Several occasions call for the best transfer-proof lipsticks, and they all start with the letter S: smooching, snacking, sipping, and special occasions. Sometimes, we all require a little bit more reassurance that our lip look isn’t going anywhere. “A transfer-proof lipstick will stay on your lips only and won’t even move onto a drinking glass,” professional makeup artist Emily Gray explains. She adds that these are “self-setting lipstick formulas,” so they pretty much won’t budge from the lips no matter what.
Vogue’s Favorite Transfer-Proof Lipsticks
For what it’s worth, transfer-proof isn’t just buzzy marketing jargon—it hints to the products unique formulation. “Transfer-proof lip products are formulated with long-wear polymers that set onto the lips and lock in pigment,” Catrina Breitweiser explains. “Unlike traditional creamy lipsticks, they create a flexible, kiss-resistant finish designed to last through drinks, dinner and everything in between.” Below, a look at the 10 best transfer-proof lipsticks for every skin tone and price point—each longevity-tested by an editor and expert.
In This Story
- What is a transfer-proof lipstick?
- How to Make Lipstick Last Longer
- How To Remove Transfer-Proof Lipstick
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Best Overall: Chanel Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue
- Why We Love It: For those who love a shiny lip but don’t want any smudgy mess, look no further than Chanel’s high-performing liquid lip duo. The dual-ended stick includes an ultra-pigmented, long-wearing base coat and a clear, glossy top coat for shine and hydration. Gray says Chanel’s Le Rouge Duo Tenue is in a class of its own, “thanks to its impressive high-shine finish.” “The only thing you need to refresh your lips is the clear gloss throughout the day,” Gray says.
- Editor’s Experience: “This lipstick really doesn’t go anywhere…almost to the point of concern. A full night out, a few swipes of micellar water, and a face wash later, my lipstick was still pretty much intact. Fortunately, I had an oil-based remover on hand to finally rid my pout of any traces. Needless to say, I’d consider this the reigning queen of all transfer-proof formulas.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Shades: 26
- Finish: Matte base coat, with gloss top coat
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone (for lip conditioning), isododecane (for glide), trimethylsiloxysilicate (for long wear)
- Staying Power: The liquid base coat is long wear, while the gloss top coat can be reapplied
- Ease of Application: According to Chanel, apply the base coat to clean lips with the attached wand applicator, allowing it to dry fully before applying the top coat with the same method. Reapply top coat as needed.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Dual sided lipstick allows for both a matte and glossy finish | Comes at a high-end price point |
| An exceptionally long-wear lipstick |
Best Drugstore Liquid Lip: Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Lipcolor
- Why We Love It: Around the Vogue office, one senior beauty editor is practically synonymous with a bold red lip. Her rouge of choice? Maybelline New York’s Vinyl Ink. Celebrity makeup artist Buster Knight is a fan, too, keeping the formula in his kit for star-studded clients. “If I want to use lipstick with a little more oomph [on my clients], I go for any of the SuperStay formulas. They don’t budge and give a great color payoff,” Knight tells Vogue.
- Editor’s Experience: “The only compliments I ever get on my beauty look are when I’m wearing Maybelline New York’s Vinyl Ink. It’s the best of both worlds. It stays on all day, just like those O.G. lip kits (no dry, cakey coverage here), and super glossy and shiny.” —Margaux Anbouba, senior beauty and wellness editor
- Shades: 20
- Finish: Shine
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone; aloe barbadensis leaf extract; tocopherol
- Staying Power: Up to 16 hours of wear
- Ease of Application: According to Maybelline, be sure to shake the tube to activate pigments. Then, apply to the center of your upper lip and follow the contours of your mouth. Next, glide the wand applicator across your bottom lip, allowing two minutes for the product to dry.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Best Replica price point | Some dislike the quirk of having to shake the formula before using it |
| High shine finish and long-wearing |
Best Matte: Nars Power Matte Lipstick
- Why We Love It: Pro makeup artist Naima Bremer calls this pick a must-have for anyone seeking a bold, statement-making lip. “It has great color payoff and does not budge. Because this matte formula can be slightly drying, I like to pat a little balm into the centre of the lip to make it more comfortable to wear,” Bremer previously told Vogue. Concentrating the balm in the center preserves the lipstick’s impressive staying power while keeping edges sharp and lips soft. The result? A confident, all-eyes-on-you look that lasts from your first coffee to happy hour.
