Orange lipstick gets a bad rap, because it can be so bright and zingy. But, I argue: what about burnt orange, or terracotta, or even coral lipsticks? Those are subdued and beautiful, not bold and bright… But also, what’s wrong with bold and bright orange red lipstick, you know?
Sure, red lipstick is the classic, the iconic, the Marilyn-Monroe-Taylor-Swift descriptor, but orange lipstick (especially blood-orange) can be just as classy… or just a whole lotta frickin’ fun, because why should you only wear lipstick to seem “classy?”
In honor of orange lipstick and its rad-AF aesthetic, I’ve put together a list of my 14 favorite options. Smile wide – you’ll look fabulous in these shades.
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Always On Longwear Matte Liquid Lipstick
Marissa reviewed Smashbox’s Always On Liquid Lipstick and fell in love with it, buying another shade and bringing them to Italy with her! So, of course, we had to recommend the lipstick for its bright and badass Thrill Seeker, a red-orange option that’s sure to turn heads. A blend of jojoba, apricot, and sunflower oils keep the formula hydrating rather than drying, and it lasts eight hours – perfect for late nights that turn into early mornings.
Major Beauty Headlines – Matte Suede Lipstick
It was recently Mean Girls Day, aka the most important holiday of the year for Plastics everywhere. So, yes, this lipstick shade is beautiful, but we would be lying if we didn’t choose it for the name, “She’s Not From Here,” and its timeliness. Spherical ultra-fine pigments give this lipstick its even application, from glide to coverage; optical diffusers give it its blurring, matte finish.
Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick
Neon orange with a lacquer finish? Hourglass has you covered. The Confession lipstick – which is refillable, holla @ sustainability – has a satin finish that stays, so you don’t have to worry about smearing or cracking during the day. Paraben- and phthalate-free, plus vegan and cruelty-free, I Desire is a punch of pumpkin straight to the pucker.
Magnetic Lip Plush Paints Lip Color
Nope, NudeStix isn’t JUST nudes – they have fun colors, too, thank you very much. This lip color can also be worn on lids and cheeks, so if you’re looking for a fluorescent orange flush, this is the tint you want. It’s ridiculously soothing, combining aloe, chamomile, green tea, and rosewater extracts to give you color without irritation.
Everlasting Hyperlight Vegan Transfer-Proof Liquid Lipstick
We love a good liquid lipstick that dries down without drying out. KVD does a bomb job at this, using raspberry stem cells to coddle lips and give them the comfort they need to remain plush. Bonus: the transfer-proof lipstick stays on all day, but it’s a lightweight formula, so you won’t feel like you’re carrying around fake lips on your face.
Rouge Hermès – Matte lipstick
Hermes claims their lipstick has a “second skin effect” – that’s how comfortable the velvet formula is. While a splurge, the lipstick is deeply orange, giving you a fiery finish, and deeply hydrating. Part of this is due to the dose of protective vitamin E complemented by sesame seed oil, while squalane is ultra moisturizing on chapped lips.
Liquid Velvet Supremé by Kuckian
Many lipsticks claim to be long-lasting, but this terracotta option? It’s actually long-lasting. The secret: apply the formula – one thin layer only! – then let it sit for one-to-two minutes prior to smacking, eating, kissing, etc. It’ll last hours upon hours, and it won’t feel uncomfortable thanks to moisturizing jojoba oil and protective vitamin E. Goodbye cracking!
Paint-It Matte Lip Color
Duh, Halsey’s about-face made it on here. Her colors are wild, and the flaming orange Canyon On Fire is no exception. The Paint It Matte Lip Colors are highly pigmented, so you just need one swipe to be fully covered. The formula is 100% vegan, but we really can’t boast about its ingredients, which is kind of a bummer given how incredibly beautiful her products are.
Velvet Lip Cream
Saint Cosmetics gets it right, gets it glossy, gets it good. Their Velvet Lip Cream feels like… well, velvet, sitting comfortably on and hydrating your lips with its long-lasting formula. How does one make a lipstick so ideal? With good ingredients, like castor oil to fight dry lips and vitamin-E-potent sunflower seed oil. And why not throw in some nourishing olive oil and candelilla and carnauba waxes as the cherry on top?Â
LE MONSTER MATTE LIP CRAYON
Leave it to Gaga to create a lip crayon that is precise, pigmented, and just… pretty, overall. “Fire Me” is the name of this orange, which we’re kind of obsessed with, tbh. The crayon is full-coverage, so you won’t have to worry about your natural lip color peeking through, and the formula is vegan and cruelty-free.Â
Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick
MERIT looked at almost every other lipstick out there (can’t say every, because there are so many good ones on this list!) and said: “anything you can do, I can do better.” For example: stuffing in a ton of good ingredients to keep lips happy and healthy in a beautiful, deep terracotta lipstick. Sunflower seed oil and squalane lock in hydration, while papaya extract soothes and raspberry oil moisturizes.Â
Eclipse Cheek & Lip Stick
Total eclipse of the… cheek and lips, which we l-o-v-e here at QUILL. This 2-in-1 tint is a balm that delivers color without drying. r.e.m. boasts its “second skin” finish, thanks to a lightweight formula that includes jojoba seed oil to hydrate and grapefruit extracts to keep your complexion clear. It also has kaolin for oil control, cocoa seed butter to nourish, ginseng root extract for evening out skin tone, and safflower seed oil to prevent flaking. In other words: don’t buy this assuming it’s non comedogenic!
Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick
Isn’t it ~rare~ to find a terracotta shade this beautiful in a lipstick? (Sorry, hate myself for it too, bye.) But it’s not the terracotta color that makes this lipstick the amazing product it is – though it certainly helps! – it’s the ingredients. A botanical blend of lotus, gardenia, and white waterlily come together with vitamin E to repair, revitalize, and form a barrier between your lips and free radicals – giving you a totally protected pout.
Liquid Lipstick (Ginger)
Would it be a complete list without Fluide? Nah, so here they are. Their Liquid Lipstick comes in orange-red Ginger, a neon shade that pops on every skin tone. If you’re looking to go big, Fluide is the brand to choose; not only do their shades stand out, but their liquid lipstick is never goopy or sticky or gluey. Graduate from Superneutrals to Ginger – it’s not that scary, promise.
Which orange lipsticks are your favorites? Any you recommend that we didn’t list? Tell us in the comments!