The best lip products,according to makeup artists and beauty experts
The 25 lip products that makeup artists and beauty experts rate highest, ranked by genuine consensus.
What changed, 22 October: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk Fair is new to the top five, at number 4.
Lip products live or die on comfort, so the gurus weigh how a formula feels as heavily as how it looks.
This category covers lipstick, gloss, liner and lip care. The experts judge color products on payoff, wear and whether they dry out or flake, and they judge balms and treatments on real, lasting comfort rather than a brief slick that wears off in minutes. A beautiful shade that leaves the lips parched rarely survives their review intact.
The trade-off is longevity versus comfort. Long-wear liquid lipsticks win praise for lasting through a meal but draw steady criticism for drying the lips, while comfortable balmy formulas feel great but transfer and fade. The ranking below favours the products that strike a balance the gurus can live with, or nail one end of the trade-off well enough to forgive the rest.
The experts' top picks at a glance
The podium
90%Guru ScoreArtist Color Pencil
“This pencil is definitely something that you should check out. If you typically like colors that I recommend, I think you're going to love this.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Multi-purpose across lips and eyes; Wide range of flattering shades
The catch: Blends and smudges easily on the eyes
Fragrance-free.
87%Guru ScoreLip Contour Stain in Soft Nude
“I love using soft nude.”Alexandra Anele
What the gurus liked: Stays put all day without reapplication; Easy to apply, no peeling or sticking
The catch: Stains quickly if not blended immediately
Fragrance-free.
85%Guru ScoreBeach Please Lip and Cheek Cream Blush
“This is such a beautiful blush and it's so nice and hydrating and it goes great over your makeup it doesn't remove it.”HotandFlashy
What the gurus liked: Blends out easily and quickly; Gives a lit-from-within glow
Fragrance-free.
The rest of the list
- 4
EltaMDUV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36Mid-range83%8 gurus“One SPF lip balm that I really, really like is the EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36. It's one of those really nice, gentle, basic daily sun protection for that delicate skin.”Dr. Aleksandra Brown
What the gurus liked: Water resistant up to 80 minutes; Sheers out to a natural finish with practice
The catch: Steep learning curve on application
- 5
TorridenSolid-In Ceramide Lip EssenceDry skinBudget buy82%7 gurus“This is my actual favorite, the Torriden Solid-In Lip Essence. This is the best in my opinion. Absolutely love it.”Mad About Skin
What the gurus liked: Less sticky than comparable balms; Glossy finish
- 6
Charlotte TilburyMatte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow TalkOily skinSplurge82%6 gurus“One of the best lipstick colors ever made.”Mixed Makeup
What the gurus liked: Satin finish feels comfortable on lips; Subtle vanilla scent that fades quickly
The catch: Contains fragrance, may not suit sensitive lips
- 7
OneSkinOS-01 Lip SPFSplurge81%5 gurus“I love the fact that it has zero taste when you put it on.”Dr. Jenny Liu
What the gurus liked: Lightweight, non-sticky balm texture; Mineral SPF that doesn't dry lips
The catch: Goes on slightly white until it settles
- 8
Paula's ChoiceHyaluronic Acid Plus Peptide Lip Booster with SqualaneMid-range80%5 gurus“It's very much a peptide serum for well-aging lips. I also just love the glossiness of it, so wearing it for daytime is so perfect because it's like wearing lip gloss.”Gothamista
What the gurus liked: Metal applicator stays cool and comfortable; Lasts longer than comparable glosses
The catch: Very small size for the price
Fragrance-free.
