best lipsticks in the world
999 By Christian Dior
1
. Rumored to be the lip color worn at the first ever Christian Dior runway show (then known as 9), this is Diors best selling, classic red. Its often referred to by its other name: Iconic.
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Ruby Woo By M A C
2
. Beloved for its ability to look good on virtually everyone, celebrity makeup artist Beau Nelson explains its appeal: Its a vivid, matte, matte, matte, red. (Yes, he said matte three times for emphasis.) It takes a little effort to get on, but its velvety red look is worth it. Its also known for being virtually indestructible, lasting from morning to night, with meals in between.
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Black Honey Almost Lipstick By Clinique
3
. A freebie in makeup gift sets in the 80s, Cliniques Black Honey Almost became a cult favorite in the 90s as a lipgloss/lipstick that, in oft repeated beauty parlance, looks good on almost everyone. Its now the best reviewed lipstick on MakeupAlley, with over 1,000 reviews.
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Spice By M A C
4
. This cinnamon brown lip color, which Linda Evangelista once publicly praised, was sold out for most of the 90s. Nelson explains: No iconic products list would be complete without this 90s supermodel favorite.
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Schiap By NARS
5
. Named for designer Elsa Schiaparelli, its one of the brightest pink lipsticks with blue undertones. Maggie Gyllenhaal wore the shade with her Dries Van Noten to the 2010 Oscars.
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Rouge Noir By Chanel
6
. Once known as Vamp, this color was reformulated to become Rouge Noir. Nelson describes the classic color: A 90s staple, this deep brown burgundy shade still looks as fresh today as it did then.
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Lady Danger By M A C
7
. A true red orange, this is the classic shade always seen on the lips of
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19 Fuchsia Rouge Pur Couture By YSL
8
. The first shade created by Monsieur Saint Laurent in 1979.
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Angel By M A C
9
. In 2011, an up and coming reality star named Kim Kardashian proclaimed this her favorite lipstick shade. This pink lipstick (with a touch of frost) has been a best seller ever since.
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Funny Face By NARS
10
. Named after the Audrey Hepburn film, this is a fuchsia that looks either more purple or pink depending upon your skin tone.
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Pirate By Chanel
11
. A classic red with blue undertones, this was one of six shades formulated to mimic Coco Chanels signature red lip. This shade became a cult favorite, especially after YouTube makeup artist Lisa Eldridge demonstrated its appeal in a video.
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Russian Red By M A C
12
. One of the three best selling reds by M A C (the others being Ruby Woo and Lady Danger), this is a cherry red that leans the slightest bit toward orange.
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Fire And Ice And Cherries In The Snow By Revlon
13
. Nelson explains the cult appeal of these two shades: Cherries in the Snow is a pink based red that has literally been around for decades and is a timeless classic. Fire and Ice was maybe the first Hollywood red lipstick (and matching nail color). The ads asked readers questions and warned that you were only bold enough to wear the shade if you answered at least eight of them with Yes.
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Myth By M A C
14
. On internet message boards, you often see the acronym MLBB meaning My Lips But Better. This is one of the best reviewed MLBB shades on MakeupAlley of all time, praised for being a nude that isnt too nude. Its a frequently sold out best seller.
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Bruised Plum By Tom Ford
15
. Quite simply, one of the best plum colored lipsticks of all time.
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Jungle Red By NARS
16
. Nelson explains why this shade is Old Hollywood (and used by him in our GIF tutorial): In addition to a glamorous The Women reference, this shade of bright, slightly blue based red is perfect for an old Hollywood power pout.
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No 1 By YSL
17
. Lupita Nyongos makeup artist, Nick Barose, calls this is one of his favorite red shades. Its a classic red thats creamy with a hint of sheen, and glamorous and , he says.
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400 By Armani
18
. This classic red is what is known as the Armani Red, and the same shade as seen in the brands signature red lipstick case.
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Brown By Bobbi Brown
19
. Bobbi Brown started her makeup line with ten lipstick shades and this was one of the originals a color that helped make brown lips a trend in the 1990s.
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Trafalgar By Christian Dior
20
. In every beauty range, theres a classic red thats a best seller, and a second best seller thats a more quirky red. This red has a jolt of orange through it no less pigmented than the 999, but just as vibrant.
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Heroine By M A C
21
. Originally launched as part of M A Cs Reel collection, it quickly became a fan favorite (multiple internet message boards devoted threads to documenting their love affair of the lipstick). M A C heard their cries and brought this violet shade into its permanent collection this year.
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No 52 Rouge Pur Couture By YSL
22
. A new cult favorite, this shade sold out everywhere worldwide after its appearance on a Korean TV drama. It now goes for up to $100 on eBay.