- Editor’s Experience: “During last year’s Met Gala, this matte lipstick was my saving grace—I’ve even kissed a napkin several times to test its transfer-proof qualities, and it passed the test. This is a fail-proof choice when there’s no time for touchups during a busy evening event.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Shades: 24
- Finish: Matte
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Lauroyl lysine (fatty and amino acid blend)
- Staying Power: 10 hours
- Ease of Application: Use the tip of the lipstick to define your lip line, starting at the center and working outward. Use the flat side of the lipstick to fill in lips.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Opaque, highly-pigmented finish | Some find the formula drying |
| Lightweight feel |
Best Extra-Long Wear: MAC Cosmetics Locked Kiss 24hr Lipstick
- Why We Love It: Do you dare put this lipstick to the test for 24 hours of wear? This MAC lipstick is formulated to take you through a full day—work, dinner, and an after-party that lasts into the early morning hours. Its slim stick design allows for precise application, while the formula imparts full coverage pigment with effortlessly glides on. “This is a professional grade formula I trust for long events,” pro makeup artist Lauren D’Amelio Ventre tells Vogue. “Once it sets, it truly stays in place while maintaining strong color payoff” The extra-creamy texture ensures zero dragging thanks to the inclusion of passion fruit oil—to keep it that way, make sure to click the cap properly shut to avoid the product drying out.
- Shades: 18
- Finish: Matte
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, synthetic wax, Passiflora edulis seed oil
- Staying Power: 24 hours, long-wearing
- Ease of Application: For best results, apply directly to clean lips, and wait at least two minutes for the formula to full set.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Exceptionally long lasting | Some report minor pilling with this formula if lips are too dry |
| Rich color payoff |
Best Shade Range: Dior Rouge Dior Forever
- Why We Love It: Dior’s transfer-proof lipstick boasts up to 16 hours of wear, with a vibrant color payoff and soft focus finish. (What’s more, the brand says that its lipstick is even safe near your whitest clothes—the color shouldn’t transfer when in contact with fabrics.) With 32 to shades to pick from, you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for you. Meanwhile, red peony extract and jojoba keep your pout hydrated.
- Editor’s Experience: “Dior’s Forever Rouge Lipstick in 999 is the color you see on celebs during red carpets and are like, how is it so perfect? I just ran out and nothing else compares to its stay-in-place abilities once you apply. If I’m going to be on camera I like to line with their 999 shade of lip liner and top with the lipstick—everyone asks me what I’m wearing all day because it really is that aspirational ruby slipper color!” —Arden Fanning Andrews, beauty editor-at-large
- Shades: 32
- Finish: Matte
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Red peony extract, jojoba
- Staying Power: 16 hours
- Ease of Application: After applying directly to lips, allow three minutes for the color to set.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Comfortable, matte finish | On the pricier side |
| Vast shade range to suit any kind of makeup look |
Best Non-Drying: L’Oréal Paris Infallible Lacque
- Why We Love It: L’Oréal’s recent liquid lipstick launch boasts up to 16 hours of wear; plus, a composition rich in squalane, kaolin, and tocopherol for a suprisingly comfortable and non-drying feel. D’Amelio Ventre says this offers dramatic color for clients who want intensely pigmented and long-lasting lipsticks without dryness. Brietweiser agrees, noting the statement reds and deeper shades are particularly lovely.
- Shades: 11
- Finish: High shine
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, squalane, kaolin, tocopherol
- Staying Power: Up to 16 hours
- Ease of Application: Swipe onto lips starting from the center, and tapering outward.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Best Replica price point | Some find the formula to be just a bit sticky |
| High shine finish |
Best Velvety: Violette_FR Petal Bouche Matte
- Why We Love It: “As someone with dry skin, I look for transfer-proof lipsticks that still have some hydration to them or are so thin that they don’t feel like anything on the lips,” Gray says. That’s why she’s fond of Violette FR’s Petal Bouche lipstick, which says is weightless, comfortable, while still being matte and transfer-proof. “It’s truly comfortable to wear all day, even if you tend to have more dry lips and skin,” Gray explains. The matte liquid lipstick comes in two additional shades, each with pigments soft like a flower petal, for an effortless French-girl makeup look.
