I’m not much of a beauty risk-taker. Blush is a “special occasions” thing, and I’ve been using the same eyeshadow palette since high school. So when I set out to try out the best black lipsticks for a story, I had some trepidation.
Will I look like a goth wannabe? Could it be a smudgy mess? Might I resurface some unsavoury angsty teen memories? I’m happy to report that while black lipstick may be intimidating, it’s entirely worth the risk.
For the perfect inky lip stain, long-lasting quality is of the utmost importance. When you eat and drink and speak, your lipstick naturally dwindles. Pick something with staying power to avoid splotchy, worn-looking lips. We want to avoid that colour chaos.
Secondly, you’ll want a product that is as smear-proof as possible. Nothing is quite as humbling than walking around with makeup on your teeth — but with black lipstick, that blunder becomes all the more obvious. Then comes the wear experience. If your committing to a deep shade, you shouldn’t settle for sticky finish or crumbly texture.
For a low price and exceptionally high quality, Elf tops FASHION’s list of the best black lipsticks. This rich hue is intensely pigmented with a deluxe creamy feel. I swatched this on before an outing with friends. I was pleasantly surprised by how it offered a bold look without feeling tacky on my lips.
It even stayed put for a few hours without a re-apply. Made with hydrating squalane and jojoba esters, it has a nourishing, comfortable feel. All in all, this lipstick offers an instant sultry aesthetic, without any real effort.
Wearing this black lipstick unlocked a coolness in me I didn’t think I had. Choose it for the satin-y application, keep buying it for the fresh matte wear. Trust me when I say it’s so pigmented that you really only need one swipe for that crisp stark finish.
I debuted this at a birthday party where the dress code was “wear something you never wear” — perfect for my first spin with this decidedly severe look. Amid cake tasting and cocktail sipping, it only faded slightly, with just one reapplication over the course of three hours.
Despite an affordable price, it’s easily one of the best black matte lipsticks I’ve ever tried.
Disclaimer: This is not really black. But if you’re like me and find even the best black lipstick daunting, Clinique’s viral offering is a great entry point into the look. With a rich burgundy hue, it’s just dark enough to give you a moody lip without forcing you into full spooky-mode.
More like a tinted balm than a lipstick, it’s lauded for its ability to complement all skin tones. It’s super sheer and moisturizing, and on my pale complexion, it builds into a brownish sheen. I’ll admit it felt like a bit of a cop-out wearing this in a best black lipsticks challenge, because it’s a wearable staple that will definitely become a part of my daily routine.
This lipstick gave me a God complex. At $61, it’s definitely the most luxurious of the bunch, and it’s not hard to see why. Packaged in an elegant gold-hued tube with intricate embroidery designed by Gucci’s former creative director Alessandro Michele, it easily doubles as a trinket for your vanity.
It also smells delicious — a subtle sugared violet scent — but it doesn’t irritate your lips when worn all day. I sported this out to dinner at a ramen restaurant, and was happily surprised that it mostly stayed put, with the colour fading into a dark lip stain at the end of the meal.
The application is lightweight and creamy, resulting in a luxurious satin finish that feels totally indulgent. If you love it, Gucci also offers a range of other dark lipsticks.
If there were ever a lip colour that encapsulated Halloween, it would be this one. Make Up For Ever’s dark indigo lipstick is so severe that upon application, it looks like a mysterious bluish black. Coming in a sleek sculptural bottle, the product gives a shiny satin finish adjacent of a deep gloss. It’s a cinch to pair with a classic black lip liner.
By the time I tried this one, I was feeling quite emboldened by my best black lipsticks expedition. After swiping it on to run errands, my lips felt nourished and glowy, and I was surprisingly comfortable in my moody get-up. Jenny Humphries would approve.
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