021, I managed to post reviews for 590 lipsticks (over $15). I’m impressed with myself that I managed to keep the list to 31 standout shades!
If you’re unfamiliar with how I like to do my year-end favorites, here’s the low down: I pull from the products I reviewed in 2021, regardless of whether they were new, limited edition, or an established range I’ve only just gotten around to reviewing. These are personal favorites, so they may or may not be the highest rated products reviewed during the year (though they will tend to be better rated, naturally!). (You can check out the best of 2020 posts if you missed last year’s.)
Temptalia’s Favorite Lipsticks (Over $15) | 2021
Laura Mercier Rose Vif Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a rich, raspberry pink with subtle, cool undertones and a satin...
Laura Mercier Rose Vif Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a rich, raspberry pink with subtle, cool undertones and a satin...
Urban Decay No Parking Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a deep red with cool, blue undertones and a soft cream finish. The lipstick...
Urban Decay No Parking Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a deep red with cool, blue undertones and a soft cream finish. The lipstick...
YSL Fatal Carmin (309) The Slim Velvet Radical Matte Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It...
YSL Fatal Carmin (309) The Slim Velvet Radical Matte Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It...
YSL Rouge Paradoxe (21) The Slim Velvet Radical Matte Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium red with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte...
YSL Rouge Paradoxe (21) The Slim Velvet Radical Matte Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium red with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte...
Chanel Pirate (99) Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep, slightly muted, red with strong, cool pink undertones and...
Chanel Pirate (99) Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep, slightly muted, red with strong, cool pink undertones and...
Chanel Rouge Vie (58) Rouge Allure Velvet ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with moderate, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had rich...
Chanel Rouge Vie (58) Rouge Allure Velvet ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with moderate, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had rich...
NARS Ginette Audacious Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a rich, red-burgundy with warmer undertones and a lightly glossy, cream finish. It had opaque...
NARS Ginette Audacious Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a rich, red-burgundy with warmer undertones and a lightly glossy, cream finish. It had opaque...
Smashbox Harley Quinn Be Legendary Anti-Hero Lipstick ($24.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a rich, deeper ruby red with cool, blue undertones and barely-there...
Smashbox Harley Quinn Be Legendary Anti-Hero Lipstick ($24.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a rich, deeper ruby red with cool, blue undertones and barely-there...
MAC Red Haring Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a bright, medium cherry red with cool, blue undertones and a semi-matte to satin finish. The lipstick...
MAC Red Haring Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a bright, medium cherry red with cool, blue undertones and a semi-matte to satin finish. The lipstick...
YSL Paris Stroll (146) Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a bright, medium coral-red with subtle, warm undertones and a cream...
YSL Paris Stroll (146) Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a bright, medium coral-red with subtle, warm undertones and a cream...
Chanel Rouge Fauve (277) Rouge Allure Velvet ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium reddish-copper with subtle, warm undertones and a satin...
Chanel Rouge Fauve (277) Rouge Allure Velvet ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium reddish-copper with subtle, warm undertones and a satin...
Urban Decay Manic Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a brighter, medium plum with strong, warm undertones and a lightly glossy, cream...
Urban Decay Manic Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a brighter, medium plum with strong, warm undertones and a lightly glossy, cream...
Urban Decay Ravenswood Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy mauve with warm undertones and a cream finish. The...
Urban Decay Ravenswood Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy mauve with warm undertones and a cream finish. The...
Tom Ford Beauty Blazing Kiss Lip Color ($57.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a deeper, rosy plum with moderate, warm undertones and a cream finish. It was richly...
Tom Ford Beauty Blazing Kiss Lip Color ($57.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a deeper, rosy plum with moderate, warm undertones and a cream finish. It was richly...
Dior Taupe Ispahan (076) Diorific Lipstick ($40.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a subdued, darker reddish-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a luminous, cream...
Dior Taupe Ispahan (076) Diorific Lipstick ($40.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a subdued, darker reddish-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a luminous, cream...
Lisa Eldridge Velvet Petal True Velvet Lipstick Colour ($36.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep, rosy mauve with subtle, warm undertones and a soft matte...
Lisa Eldridge Velvet Petal True Velvet Lipstick Colour ($36.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep, rosy mauve with subtle, warm undertones and a soft matte...
Lancome Perfect Fig (265) L'Absolu Rouge Hydrating Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a darker, rosy plum with moderate, warm undertones and a luminous...
Lancome Perfect Fig (265) L'Absolu Rouge Hydrating Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a darker, rosy plum with moderate, warm undertones and a luminous...
YSL Rose Stiletto (9) Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a muted, medium mauve with subtle, cool undertones and a luminous...
YSL Rose Stiletto (9) Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a muted, medium mauve with subtle, cool undertones and a luminous...
YSL Nu Incongru (12) Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a dark pink with moderate, warm undertones and a matte finish....
YSL Nu Incongru (12) Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a dark pink with moderate, warm undertones and a matte finish....
YSL Bois de Rose (66) Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a muted, deep rosy mauve with warm undertones and a cream finish. The...
YSL Bois de Rose (66) Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a muted, deep rosy mauve with warm undertones and a cream finish. The...
Urban Decay 1993 Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark brown with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish. It had a...
Urban Decay 1993 Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark brown with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish. It had a...
