When it comes to makeup, there’s nothing more iconic than a tube of lipstick.
You may think of it as a relatively recent invention, but in fact, lippie has a long and colourful history, stretching back some 5,000 years.
It’s thought that the ancient Sumerians (now southern Iraq) invented the beauty staple by crushing gemstones. Legendary Egyptian Queen Cleopatra wore eyeliner as well as colour on her lips, made from a paste of crushed insects, such was the price of beauty in 30 B.C.
Thankfully, the days of enhancing your features with squashed beetles are long gone. Now, a lipstick’s ingredients list is more likely to feature things like beeswax and candelilla as well as nourishing oils such as olive oil, cocoa butter and lanolin to keep your lips smooth and hydrated.
It’s the quickest way to shake up your look, instantly transformative and super low-key - if you want it to be. It’s versatile too, able to stand in for blush and eyeshadow in a pinch. No wonder so many of us think of it as our handbag hero.
But a lipstick can be so much more than just makeup. It can be a mood, a statement, a way to cut loose or something to help you gather your courage.
From warrior warpaint or barely there washes of colour, let your lips do all the talking.
Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips 2
Following the roaring success of the first Hot Lips range, MUA to the stars Charlotte Tilbury has released a second series, Hot Lips 2; this time named after inspirational men and women such as British Vogue chief Edward Enniful, J.K Rowling and mama Tilbury, Patsy (Charlotte's mum, her first beauty icon).
Each lipstick bullet comes in a beautifully decorated case, and they're refillable too, helping both reduce waste and keep the case in your kit for longer.
Try the creamy JK Magic nude-rose shade for a little magic in your every day look.
£28 | Charlotte Tilbury | Buy it now
Pat McGrath Labs BlitzTrance Lipstick in Love Train
From the shade to the case, this lipstick is a work of art. But what else would you expect from Patricia McGrath MBE, a.k.a the mother of makeup trends and backstage beauty? The BlitzTrance range has a gentle glimmer to it, making it perfect for nights when you're painting the town (and your lips) a wild shade of red.
£35 | Selfridges | Buy it now
Paul & Joe Summer Collection
As a purse-friendly pick-me-up goes, Paul & Joe's Summer collection really hits the mark. The colours are purr-fect for sunny days and along with the printed artwork cases, are destined for great things on your Instagram feed.
Choose from (L-R): Disco Inferno, Play The Funky Music and More, More, More.
£14 | FeelUnique | Buy it now
Kat Von D 'Studded Kiss' Lipstick in A Go Go
Unleash the rebel within with this bright orange lipstick shade from all-vegan brand Kat Von D. The velvety formula keeps lips healthy and supple thanks to the added vitamins A, C and E.
£14.45 | Debenhams | Buy it now
Kevyn Aucoin Wild Orchid
Searching for a colour that will works as well on your desk as it will under a disco ball? Look no further than Kevyn Aucoin’s expert lip colour that comes in a variety of shades but our favourite is the elegant Wild Orchid, warming and rich on all skin tones. It’s an any-situation performer.
£28 | Space NK | Buy it now
Rimmel Lasting Finish Extreme in Lit
A creamy formula with a seriously impressive colour pay off, Rimmel’s latest lipstick collection Lasting Finish Extreme really goes the distance. Available in seven shades with Insta-ready names (think Thirsty Bae, Buzz’n and Extra), they’re the perfect colours to take you into Autumn with ease.
£7.99 | Superdrug | Buy it now
Lipstick Queen Highway 66
This chameleon-like lip colour is the latest from Lipstick Queen, whose previous colour-changing hits include Frog Prince (which goes from an amphibian green to fairytale pink on application) and Mornin’ Sunshine (sunny yellow to cheerful grapefruit).
Highway 66 is a journey from cactus green to sweet tangerine once the formula reacts to your individual PH. Want something with a bit more punch? Try Old Flame, which changes from orange to peach in a swipe.
£22 | Space NK | Buy it now
Milk Lipstick in Wifey
Cult Beauty recently welcomed a number of Stateside brands to its website, ready for UK buyers to discover. Among these is Milk, which has everything from bronzers to cheek tints, and of course, highly pigmented and super moisturising lipsticks.
Choose from nine covetable shades, including a brown - pink hue Wifey.
£22 | Cult Beauty | Buy it now
Fenty Poutsicle Juicy Satin Lipstick - Alpha Doll
Fenty does fun and makeup kit must-haves well in equal measure. If you're on the hunt for a new colour to shake up your look, try the Poutsicle range in Alpha Doll. Lying somewhere between pink and purple, it's an electric statement shade guaranteed to turn heads wherever you go.
£18 | Harvey Nichols | Buy it now
YSL Rouge Pur Couture Stud Collectors 2019 - Le Rouge
This iconic fire-engine red hue from YSL is part of a quartet of shades made for die-hard fans of the brand. The rich colour, which you can layer to build intensity comes housed in a limited edition studded case.