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Honolulu Honey By NARS
23
. One of the most famous nude shades of all time.
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Amande Sucree By Lancome
24
. Barose explains why this bronze should be a classic: I love that it gives a sheer bronze glaze for the mouth. Its perfect for darker skin because its not a nude but a bit more interesting and glam.
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Exaltee By Chanel
25
. This pink red is a new favorite of celebrity makeup artists and has been worn by Emma Stone, and most recently, Emma Watson at the Golden Globes.
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Airy Fairy By Rimmel
26
. This shade is praised on MakeupAlley for being one of the most foolproof My Lips But Better shades of all time with over 500 five star reviews.
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Grege 1947 By Christian Dior
27
. Originally conceived as a highlighter blush for lips, this is a classic, polished, peach based nude.
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Viva Glam By M A C
28
. Nelson explains the historical significance behind this color: The first makeup product ever to be promoted by a drag queen. RuPaul Charles made history by declaring I am the M A C girl in the advertising for this life saving lip shade. Every single penny of this lipstick and its successors goes to AIDS research.
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Casablanca By Tom Ford
29
. Although hes best known for his more vibrant color choices, this is Tom Fords most commercially successful lipstick shade.
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Lasting Kiss By Lancome
30
. This pinkish brown is the current best selling Lanc
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Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm By Dior
31
. This sheer, moisturizing lip balm magically changes color on everyone and is one of the most positively reviewed lip products on MakeupAlley.
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Violet Femme By Tom Ford
32
. Barose explains why this shade is a favorite: Its a bright color thats unique with purple undertones; its bright but deep, so its easy to wear.
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311 By Cle De Peau Beaute
33
. This is Cl
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Fairest Nude By L Oreal Paris
34
. Described as a perfect nude (especially for those with olive complexions) on MakeupAlley.
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Iconic By Dolce And Gabbana
35
. Dolce and Gabbanas best selling blue red, with a touch of shine.
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Kate Moss 01 By Rimmel London
36
. Kate Moss and Rimmel London teamed up to create a line of lipstick shades and 01 is billed as the perfect red, worn by Moss in the ads. Its one of our favorite drugstore lipsticks of all time for its intense color payoff and hydration.
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Kate Lipstick 111 By Rimmel London
37
. A balanced red lipstick thats the second best seller in Kate Mosss collection, Rimmel. Some also see this as a stand in for M A Cs Ruby Woo.
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Red Revival By Maybelline
38
. One of Maybellines best selling shades, its seen as the drugstore version of M A Cs Russian Red.
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Dare To Bare By By Terry
39
. By Terrys best selling shade worldwide, a pink based nude that glides over the lips, with a blend of hyaluronic acid and something called filler spheres (which promises plump, moisturized color that wont settle into crevices).
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Monique By Jouer
40
. Barose explains why this is a nude worth using. Its a classic nude lip thats very chic and polished. Its the kind of nude that looks elegant and not like a too natural, going to the beach nude (which is like, Whats the point?).
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Hot And Enchantress By Cover Girl
41
. These two are Cover Girls best selling shades. Hot is often seen as a stand in for either M A Cs Ruby Woo or Russian Red. Enchantress is a purple based pink.
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Hevyn By Surratt Beauty
42
. This shade is Troy Surratts homage to his late mentor, Kevyn Aucoin. Called a Lipslique, this products texture is akin to what would result if lip gloss and lipstick had a baby. Its Surratts current best seller and another My Lips But Better shade.
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Strange Magic By Marc Jacobs Beauty
43
. This mauve based nude is Marc Jacobss best selling shade.
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Intense Nude By Estee Lauder
44
. Earlier this year, Est
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Tulip By Shiseido
45
. A true pink with the slightest undertone of blue, this light and moisturizing lipstick is a best seller.
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Petal Rebel By Maybelline
46
. This shade of light pink was worn by Charlotte Free in the brands commercial, in which her lips almost matched the color of her hair.
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Exposed By Tarte
47
. Although this color is technically described as a nude, its more of a pink rose brown and a makeup artist favorite.
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Medieval By Lipstick Queen
48
. In medieval times, women used lemon to give their lips a berry ish tint. This moisturizing lipstick hybrid takes its sheer, berry inspiration from that color.
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Lauren Santo Domingo Vogue Contributing Editor
49
. The blonder the girl, the redder the lips. Sisley Hydrating Lipstick in Passion Rouge is the perfect red for my complexion (and hair color).
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Rickie De Sole
50
. I dont like a strong lip color, but Tom Ford in Nude Vanille is the perfect creamy pale pink nude color. I dont need to put a lot on either one swipe, and Im good to go!
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