- 9
MeritSignature Lip Lightweight LipstickMid-range79%6 gurus“I also have their Millennial lipstick. I really love this one. This is the satin one. They have a matte one. I'm not too fond of the matte, but this is their satin one. Love it.”Beyond50Skin
What the gurus liked: Lightweight, comfortable wear; Full color and coverage
The catch: Less opaque than traditional lip liners
- 10
VaselineLip Therapy OriginalDry skinBudget buy79%6 gurus“When it comes to their lip balms I love the original Vaseline not the flowery one.”Dr. Vanita Rattan
What the gurus liked: Portable stick format for on-the-go; Affordable and widely available
The catch: Short-term relief only, not long-term hydration
- 11
Fenty BeautyGloss Bomb Universal Lip LuminizerSplurge78%8 gurus“I love these Fenty lip glosses.”HotandFlashy
What the gurus liked: Hydrating and moisturizing feel; Non-sticky, glossy finish
The catch: High fragrance content may trigger lip eczema
- 12
Tower 28ShineOn Lip JellyMid-range78%5 gurus“I love this Tower 28 lip gloss as well. I just love those like warm kind of shimmery glosses so I'm just patting that to make sure that everything is hydrated.”Alexandra Anele
What the gurus liked: Balanced texture, not sticky or heavy; Sheer shimmer finish
The catch: Minimal hydration, very thin formula
- 13
K SkinLip Balm SPF 30Mid-range78%5 gurus“I love Lip Balm SPF 30. This is a beautiful sunscreen that is also 40 minutes water resistant.”Dr. Shereene Idriss
What the gurus liked: Pretty, wearable colors; Reliable sun protection in a lip balm
The catch: Unpleasant taste if swallowed
- 14
Glow RecipePlum Plump Hyaluronic Gloss BalmMid-range77%6 gurus“I applied the Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Gloss Balm, which won best night lip balm.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Lips feel hydrated by morning; Light plum scent
The catch: Pricey at first glance
- 15
RhodePeptide Lip TreatmentMid-range76%10 gurus“In my opinion that's like Rhode's best product, it's definitely the one I've reached for the most and repurchased, I absolutely love the peptide lip balm.”Hyram
What the gurus liked: Hydrating overnight, stays put through sleep; Glossy, fresh finish that works under makeup
The catch: Fragranced versions have a polarizing smell
- 16
LaneigeLip Glowy BalmMid-range75%7 gurusWhat the gurus liked: Glossy finish without stickiness; Lightweight texture, portable
The catch: Too light for very dry lips
- 17
LaneigeLip Sleeping MaskDry skinMid-range73%22 gurus“One of my favorite lip products is the Laneige lip mask. I've loved it forever.”Beyond50Skin
What the gurus liked: Locks in moisture overnight; Rich, balmy texture
The catch: Strong fragrance may irritate
- 18
AbibPDRN Collagen Lip Mask Glazed JellyDry skinMid-range73%6 gurus“Anybody who really loves the Laneige lip sleeping mask, I think Abib will work pretty good too, and it's really moisturizing.”CYoung
What the gurus liked: Long-lasting moisture, especially in winter; Syrupy texture that is not sticky
The catch: Strong graham cracker fragrance
- 19
AquaphorLip Repair Stick Plus SunscreenBudget buy73%5 gurus“This would make a great stocking stuffer, it's a chemical sunscreen, it doesn't have any fragrance or anything, it's decently moisturizing, give it a try.”Dr Dray
What the gurus liked: Affordable lip sunscreen; Well-liked by professionals
The catch: Contains beeswax, problematic for sensitive skin
Fragrance-free.
- 20
TatchaKissu Lip MaskDry skinMature skinSplurge72%12 gurus“I would definitely recommend the Kissu Lip Mask. I have loved that one.”Hyram
What the gurus liked: Thick, cushiony texture that locks in hydration; Helps lipstick and tinted balms apply smoothly
The catch: Pricey for a lip mask
- 21
Naked SundaysGlow + Go Lip Oil SPF 50Mid-range72%7 gurus“This comes in a lot of different shades, which is what I love about this one.”The Budget Dermatologist
What the gurus liked: No white cast from chemical sunscreen; Gentle enough for sensitive skin and eczema
The catch: Small size looks deceptively full
- 22
Dr. Dennis GrossDermInfusions Plump + Repair Lip TreatmentMid-range72%6 gurus“This is probably the best lip plumper I've ever tried.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Plumps noticeably without burning; Adds color and blood flow to lips
- 23
Summer FridaysLip Butter BalmMid-range71%16 gurus“Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, love love love love love this stuff.”No BS Beauty
What the gurus liked: Creamy, cushioned texture; Pleasant vanilla or citrus scent
The catch: Wears off quickly, needs reapplication
- 24
Summer FridaysDream Lip OilMid-range71%5 gurus“I really like the Summer Fridays one. I thought this one was the best of the bunch.”HotandFlashy
What the gurus liked: Lightweight, non-sticky texture; Gentle tingle, not irritating
The catch: Fades quickly from lips
Fragrance-free.
