Photographer: Elliot & Erick Jimenez; Stylist: Rachael Wang; Hair: Nikki Nelms; Makeup: Frankie Boyd; Manicure: Eri Handa; Set designer: Jenny Correa; Producer: Marcos Fecchino
If there's one beauty lesson we've dutifully embraced throughout 2021, it's not to take our lipsticks for granted. The bold swipe of a full-pigment, matte-red bullet, or the comfortable sheen of a tinted balm, and the glamorous shine of a glitter-packed gloss…few were felt during the isolation and rare, face-covered social outings of the last year and a half. But now lipstick, just like the world at large, is attempting a shaky comeback to normality, and at Allure, we understand that return isn't necessarily a given.
So we savored every single cream bullet, liquid matte lipstick, gloss, balm, and stain (we tried hundreds of them) while determining which ones would earn our beloved Best of Beauty seal because we know we might not be wearing our tried-and-trues — like YSL Beauty Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm in Rouge Studio or Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream — in public as often as we'd like.
Thankfully, there's nothing stopping us (and you) from enjoying a bold red like Pound Cake's Maraschino Cherry or the buttery, neutral Maybelline New York Ultimatte in More Truffle at home and around your vaccinated loved ones. Trust us, that's exactly what we'll be doing with the 2021 Best of Beauty-winning lip products below. Because now we know better than ever that wearing lipstick is more for the wonderful feeling than for the look itself. And that's something we'll revel in every chance we get.
Scroll through to see each winner, then be sure to read the full list of 2021 Allure Best of Beauty winners. —Nicola Dall’Asen
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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The satin lingerie of lip color, L'Oréal Paris Les Nus in Nu Confident produces the sheerest-possible wash of rose.
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A dusty pink that melts into a comfy stain, Lipsax Liquid Matte Lipstick in Selfie seems to become a part of your lips.
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Straight-up cocoa with a powdery finish, Maybelline New York Color Sensational Ultimatte Slim Lipstick in More Truffle enrobes lips in richness and warmth.
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One swipe of Pound Cake Cake Batter in Maraschino Cherry delivers instant opacity — and a hint of badassery — with shine-free carnation color.
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Creamy in texture and matte in finish, Mented Cosmetics Red Matte Lipstick in Red Rover is a saturated burgundy that goes on smooth.
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You've got to kiss a lot of frogs to find a glossy red that stays put. Infused with hyaluronic acid and steadfast pigments, Imayla Beauty The One Hydrating Cream Lipstick in Cérise is, well, a real prince.
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Brighter than rose and quieter than coral, Dior Rouge Dior in Actrice is that most enigmatic shade of pink: the exciting kind.
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A vibrant hybrid of red and pink, YSL Beauty Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm in Rouge Studio bathes lips in dewy brightness.
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One layer of MAC Satin Lipstick in Cyber delivers an edgy sheen; several swipes impart blackberry darkness.
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Packed with cocoa butter and potent color, Bite Beauty Power Move Soft Matte Lipstick in Mulberry gives lips a hydrating, raspberry hug.
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The sugar crystals smooth, the oils and shea butter soften, and the morning after you use Kylie Skin by Kylie Jenner Sugar Lip Scrub even the mattest of matte lip colors go on like silk. (Test-driven by a woman who really knows how to make the most of matte lip colors — and by many Allure editors, who really know how to get lips so glowy you might skip lip color altogether.)
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Biossance Squalane + Rose Vegan Lip Balm provides so much plumpness and suppleness, you'll be tempted to skip the lipstick (although it does make color gleam).
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We swear our lips gave a sigh of relief when we smoothed on Dr. Pawpaw Overnight Lip Mask. The velvety salve diminishes lines with aloe vera and olive oil.
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With translucent color and succulent cherry oil, Dior Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil lays down a glaze that enhances the shape of your lips.
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Maybelline New York SuperStay Ink Crayon unleashes our inner makeup artist. The creamy texture spreads beautifully; the tapered point defines effortlessly; the range of shades has "ombré" written all over it.
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The boss of all glosses, Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream delivers intense pigment and a vinyl shine in one perfectly dosed stroke.
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The shockingly bold pigments in Pure Theory Love X Life Lip Tint have serious longevity, while the airy texture seems to defy gravity.
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The slinkiest matte we've ever smoothed on, Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment adapts to our lips like a second-skin.
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Revlon ColorStay Satin Ink gives us crisp color with a luminous sheen.
Keywordslip balmLip glossBest of Beautylip productslipsLipstickred lipstickliquid lipsticksliquid lipsticklip stainsmatte lip stainmetallic lipsticksAllure Best of Beautyrepackageshoppingshopping guideBest of Beauty 2021
