Lipsticks Under $15 | 2020 Editor's Favorites

Best Beauty Products
Contains: Affiliate Links, Sample
Christine |

Lipstick releases never really cease. It’s incredible how many lip products are released each year, even in a year where manufacturing and supply chains were disrupted! I expect we’ll continue to see an onslaught of lip products in 2021, and here’s hoping that more of us will be able to wear it in full force sooner rather than later! I tested just over 500 lipsticks this past year with about 25% of them coming under this price point, so here are my favorite finds…

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 2020, 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 best of 2019 if you missed last year’s.)

Temptalia’s Favorite Lipsticks Under $15 | 2020

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07.

07. Plum Sephora

Sephora

PPermanent. $14.00/0.06 oz.

A

Sephora Plum Lip Last Matte Lipstick ($14.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. The initial...

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Sephora Plum Lip Last Matte Lipstick ($14.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. The initial...

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17.

17. Hua Mulan ColourPop

ColourPop

LELimited Edition. $7.00/0.12 oz.

A-

ColourPop Hua Mulan Lux Lipstick ($7.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, peachy-coral with warm undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had nearly opaque...

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ColourPop Hua Mulan Lux Lipstick ($7.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, peachy-coral with warm undertones and a glossy, cream finish. It had nearly opaque...

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19.

19. Covet Milani

Milani

PPermanent. $8.99/0.1 oz.

A-

Milani Covet Color Fetish Shine Lipstick ($8.99 for 0.1 oz.) is a vivid, pink-red with strong, cool undertones and a glossy finish. It had medium...

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Milani Covet Color Fetish Shine Lipstick ($8.99 for 0.1 oz.) is a vivid, pink-red with strong, cool undertones and a glossy finish. It had medium...

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20.

20. Tied Up Milani

Milani

PPermanent. $8.99/0.1 oz.

B+

Milani Tied Up Color Fetish Shine Lipstick ($8.99 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium brown with moderate, warm undertones that leaned a little red paired with a...

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Milani Tied Up Color Fetish Shine Lipstick ($8.99 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium brown with moderate, warm undertones that leaned a little red paired with a...

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Side-by-Side Swatches
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Glossover Breakdown
A
19
B
1
C
0
D
0
F
0
93%
Average
Glossover Averages
product
9
pigmentation
9.5
texture
9
longevity
9
application
5
Total
93%
product
9
pigmentation
9.5
texture
9
longevity
9
application
5
Total
93%

Your Year in Review: Lipstick Edition — Part 1

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!

  • What were your more used budget-friendly lipsticks this past year?
  • What type of lipstick finish did you reach for most this past year?
  • Do you expect to purchase more or less lipstick in 2021?
We hope you'll consider supporting Temptalia by shopping through our links below. Thanks!
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10 Comments

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Nancy T
Medium, Olive, neutral undertones. Combination skin. »

What were your more used budget-friendly lipsticks this past year? Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Vintage Rose, Blaze Of Glory, Endless Purple and Auburn Prestige.

What type of lipstick finish did you reach for most this past year? Unfortunately due to our current circumstances and that I use public transportation, I’ve had to reach for dry-down liquid matte lipsticks most.

Do you expect to purchase more or less lipstick in 2021? Yep! Especially once I’m fully vaccinated against Covid.

Z

I don’t know…I’ve tried many Revlon lipsticks of different formulas over the years and have never found a winner. I love lipstick. It’s not hard for me to find something to like, but I can’t get down with Revlon for some reason. And much as I love the idea of Sephora’s little lipstories the scent is a bit of a turnoff.

Celesta
Very Light, Neutral, slight pink undertones. Normal skin. »

What were your more used budget-friendly lipsticks this past year? Definitely my Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks as well Flower Beauty Matte Lipsticks.

What type of lipstick finish did you reach for most this past year? I have and will always enjoy cream finishes.

Do you expect to purchase more or less lipstick in 2021? Less is the goal.

Genevieve
Lightest, Pink undertones. Dry skin. »

What were your more used budget-friendly lipsticks this past year? Nearly all of my lipsticks are budget friendly. The lipsticks I used the most were: CP’s Foolish, Tea Thyme and LA Lady; Maybelline’s Spice For Me and Mauve for Me; Sephora’s Hong Kong by Night and Festival Lights. Laura Gellers Battery Park Bronze was another favourite.

What type of lipstick finish did you reach for most this past year? I always have a creamy finish to my lipsticks.

Do you expect to purchase more or less lipstick in 2021? Purchasing budget lipsticks is one of the joys of life for me – so I will probably purchase pretty much the same amount this year.

Of the above, Sephora’s Auburn, Girl Gang and Autumn Blaze remains on my wishlist – I am seriously hoping that Sephora Australia will bring these out this year. It was a bit disappointing that CP didn’t release many good new lipsticks in their Lux Lipstick range this year. I hope that changes.

Erin
Light, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. Dry skin. »

I’m loving Revlon Glass Shine lipstick in Toasting Glasses. Beautiful finish and just my kind of shade, very similar to the discontinued Lip Butter in Fig Jam.

Nikki
Light Plus, Neutral, slight pink undertones. »

I rarely wear lipstick, and prefer non-sticky glosses or tinted lip moisturizers, but haven’t worn much of anything on my lips this year…masks and all. I have been trying lipsticks, again, with the hope that they will provide a “stained” look that will last even after the lipstick wears off under my mask. I actually purchased several of the Revlon options listed here to try…

Matilda

What were your more used budget-friendly lipsticks this past year?
Colourpop Just a Tint in A Go Go (finished one; started another); Maybelline Pink for Me
What type of lipstick finish did you reach for most this past year?
sheer; balmy – mostly, MAC Lustres
Do you expect to purchase more or less lipstick in 2021?
Less. I am happy with the content and number of my collection and so plan to replace only as I use lipsticks up.

Rachel R.
Lightest, Neutral undertones. Oily skin. »

What were your more used budget-friendly lipsticks this past year? It’s hard to remember. I only wore bullet lipsticks the first three months of the year, then we had to start wearing masks. Probaby … Mega Last High-Shine Lip Color in Clothes Off and Mad for Mauve, Sephora Rouge Lacquer in Riot Girl and Squad Goals, Sephora #Lipstories Lipstick in Off-Limits, ColourPop Just a Tint Lippie Tint in Z Boys, and e.l.f. Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose. ColourPop Lux Lipsticks/Matte Lux/Velvet Blur Lux in general.

What type of lipstick finish did you reach for most this past year? More sheer and glossy, until I had to start wearing a mask. Then I switched to clear lip balm.

Do you expect to purchase more or less lipstick in 2021? Probably less. I have a ton of lipstick, and who knows how much longer I’ll have to be wearing a mask.

Kimberly
Medium, Yellow, slight yellow undertones. »

What were your more used budget-friendly lipsticks this past year? Colourpop Lippie Stix in “Cami”, NYX Liquid Lip in “Ruffle Trim”, and my Colourpop Lux Lipsticks

What type of lipstick finish did you reach for most this past year? I’ve always been a fan of the classic cream finish and that didn’t change this year

Do you expect to purchase more or less lipstick in 2021? At the beginning of this year I bought quite a few lipsticks, but my buying really slowed once lockdown started. I’ll probably keep my lockdown-level speed of buying lipsticks into 2021

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