Unless you know wtf you’re doing (which is a rarity), buying new lipstick online sucks. You can’t draw a fucking rainbow on your arm and you can’t like, give it a week to see if your Bumble boy notices the different shade of pink you’re wearing. Makeup can be fucking expensive, and as much as we’d like to feel as though we are C-list celebs/Insta influencers, there are times when we have to choose Svedka over Tito’s to save a few bucks. Tbh, any alcohol will get the job done, just like some drugstore lipsticks are better than the expensive shit. Although drugstore lipsticks are the same price as a bottle of wine from Target, they’re still high-quality and way more accessible than Sephora or MAC. I mean, the closest Walgreen’s/CVS/Duane Reade/wherever you’ve placed your trust is probs less than 5 minutes away. ‘Tis the season for new lipstick shades, so knowing times are hard while Trump is still president, you can shop new faves on a budget and avoid a passive-aggressive text from your dad about the credit card bill. On your next run to buy chasers and tampons, here are the best drugstore lipsticks to buy for poppin’ lips without fillers. Cue grateful, blessed, happy tears.
1. Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Daringly Nude
For the best nude (other than a dick pic or that one nude you felt proud of in college), Maybelline is the one to hit up. Even though it’s matte, it’s still creamy af and feels absolutely life-changing when it’s on. The collection has like, a million nude shades you never knew existed, and each has bomb pigment for ultra long-lasting color.
2. NYX Cosmetics Pin-Up Pout Lipstick in Revolution
NYX is my go-to for everything. If you want the same shit you can find at Sephora for half the price and the same level of quality, NYX needs to be in your vocab. Pin-Up Pouts in particular are the reason NYX is still here, tbh. The full-coverage best-selling line is full of classic reds, bright pinks, and most importantly, vampy shades like the one below above to literally die for. They’re long-lasting and totally addictive. This deep reddish plum is perfect for fall, but for $8, you *have* to shop all the shades.
3. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour in Miss Magenta
Not only do you get bright colors that actually look like the same color as advertised, L’Oréal lipsticks are also known for intense hydration. They’re non-drying and won’t crack your lips, since they’re made with healthy stuff like Argan oil, vitamins, and other things I’m too lazy to type out. Since you’ll fall in love with these, you can get one in every color known to man, from hot pink to gray to something dark like our souls.
4. COVERGIRL Queen Collection Stay Luscious Lipstick in Pink Reign
What Tyra says, goes—no questions about it. So when she says COVERGIRL, we stock up on COVERGIRL. The childhood brand that has recently gone on my shit list for switching up their slogan is semi redeeming itself with their latest collection. The Queen collection is v moisturizing (a necessity), full of natural-looking shine, and created with a special waterproof formula that allows color to stay on regardless of how many shots we take. Fucking miracle.
5. Rimmel London Provocalips 16HR Kiss Proof Lip Colour in Kiss Me You Fool
Well, that was aggressive ^. This fab lipstick is a 2-in-1 that comes with a gorg shade and lock-in top coat to ensure your lipstick stays where it belongs. Guaranteed to stay on for up to 16 hours without drying out or fading, the formula is also kiss-proof and transfer-proof, so no worries about making your next hookup look like a murder scene or wasting newly applied lipstick on your Starbucks straw. With this game-changer, you’re free to indulge in drunk pizza without needing to reapply, which is obviously the only thing I can ever ask for in this life of sin.