- Editor’s Experience: “I’m not typically one for red lipstick, though Violette_FR’s Petal Bouche in the shade Cerise Désir is my exception to the rule—the rich, Bordeaux red is just so vampy sexy. Plus, the velvety blurred finish is very on trend right now.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Shades: 3
- Finish: Matte
- Type: Liquid
- Key ingredients: Isododecane, dimethicone, trimethylsiloxysilicate
- Staying Power: Long-wearing
- Ease of Application: Apply the lipstick to the bottom lip, then to the top one. Add a bit more color to the corners of the lips, then use your fingers to blot and blur the edges, as needed.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Velvety, blurred finish | Blurred lips can get smudgy if not applied properly |
| Comfortable and lightweight feel | |
| Clean formula |
Best Drugstore Matte: Revlon ColorStay Suede Ink Lipstick
- Why We Love It: Revlon’s “ColorStay” lipstick does just as the name implies—the built-in primer helps to keep lip color from drying out for up to eight hours (enough to get you through an entire workday with no touch-ups). Breitweiser considers it a great soft-matte option that “looks romantic and velvety without drying out the lips.” The formulation is vegan, featuring vitamin E as its star ingredient, for a balancing dose of hydration.
- Shades: 18
- Finish: Soft matte
- Type: Cream
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin E
- Staying Power: 8 hours
- Ease of Application: According to Revlon, apply to the center of your lips and glide outward, using the flat base of the lipstick.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Best Replica price point | Some still find this pick to be a bit drying |
| Blurred, velvety finish |
Best Weightless: Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint
- Why We Love It: With six universally flattering shades for all skin tones, each color dries down to a soft matte finish—even when rubbing your lips together, the product feels silky and weightless (no flaking here). Plus, it’s a personal favorite of professional makeup artist Jen Tioseco. “I love Fenty Lip Stunna because, although it’s transfer-proof, it still gives a beautiful satin finish keeping your lips looking juicy without the mess,” Tioseco says.
- Editor’s Experience: “This was the first lipstick I actually considered wearing. What can I say, I’m more of a gloss girl! What got me is the lip paint’s streak-free pigment. It goes on in an even, laquered layer that packs a crimson punch.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Shades: 6
- Finish: Soft matte
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Isododecane, dimethicone, trimethylsiloxysilicate
- Staying Power: Long-wearing
- Ease of Application: Shake the tube before applying the lip paint to activate pigments. Using the precision wand, hold the brush upright to define the lips and point it down to fill them in.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Intensely pigmented, and long-lasting | Requires shaking before each application to prevent pigment separation |
| Precision doe foot applicator |
Best Gloss: Nyx Shine Loud High Shine Lip Color
- Why We Love It: For those who want a high-gloss, transfer-proof look that won’t hurt their wallet, Nyx’s shiny, loud lip color wins best in the show. This dual-ended lipstick boasts up to 16 hours of transfer-proof color with a vegan formulation. On one end, the base coat offers a pigmented, smudge-proof color. Meanwhile, the opposite side of the stick includes a non-sticky lip gloss for a high-shine finish.
- Shades: 30
- Finish: Matte base coat, with gloss top coat
- Type: Liquid
- Key Ingredients: Macadamia seed oil, coriander fruit oil, jojoba seed oil, apricot kernel oil, passionfruit seed oil
- Staying Power: 16 hours
- Ease of Application: NYX advises to start off with exfoliated lips, that are fully dry for a sooth canvas. Next, apply an even coat of the base color on your lips and allow for 60 seconds to dry. Finally, seal in the color with the glossy top coat.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Precision applicator | Some consider the base coat to be a bit sticky |
| Dual-sided for a matte or high gloss finish (or both!) | |
| Vegan, cruelty-free, and affordable |
Everything You Need to Know
What is a transfer-proof lipstick?
