Want lips that say “I drink water and mind my business”? Imagine swiping on a beautiful shade of lipstick that doesn’t just look good but also nourishes your lips with every wear. It’s time to embrace formulas that prioritise hydration while still delivering vibrant hues. Pucker up, because your pout has just found some pretty good moisturising lipsticks info.
Meet The Expert: Jade Smith, a Cape Town-based Beauty & Make-up expert from Beauty Wellness Edit
As we age, our lips often lose their natural plumpness and moisture, making them appear thinner. “Unfortunately, collagen production in our skin starts to decline after the age of 25,” says Smith. This affects every area, “including the lips, which can lose volume over time,” explains Smith. In fact, get this: from as early as your 20s you begin to lose one percent of collagen.
Don’t stress though, the precise age these levels begin to dip varies from person to person. But, this is why finding the right products to keep your lips supple and hydrated is crucial. “To support collagen synthesis, look for skincare ingredients like peptides and growth factors. I’m also a big believer in incorporating bone broth into my diet, it’s packed with collagen and an easy way to nourish your skin from within,” explains Smith. To maintain or keep lost volume could be as simple as swiping on the right moisturising lipstick with the right stuff in it.
Moisturising Ingredients To Look For In Lipsticks
Looking for nourishing natural all-stars? When seeking the best ingredients for moisturising lips, hydration is key. Look for formulas rich in:
- Hyaluronic acid. This powerhouse ingredient attracts moisture and keeps lips plump.
- Shea butter is another hero. It provides deep nourishment while soothing dry skin. Its creamy texture feels luxurious on the lips.
- Don’t overlook natural oils like coconut or jojoba oil. These oils penetrate deeply, leaving a protective barrier that locks in moisture throughout the day.
- Peptides in lipstick help boost collagen production, keeping lips smooth, plump and youthful-looking.
- Vitamin E is essential too. Known for its antioxidant properties, it helps repair and protect delicate lip skin from damage.
- Consider products with beeswax or plant-based waxes. They offer a layer of protection against environmental factors without feeling heavy or sticky.
EXPERT TIP: “Another make-up artist secret is nipple cream. It might sound unconventional, but Lansinoh Nipple Cream is packed with lanolin, making it ultra-healing and nourishing for dry, chapped lips,” explains Smith.
What Ingredients Should I Avoid In My Lipstick?
Firstly, nothing is more unpleasant than having lipstick on with chapped cracked lips so here are some tips to make your lipstick wearing days more enjoyable. Here are ingredients you should avoid that strip your lips:
- Parabens, this ingredient makes the skin barrier become brittle, cracked and is a drying agent.
- Alcohol dries out your lips and can cause irritation to cracked or any broken skin, and is found in many make-up products, including lipsticks.
- Aluminium is usually used as a thickening agent by non-organic beauty brands. Aluminium is a heavy metal that can build up in your body and is toxic.
- Petroleum, while it effectively seals in lip moisture, it also potentially blocks pores.
READ MORE: How To Be That Girl *WITHOUT* A Skin Crisis While Travelling
How To Prep Lips Before Applying Lipstick?
In short, we showing you how to scrub those smackers like you’re buffing up a jewel – gently and with love. The key to great lipstick application is exfoliation and hydration, with these two you can unlock the most plump juiciest lips. Exfoliate with a sugar scrub or a damp cloth then, in a circular motion, gently massage your lips. Finish with a swipe of balm and voilà – pout ready for balm, compliments or kisses, your call.
Lipsticks That Won’t Dry Out Your Lips
Now that you have the low down, here’s are some selections. We kept moisture in mind as we went through this list. Evaluating ingredients, ease of application and colour options. We’ve cut down all that admin for you and found the best moisturising lipsticks
Dior Addict Lip Glow 24h Hydration
Finish: Shine l Shades: 7 l Lasting Power: 24 hours
Is it a balm, or is it a lipstick? This cult classic blurs the lines, with an oil-infused formula that locks in shine and leaves lips super hydrated. The balm/lipstick hybrid doesn’t sacrifice colour for the sake of moisture.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix
Finish: High shine l Shades: 11 l Lasting Power: 8 hours
Riri can never lead our lips astray. If lipgloss and lipstick had a love child it’s definitely the Fenty goodie. This nourishing packed lipstick is formulated with squalene, vitamin E and shea butter, providing you with moisture for up to 8 hours. Non-sticky and lush shine.
Revlon Colorstay Suede Ink
Finish: Matte l Shades:16 l Lasting Power: 8 hours
The formula of this lipstick is made to feel as smooth as suede and it’s built-in primer makes it transfer proof and smudge proof. Plus it’s infused with vitamin E to help condition, protect and nourish. This is a vegan formula made without parabens, mineral oil or sulfates.
Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Liquid
Finish: Shine l Shades: 15 l Lasting Power: 16 hours
Enriched with vitamin E and aloe, lips feel comfortable all day, with intense colour and no fading or flaking. This vegan lippie gives ultra-pigmented ink shine finish for those who love a bit of drama.
Catrice Scandalous Matte
Finish: Matte l Shades: 10 l Lasting Power: 6 hours
Formulated specially with shea butter, passion fruit oil and hyaluronic acid. This lipstick easily glides on and pigment is long-lasting. Leaves behind a pleasant moisturised feeling.
Sisley Paris Le Phyto-Rouge Lipstick
Finish: Shiny and luminous l Shades: 20 l Lasting Power: 8 hours
Can you say “Splurge worthy”! It’s formulated with moringa, hyaluronic acid and konjac glucomannan microspheres, which gives your lips a plump and smoothed appearance. Day after day, lips are more supple, softer and more elastic. Its new-generation gel texture blends for lasting comfort.
READ MORE: When Is The Right Time To Throw Out Your Make-Up?
MAC Lustreglass Sheer Shine Lipstick
Finish: Shine l Shades: 19 l Lasting Power: 8 hours
Immediate moisture here. This one is infused with organic extra virgin olive oil and raspberry seed oil, that gives a buildable moisturising sheer and shiny coverage. The lightweight formula is great as an everyday lipstick. No cracking, no drying – the girlies agree that this one is a crowd pleaser.
L’Oréal Glow Paradise Balm In Lipstick
Finish: Satin l Shades: 10 l Lasting Power: 4 hours
A cushiony balm/lipstick with 92% natural ingredients suitable for sensitive lips. Its pomegranate extract helps protect your lips from harsh sun rays. This lipstick provides a smooth soft and ultra hydrated look and feel.
Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick
Finish: Satin l Shades: 27 l Lasting Power: 8 hours
This moisturising lipstick includes 86% skin care in its formula, it offers soothing nourishing and hydrating properties to repair dry lips. It evenly applies with its lightweight texture.
Yardley Intense Shine Lipstick
Finish: Shine l Shades: 13 l Lasting Power: 5 hours
This lipstick has hydrating and antioxidant properties that promote skin repair. Goes on smooth and creamy like a lipstick, but has the lustre and visual texture of a lacquered gloss.
Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Moisturising Matte Lipstick
Finish: Silky l Shades: 7 l Lasting Power: 12 hours
This vitamin packed lipstick has got vitamins A, C & E to give lips healthy and moisturised and overall improvement over time. Volulip is also found in this formula to deliver a fuller plumper appearance while keeping that rich and silky pigment, this lipstick is so comfortable for day to day wear.
Clinique Pop Longwear Lipstick
Finish: Satin, matte and shine l Shades: 36 l Lasting Power: 8 hours
A great long-lasting lip colour that lasts up to 8 hours without drying out your lips and keeps lips moisturised throughout the day, its lightweight formula is combined with a smoothing primer.
