15 Best Hydrating Lipsticks, According to Makeup Artists

By Dacy Knight & Michelle Rostamian

Updated on Jun 09, 2022

Reviewed by

Makeup Artist

model with lipstick — S. Alemdar / Stringer / Getty Images

A bright burst of color by way of an eye-popping lip is a great way to pump up your beauty look. Even if you've got nothing else on your face, a bold lip can make you look wide awake and put together. This makeup trend comes with its fair share of downsides, too. Staying on board with the bold lipstick beauty look is easier said than done. In addition to melting, feathering, disappearing in the summer heat, or imprinting onto your scarf, too many lipsticks have a drying effect on your pout, leaving you with chapped lips.

To ensure your smile stays smooth (and pigmented with your favorite pop of color), we've rounded up the best hydrating lipsticks on the market, with some insight from pro makeup artists sprinkled in. Whichever shade you choose, these pocket-size beauty staples pull double duty—providing you with the matte, shimmery, or sheer swipe of color you desire while keeping your lips hydrated all year long.

Meet the Expert

Alexis Oakley is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist.
Marlena Orlowska is a makeup artist at the Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa.

Keep scrolling for the best hydrating lipsticks, according to makeup artists.

01 of 15

Dior Lip Addict

Dior Addict Lip Glow

Dior Dior Addict Lipstick $35.00

Is it a balm or a lipstick? This cult classic blurs the lines, expertly infusing oils with a moisturizing core to lock in shine and leave lips super hydrated. It's a true lip balm/lipstick hybrid but doesn't sacrifice color for the sake of moisture, which we (and anyone else sporting chapped lips) can appreciate. Plus, it's available in an array of shades—from baby pinks to rosy nudes—that'll suit a variety of skin tones and makeup looks.

02 of 15

Milk Makeup Lipstick

Milk Makeup Lipstick

Milk Makeup Lipstick $24.00

Achieve a modern matte lip that stays in place with this second-skin formula that provides one-swipe coverage. Natural ingredients from shea butter to coconut and grapeseed oils soften and moisturize lips throughout wear. We're huge fans of the demi-matte finish, which is shine-free but won't dry out lips. Layer it on top of a lip liner or not—either way, the formula is made to last.

03 of 15

Kevyn Aucoin The Expert Lip Color

Kevyn Aucoin The Expert Lip Color $35.00

Enjoy all-day color à la a single swipe of this moisturizing formula that promises full coverage and rich pigment. This pick gives off a satin finish, meaning there's a slight, but not overly glossy, sheen—perfect for brunch with the girls or when you want to glam up an otherwise boring day of errands. Either way, the ode to hydration here is wild mango fruit butter, which intensely moisturizes even the driest of lips.

04 of 15

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick

Urban Decay Vice Hydrating Lipstick

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick $19.00

Just like packing shoes on a vacation, if you need options when it comes to lipsticks, this is the range for you. And if you're into experimenting, it won't disappoint: It's available in a rainbow of hues in high shine, matte, metallic, satin, and shimmer finishes for endless looks. Best part? This creamy lip formula conditions lips with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, avocado, and babassu oils.

05 of 15

Hourglass GIRL Lip Stylo

hourglass girl lip stylo

Hourglass GIRL Lip Stylo $34.00

It's not too often you find a jumbo lip pencil that just plain delivers on the color payoff. That's why this pick from Hourglass ranks high on our list—it allows us to treat ourselves to a high-intensity lip color that hydrates with a blend of shea butter, jojoba, mimosa, and sunflower seed. The result: softer, more hydrated lips and a gorgeous color to boot. Plus, we love the chubby pencil-style applicator for precision's sake.

06 of 15

Tom Ford Lip Color

TOM FORD Lip Color Lipstick

Tom Ford Lip Color $58.00

If you're looking for full coverage and a deeply moisturizing formula, you've found it in this pick. Brazilian murumuru butter, soja seed extract, and chamomilla flower oil are blended to create the creamy texture and super-smooth application of Tom Ford's cult line-up of long-wearing lipsticks. And when it comes to packaging, TF hit the nail on the head—it's vanity-worthy, purse-worthy, and just plain makeup eye candy.