Urban Decay Hideaway Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark mauve with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had a...
Urban Decay Hideaway Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark mauve with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had a...
Chanel Radiant (118) Rouge Coco Bloom Lip Colour ($40.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark mauve with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish....
Chanel Radiant (118) Rouge Coco Bloom Lip Colour ($40.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark mauve with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish....
Urban Decay Love Trap Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a deep mauve with cool undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had nearly...
Urban Decay Love Trap Vice Hydrating Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a deep mauve with cool undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had nearly...
MAC Canal Blue Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a vivid, medium-dark cobalt blue with strong, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque...
MAC Canal Blue Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a vivid, medium-dark cobalt blue with strong, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque...
MAC Kinda Soar-ta Powder Kiss Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a darker, rosy mauve with soft, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had nearly...
MAC Kinda Soar-ta Powder Kiss Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a darker, rosy mauve with soft, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had nearly...
Chanel Mode (75) Rouge Allure Velvet ($40.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a vivid, medium red with warmer undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque color...
Chanel Mode (75) Rouge Allure Velvet ($40.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a vivid, medium red with warmer undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque color...
Lancome Exotic Orchid (391) L'Absolu Rouge Hydrating Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy plum with subtle, warm undertones and...
Lancome Exotic Orchid (391) L'Absolu Rouge Hydrating Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy plum with subtle, warm undertones and...
Laura Mercier Mauve Merveilleux Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark mauve with cooler undertones and a satin...
Laura Mercier Mauve Merveilleux Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark mauve with cooler undertones and a satin...
MAC Forget-Me-Naughty Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a brighter, light-medium purple with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had opaque...
MAC Forget-Me-Naughty Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a brighter, light-medium purple with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had opaque...
Pat McGrath Flesh 7 Divinyl Lip Shine ($36.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and warmer, lighter gold/copper pearl...
Pat McGrath Flesh 7 Divinyl Lip Shine ($36.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and warmer, lighter gold/copper pearl...
Glossover Averages
Your Year in Review: Lipstick Edition
I thought it would be interesting to read through how readers used products throughout the year, what favorites emerged, what products fell by the wayside… so, if you want to join in, copy and paste the questions below and add your answers via a comment!
Feel free to break it down by price (over $15) if that makes sense to you since there was also an under $15 lipstick post previously.
- What was your most used lipstick? Least used?
- Will you repurchase it or will you look for something new?
- Was lipstick a big part of your routine in 2021?
What was your most used lipstick? Least used? Out of my tube lipsticks? MAC x Rosalia Nuez Moscado and UD Broken. But with the whole masking up situation still ongoing, I’ve been wearing mostly liquid lipsticks that dry-down or if I’m wearing a standard tube lipstick, usually a nudey or mlbb shade.
Will you repurchase it or will you look for something new? Since I’ll likely never use up an entire tube of anything, no repurchase. As for my small little bunch of liquid lipsticks, I would repurchase Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Vintage Rosewood if I run out of it.
Was lipstick a big part of your routine in 2021? I would say so. Even though mask wearing was standard protocol to access public transportation and also entry into medical appointments, I was still wearing it. This, even though I knew most other people wouldn’t see it. But, it made me feel more pulled together and added a layer of confidence to my stride!
What was your most used lipstick? Least used?
In this pretty well masked year, my favourite lipstick was Maybelline’s Spice for Me and Mauve for Me.
My least used lipstick include: CP’s Gallop, Laura Geller’s Battery Park Bronze, MAC Chili – there was just no point in wearing out my favourite lipsticks under a mask!
Will you repurchase it or will you look for something new?
I have already ordered a number of backups of Spice for Me through an Australian online retailer, who offered them at such an amazingly inexpensive price – like two for $12. Beforehand I had to order it internationally and we all know what those shipping rates are like…
I am always on the look out for good, inexpensive lipstick….now if only CP will add to their Lux lipstick range, I will be a very happy girl.
Was lipstick a big part of your routine in 2021?
I always love wearing lipstick as it rounds off my look and without lipstick I tend to look drawn. Of course in public, we all had to wear masks, so no lipstick there – which was quite strange for me. But I did wear lipstick around the house…
With the pandemic, I have been working mostly at home and my lipstick usage has dropped almost to zero in favor of tinted lip balm. I never would have thought to see the day! I miss my old favorites.
Most used were the Fenty Beauty Slip Shines in Glazed and Retro Rose. I’ve already used up Cookies and Cocoa and repurchased in the other shades, so I’m sure I’ll get more.
Lipsticks are my happy place and I enjoyed really digging in to my collection and pulling out things to give more love to, or to chuck out from lack of use, and reacquaint myself with the different formulas and colors.
I still very much love my PMG LuxeTrance and, still to this day, find that formula superior to others. Having said that, Buxom’s 90s Nudes has my two most flattering and easiest to love shades: Fly Girl and Dreamboat. Buxom’s formula is luscious and comfortable. No lipstick is “moisturizing” on my sahara lips, but that one isn’t uncomfortable. Smashbox was a surprise as Bloodsport is very flattering, smooth, creamy, and wears really well on my dry lips. Uoma’s matte formula in the white, magnetic bullet is just too dry for me now, but the shades I have are freaking GORGEOUS and they really don’t receive enough love.