Best Longwear Red Liquid Lipstick

You already know that Sephora’s hallowed shelves are stocked with the best of makeup brands, but don’t sleep on its in-house makeup line, Sephora Collection. It’s my secret go-to for affordable alternatives to all my favorite beauty staples, from a $10 liner that’s comparable to Urban Decay’s 24/7, to a $14 concealer that gives Tarte Shape Tape a run for its money. Above all, though, are the lipsticks which are my favorite.

As someone who is a bit of a lipstick snob (I usually reach for pricier tubes from prestige brands like Chanel, Dior, and Pat McGrath) I was surprised to fall for Sephora Collection’s Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick. The Flame Red shade is, hands down, my favorite red right now. And, it’s currently 50 percent off, on sale for $7 down from $14.

If I could compare it to another lipstick, I’d say it’s like a more affordable version of NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment. But, here are more reasons why I’ve totally fallen for it:

The formula is perfectly balanced. It goes on creamy, but dries down matte without making your lips feel dehydrated. Far too often, liquid lipsticks strip away any moisture and feel uncomfortable but that’s not the case here. Liquid lipsticks can also have a heavy, sticky quality about them that makes wearing it uncomfortable but this formula is substantial without getting too gooey.

The red is universally flattering. It’s not too blue, not too deep, and not too orange. It’s just a true red that anyone can pull off.

It is completely smudge-proof. Once this lipstick is on, it’s ON and I swear it’ll last through the apocalypse (or, at least, through eating a couple slices of greasy pizza).

It is long-lasting. I applied it at 7:30 in the morning and didn’t feel the need to reapply until 3:00 in the afternoon—even then it needed just the slightest touch-up at the center of my lips.

The packaging is no-frills. I love how basic the simple plastic lipstick tube is. No magnetic bullet. No gemstones or fancy attachments. No gimmicky ways of flipping open. Is it Instagram-able? Not necessarily. But, it is certainly selfie-approved.

Here’s what the lipstick looks like on me. See how bold that red is? At just $7, you better believe I’ll be stocking up on more tubes. One for every bag, please.

Sephora Collection’s Flame Red Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick.expand=

Kristina Rodulfo