The Best Matte Lipsticks for Faking a French-Girl Pout

by Chloe Burcham
Chloe is a freelance beauty writer and editor whose work can be found in top publications including Byrdie, Look, Refinery29, Brides, and Elle.
Updated 04/18/19
best matte lipstick: Violette
@violette_fr

Matte lipsticks can evoke a bit of a love or hate response. The best matte lipstick can give you that just-blotted, blurred French-girl pout in an instant. However, some formulas can be dry and make you want to steer clear of mattes in favour of a lip balm or gloss.

But in the quest for faking that low-maintenance French-girl vibe, we Byrdie editors have tried out a lot of matte lipsticks in our time. From pencils to liquids (and everything in between), we'd like to think that we've the best matte lipsticks down to a T.

So, in order to save you time and money, we've rounded up the best matte lipsticks we know deliver. No dry and flaky lips in sight.

best matte lipstick: violette
@violette_fr
Chanel Rouge Allure Liquid Powder Matte Lip Colour
Chanel Rouge Allure Liquid Powder Matte Lip Colour $31
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Debuted on the Chanel S/S 19 runway, this is the perfect matte liquid lipstick for getting a modern, blurred-lip effect. 

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick $24
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Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks are gorgeous whether you blot them on for a sheer coverage or really layer them up for a full-on matte effect. This shade called The Queen is a beautiful posy red.

Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Sculping Lipstick
Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Sculping Lipstick $27

Violette is the epitome of French-girl chic. Want to re-create her classic red lip like above? This Estée Lauder lipstick is one of her go-tos.

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint
Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint $19
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RiRi's Stunna Lip Paints have garnered cult status overnight for their long-lasting, non-drying pigments. Uncuffed is the perfect dusky-pink nude.

Armani Beauty Rouge D’armani Matte Lipstick
Armani Beauty Rouge D’armani Matte Lipstick $30
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This tomato-red shade in 401 from Armani Beauty is universally flattering. Pat it on the lips for a powdered finish.

MAC Matte Lipstick
MAC Matte Lipstick $18
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Everyone knows about Ruby Woo already, but MAC's Chili shade is our favourite for a cool-girl look. It's a slightly browner brick red that looks gorgeous smudged into the lip.

Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Ruler
Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Ruler $10
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A backstage must for many a fashion week show, Maybelline's Superstay Matte Ink is a long-lasting option that's super affordable.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil $21
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Scribble this velvety formula over lips and blend in with your finger for the easiest matte-lip look ever. We love this wine-stained shade called Cruella.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Slim
YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Slim $29
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YSL's The Slim is perfect for creating a perfectly carved-out lip thanks to its genius straight edged tip. Nude Antonym is a dark pinky nude that looks beautiful in winter.

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