You already know that not all lipsticks are created equal, but what makes a transfer-proof lipstick stand out is the need for fewer touch-ups. “A transfer-proof lipstick is a type of lipstick that is meant for long wear without smudging or transferring,” celebrity makeup artist Katie Galliher explains. “They are different than regular lipsticks because they contain certain ingredients and drying agents (like trimethylated silica) that enhance the adhesions of the lip pigment.”
- Type: Transfer-proof lipsticks come in creams, stains, and liquids, with the latter being the most common formulation. When in doubt, professional makeup artist Jen Tioseco recommends a liquid formula. “Generally, a liquid lipstick is a transfer-proof formula: One application, and you don’t have to spend your night worrying about touch-ups,” Tioseco says.
- Finish: Picking a transfer-proof lipstick finish is mainly up to personal preference, though the options of glossy, satin, and matte are available—some formulas glosses on the other end. “[Picking a finish] depends on the look I’m trying to achieve with my client. For a red-carpet look, I lean towards choosing something more matte, so my client’s lips look even and full, versus a satin, which, when hit with a light, can create a shine which can make them appear uneven,” Tioseco explains.
How to Make Lipstick Last Longer
In addition to picking an excellent transfer-proof formula, our experts share a few other tips to ensure long wear. Galliher recommends starting with a lip liner to carve out lipstick placement and powdering over cream lipstick formulas to set them in place. “Just like cream concealers, foundations, and blushes, setting any creams with powder helps fix it to the skin, and lipstick is no different! Layering cream to powder will help with transfer and staying power,” she explains.
When reaching for a transfer-proof lipstick, particularly one with a matte finish, Galliher also says it’s essential to ensure lips are properly exfoliated and moisturized beforehand to avoid emphasizing dry or chapped skin. Gray agrees, explaining the process of starting her makeup routine with a hydrating balm. “I like to prep my lips with a hydrating lip mask while I’m doing the rest of the makeup (I save applying lipstick and liner for last). When I get to my final step, my lips, I take a wipe or cotton pad and take off the lip mask (if you leave it on, all lipsticks tend to transfer, in my experience), then I’ll take my powder puff, with some leftover powder in it, and pat it all over the lip,” Gray says.
How To Remove Transfer Proof Lipstick
Can transfer-proof lipsticks be almost too long-lasting? Well, kind of—especially if you don’t implement the proper removal techniques. The experts advise sticking to an oil-based remover. If you’re using an oil cleanser, D’Amelio Ventre advises taking a few pumps of your formula of choice on a cotton round and gently pressing it to your lips. “Allowing the oil cleanser to break down the lipstick formula before wiping it away is key,” she says. If you’re sticking to a balm, take a pea-sized amount and massage it directly onto your lips before rinsing or wiping it away. “The goal is to dissolve the pigment, not scrub, to ensure that your lips stay soft and comfortable,” Breitweiser adds.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—including celebrity and pro makeup artists—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to transfer-proof lipstick shades, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, finish, and staying power. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet The Experts
- Catrina Breitweiser is a pro makeup artist with over 20 years experience. She’s also the founder of Makeup by Catrina and MBC Cosmetics.
- Naima Bremer is a London-based makeup artist with over a decade of work in the beauty industry. Bremer’s clients include Saweetie, Willow Smith, Kali Uchis, Iris Law, and many more.
- Lauren D’Amelio Ventre is a celebrity makeup artist, beauty educator, and founder of The Art of Enhancement, D’Amelio Cosmetics, and La Ve Da Beauty.
- Jen Tioseco is a celebrity makeup artist based between LA and New York. Her clients include Cami Mendes, Madelyn Cline, Ariana Greenblatt, Zooey Deschanel, Hilary Duff, and more.
- Katie Galliher is a celebrity makeup artist based between New York and Nashville. Her clients include Jessica Biel, Troye Sivan, Nicole Kidman, and more.
- Emily Gray is a professional makeup artist based in Nashville. Gray has worked with Lana Del Rey, Kimberly Schlapman, Kelsea Ballerini, and more.