07 of 15

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Nars lip pencil

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil $27.00

Matte, but make it hydrating. These cult-favorite pencils are small enough to double as a lip liner but pigmented enough to stand on their own. Thanks to vitamin E and emollients, the pencils really do feel like soft velvet on the lips. Throw it in your purse for easy touch-ups on the go.

08 of 15

Chantecaille Lip Stick

Chantecaille Lip Stick $40.00

We know the importance of sunscreen, but how often do we remember to put it on our lips? Vitamins A and C, as well as SPF, protect lips in this creamy formula that makes for the perfect beach bag or pool day accompaniment. It moisturizes while delivering vivid color, and we couldn't ask for anything more.

09 of 15

MAC Satin Lipstick

MAC Satin Lipstick

MAC Satin Lipstick $19.00

The satin finish of this lipstick line leaves lips looking velvety and soft, while the creamy formula moisturizes and hydrates your pigmented pout. Oakley is a fan of this formula, toting the fact that it's extremely buildable and creamy. While there are a few bright spots in the color range, the nudes and neutrals stand out.

10 of 15

L'Oreal Riche Plump and Shine Lipstick

L'Oreal plump and shine lipstick

L'Oreal Colour Riche Plump and Shine Lipstick $5.00

Need a little help in the volume department? This formula gently plumps lips while delivering shine and hydration. Not to mention, the bright, poppy color selection will have you struggling to choose just one. And with such an affordable price tag, you don't need to. Packaging-wise, L'Oreal has leveled up—you'll just feel luxe every time you whip out the enviable tube.

11 of 15

Kjaer Weis Lip Tint

lip tint

Kjaer Weis Lip Tint $25.00

Skincare meets makeup in this barely-there pick. Clean-beauty obsessives will love this organic tint from Kjaer Weis, as it's packed with jojoba oil and beeswax to condition the lips all while delivering a sheer wash of color. It's also made without parabens or artificial colors. We're big fans of the fact that it's refillable, and that it can be built up or worn sheer depending on the occasion.

12 of 15

Troy Surratt Lipslique

Troy Surratt Lipslique

Troy Surratt Lipslique $34.00

Orlowska recommends this pick if you're looking for a one-two punch of anti-aging benefits and color. "Lip products to 'swear by' are always a challenge to find, especially as we age," she says. "We use our lips more than our own two feet most days, and if the formula isn't ultra-hydrating with five-star components, your lipstick may start creeping up the fine lines around your smile." That's why this formula from Troy Surratt is top-rated: it contains antioxidant-rich macadamia seed oil, helping to combat signs of aging while providing long-lasting nourishment and hydration for the lips, says Orlowska.

13 of 15

Cle de Peau Beaute Lipstick

Cle de Peau Beaute Lipstick

Cle de Peau Beaute Lipstick Lipstick $65.00

Silky lipstick lovers can reach for this luscious semi-matte formula in lieu of a stickier formula. Orlowska is a fan: "This formula contains sodium hyaluronate (aka hyaluronic acid) which, alone, offers deep hydration. This is paired with argan oil to lock in moisture as well as titanium dioxide, which will protect the delicate skin of the lips from both UVA and UVB rays (preventing further aging)." Win.

14 of 15

E.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick

e.l.f. moisturizing lipstick

E.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick $8.00

There are drugstore prices and then there are less-than-$10 prices. E.l.f.'s creamy lipstick bullet is only $8 a tube, but you wouldn't know it just from swiping it on. The emollient formula, available in four classic shades, delivers shea butter and vitamins E, C, and A right to the lips. And with pigment this good, you won't have to layer on heaps of product to reap the beautiful benefits.

15 of 15

Pink Lipps Velvet Matte Lipstick

Pink Lipps

Pink Lipps Velvet Matte Lipstick $12.00

A matte lipstick that doesn't leave your lips drier than a desert? Seems like an impossible dream, but not so with this cloud-like formula that acts as both a long-wearing liquid lipstick and a comfortable lip stain. It has coconut oil for an extra boost of hydration, is weightless, comfortable, and has a velvety-suede texture that feels soft as a pillow.

9 Beach-Proof Makeup Products

Related Stories