£29 | YSL | Buy it now
Huda Power Bullet Matte Lipstick - Staycation
When Instagram's Beauty Queen Huda Kattan launched her own makeup range, it was always going to do well. Not because of her fiercely loyal following, but because the products stand up to the hype. Take the Power Bullet Matte Lipstick collection, a line of ultra moisturising, richly pigmented shades that sculpt and define your lips as well as colour.
£22 | Net-A-Porter | Buy it now
Beauty Bakerie Cake Pop Lippies Apple
Want lips that look good enough to eat? Head to Boots, the new home of US-based Beauty Bakerie. The lipstick range comes in two finishes, a hydrating matte or moisturising satin, depending on the effect you’re after. We like Apple; a rich red, which once blotted with tissue, gives a pleasing ‘just bitten’ effect.
£9.50 | Boots | Buy it now
Revolution Pro New Neutral Satin Matte Lipstick Stripped
For a treat that won't send your overdraft into meltdown, you can't go wrong with Revolution. The brand has hundreds of stunning, trend-focused products, the majority of which are less than a tenner. Take the new PRO range of six lipsticks, each perfect for work or play.
£5 | Revolution Beauty | Buy it now
Sisley Paris Le Phyto Rouge Lipstick in Granada
This rich berry hue is confidence wrapped in a chic Zebra-print lipstick case. The angled bullet, stamped with the brand name, means that you should achieve flawless application every time you swipe. Available in 22 colours.
£38 | Liberty | Buy it now
& Other Stories Rouge Mocha Lipstick
With a wearable palette of nude and berry shades, every one of & Other Stories' lip colours is a winner. Smooth on the super hydrating formula (ingredients include cold-pressed Mirabelle plum seed oil and vitamin E) for a pretty off-duty beauty look.
£17 | & Other Stories | Buy it now
Topshop Matte Lipstick in Brighton Rock
Not wild about gloss? Try Topshop's mega-matte lipsticks which leaves a velvety effect rather than high-shine. Choose from 21 shades.
£10 | Topshop | Buy it now
Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain Satin Finish Lipstick
If you've ever wondered how bouji a lipstick can get, welcome to the world of Guerlain. The luxury beauty label's Rouge G de Guerlain comes in two finishes; satin and matte. Whichever option you choose, they'll be housed in a flip-mirror lipstick case, which comes in a selection of luxe textures and colours. Knock-your-socks-off glam.
£26 | Harrods | Buy it now
Urban Decay Mega Matte Vice Lipstick
For a classic red lipstick with the staying power of a barnacle on the underside of a ship in high seas, UD's Mega Matte is one of the best around. It stays put through hours of drinking, dancing and eating, making it an ideal party companion.
£17.50 | Urban Decay | Buy it now
Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch
Technically a balm, this beauty saviour from Maybelline delivers a fetching tint of Barbie pink that's perfect for summer days. While the colour won't last long, the hydrating ingredients promise to condition lips for up to eight hours. Contains SPF20.
£3.50 | Amazon | Buy it now
Tom Ford Lip Colour Sheer in Mustique
Build sheer colour with Tom Ford's opulent range of sheer lip colours. Mustique is ideal for post-gym sprucing, or when you want a gentle infusion of colour at the beach.
£40 | John Lewis | Buy it now
By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Nude Plumping & Hydrating Lipstick in Flush Contour
Regular sheer effect lipsticks can be lost on those with medium to dark complexions. The solution? A richer, berry hue like this from By Terry will impart that subtle colour you're after.
£29 | By Terry | Buy it now
Louboutin Beauty Velvet Matte Lip Colour - Very Prive
Hold on to your handbags; this is the priciest lipstick on our list. Christian Louboutin, better known for this sky high heels, also has a beauty range and while it’s not exactly pre-pay-day friendly, it does offer you a chance to own a piece of the brand at a snip of the price (his shoes start from north of £500).
The pointed cases come in gold or black and the lid has a hoop, which you can connect to a necklace and suspect from your neck so your lip colour is close at all times. Extra? Yup. Do we want one? You'd better believe it.
£70 | Net-A-Porter | Buy it now
Surratt La Baton Rouge
Stop colour bleeding beyond the borders of your lips with this clever double-ended lip stylo from Japanese-American brand Surratt. Apply the creamy formula on its own for a fresh dewy look, or use the powder on top to give it additional staying power with a matte finish. Choose from six shades.
£36 | Space NK | Buy it now
Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Ultime 68
We like to think of this shade as the beauty equivalent of a power suit; it means business. The rich red, with orange undertones, will add a pop of vibrant colour to your look and take you seamlessly from desk to dancefloor. Choose from 28 colours.
£31 | Chanel | Buy it now
NYX Suede Matte Lipstick in Violet Smoke
Available in a spectrum of high impact shades, this ultra-matte collection of lip colours is guaranteed to stop traffic. Try something different with Violet Smoke, an edgy lilac tone.
£8 | Cult Beauty | Buy it now