- 25
RemedyLip BalmDry skinBudget buy70%10 gurus“Their Lip Balm is gorgeous.”Mad About Skin
What the gurus liked: Absorbs quickly without a greasy feel; Lasts all day without frequent reapplication
The catch: Leaves a filmy coating in the mouth
Wondering why your favourite isn't here?
Some of the most talked-about lip products don't make this ranking. That isn't because the experts dislike them: every one of these has fans. They just drew more reservations than the lip products that made the cut, where last place holds a Guru Score of 70%. Here is what holds each one back.
The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm
A Guru Score of 60% from 10 experts.
The reservation, in AliceintheRabbitHole's words:
I was big mad at The INKEY List, I do not like that lip balm at all.Watch ▸
Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick
A Guru Score of 67% from 10 experts.
The catch: May contain ingredients that trigger allergies
The Ordinary Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm
A Guru Score of 62% from 8 experts.
The reservation, in No BS Beauty's words:
I didn't love the Ordinary lip balm they came out with.Watch ▸
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm
A Guru Score of 69% from 8 experts.
The catch: Sticky texture on first application
Who's doing the judging
Ranked from the public takes of 40 independent gurus, including 11 dermatologists, 6 makeup artists and 3 beauty journalists.
DoctorlyDermatologist
Dr. Shereene IdrissDermatologist
Dr DrayDermatologist
208SkinDocDermatologist
Dr. Sam EllisDermatologist
Dr. Daniel SugaiDermatologist
The Budget DermatologistDermatologist
Dr. Vanita RattanDoctor
Dr. Jenny LiuDermatologist
Lab Muffin Beauty ScienceCosmetic Chemist
Dr. MaminaDermatologist
Dr. Somji SkinCosmetic Surgeon
Dr. Aleksandra BrownDermatologist
Cassandra BanksonMedical Esthetician+26These are independent experts we follow, not an in-house panel. We collect opinions they have already shared publicly on YouTube; they are not connected to The Guru Index and have not endorsed this ranking. "Guru" is our own editorial title for the voices we trust.
You asked
What is the best lip product?
On the latest data it is Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil, with a Guru Score of 90% from 5 gurus. The ranking above lists all 25 that clear our bar, in order.
What is the best budget lip product?
Torriden Solid-In Ceramide Lip Essence, at number 5 on the list, with a Guru Score of 82% from 7 gurus.
What do the top lip products have in common?
Of the 17 we hold a full ingredient list for, 16 skip drying alcohol, 4 contain hyaluronic acid and 4 contain peptides. That is a pattern in what the experts rate, not a rule: the ranking itself is by their verdicts.
Does this list mix lipstick with lip balm and treatments?
Yes. All lip products are ranked together by guru consensus. The product page takes make clear whether a product is color or care and how it performed.
Why do long-wear lip products sometimes rank lower?
Because the gurus weigh comfort heavily, and many long-wear formulas dry out the lips. A long-wear product can still rank highly when the experts find it comfortable enough to forgive the wear.
How is this ranking decided?
We rank by the Guru Index consensus score: the warmth of every independent expert take we have logged for each product, with a minimum number of reviewers required so a single enthusiastic review can't top the list. Nothing here is paid placement.
How we make money. Some shopping links may earn The Guru Index a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which products rank or how they score.