Several brands are famous for their lipsticks, with M·A·C Cosmetics, Chanel, and Dior frequently cited for their iconic and high-quality offerings. Other notable brands include drugstore favorite Maybelline and luxury newcomer Fenty Beauty.
The "best" lipstick brand depends on your needs (budget, finish, hydration, clean ingredients), but top contenders include MAC (iconic shades, great range), Charlotte Tilbury (overall luxury), Maybelline (drugstore favorite, especially Super Stay), Dior (luxury classics like Rouge 999), and Urban Decay (long-lasting liquid formulas). For clean/organic options, Well People and 100% Pure are highly rated.
4 best-selling iconic lipsticks that define generations
The best lipstick in Australia depends on your needs (long-lasting, hydrating, budget), but top-rated options include Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink for extreme wear, MAC Cosmetics (especially MACximal or Velvet Teddy) for classic, versatile satin finishes, and L'Oréal Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte for hydrating matte formulas, with Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond and Hourglass Confession also praised for transfer-resistant, comfortable wear in Australia.
Poppy King, Founder of Lipstick Queen: How She Did It.
While "number one" can vary by category, L'Oréal consistently ranks as the world's leading beauty company by sales, with its flagship L'Oréal Paris brand being the largest beauty brand globally, strong in makeup, skincare, and haircare, though brands like M.A.C Cosmetics and emerging names like E.L.F. Cosmetics are top contenders in specific makeup segments, notes Exploding Topics, WWD, Ulike, and LinkedIn.
The first commercial lipstick was invented in 1884, by them in Paris, France. It was covered in silk paper and made from deer tallow, castor oil, and beeswax. Before this, lipstick had been created at home.
Luxury Lipstick
Mecca (Australian) and Sephora (global/French-owned) compete fiercely in the beauty market, with Mecca often praised for superior in-store experience, stronger Australian brand curation, and better refund processing, while Sephora offers a strong global brand mix and faster shipping/chat response times, though its Australian stores can feel less polished; both excel in different areas, making the choice depend on whether you prioritize local feel/service (Mecca) or a vast international selection/speed (Sephora).
Everyday Lipsticks
For the longest-lasting lipstick, top contenders include Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink for extreme wear and affordability, Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond for transfer-resistant glossy shine, and MACximal Lipsticks for comfortable, durable color, with brands like L'Oréal and Sephora Collection also offering highly-rated long-wear options in various finishes. Two-step systems with a sealant (byphase) often provide maximum staying power, though matte liquids are famous for their budge-proof nature.
Scientists say they have found the world's oldest lipstick in southern Iran Researchers in Italy say a deep red lip-paste discovered there is 5,000 years old. It's made of vegetable oils and waxes, and was likely worn by social elites as a display of superior status.
Which Is The Best Non Toxic Lipstick?
Know your undertone
Just like our skin tones, lipsticks can have cool, warm, or neutral undertones. Shades with warm undertones are rich in orange and red hues and are perfect for creating fiery lipstick looks, whereas cool-toned lipsticks have mood-setting blue and purple undertones that look pouty on the lips.
While "number one" can vary by category, L'Oréal consistently ranks as the world's leading beauty company by sales, with its flagship L'Oréal Paris brand being the largest beauty brand globally, strong in makeup, skincare, and haircare, though brands like M.A.C Cosmetics and emerging names like E.L.F. Cosmetics are top contenders in specific makeup segments, notes Exploding Topics, WWD, Ulike, and LinkedIn.
Generally, Sephora is cheaper overall because it offers a vast range of brands and price points, including budget-friendly options and its own affordable Sephora Collection, whereas MAC is consistently mid-to-high-end; however, some specific MAC items might be priced similarly to or even lower than certain luxury brands found at Sephora, or vice versa, so it depends on the specific product.
Yes, Mecca (Mecca Brands) is an Australian-founded and owned prestige beauty retailer, started by Jo Horgan in Melbourne in 1997, becoming a major player in the Australian and New Zealand beauty market with numerous stores and a strong online presence.
The best lipstick in Australia depends on your needs (long-lasting, hydrating, budget), but top-rated options include Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink for extreme wear, MAC Cosmetics (especially MACximal or Velvet Teddy) for classic, versatile satin finishes, and L'Oréal Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte for hydrating matte formulas, with Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond and Hourglass Confession also praised for transfer-resistant, comfortable wear in Australia.
There's no single "No. 1" lipstick; it depends on what you're looking for (brand, finish, long-wear, budget), but top contenders often cited include Chanel (iconic luxury), MAC (wide range), Maybelline (drugstore favorite), and Dior (world's best-selling shade, 999), while brands like Urban Decay, L'Oreal, and Fenty Beauty excel in long-lasting or specific formulas. For an iconic red, Chanel's "Pirate" or Dior's 999 are classics, while Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink is praised for longevity.
Chanel overtakes L'Oréal to become the world's most valuable cosmetics brand, ending L'Oréal's five-year reign at the top of the ranking.
Quality Perception and Consumer Trust. According to one survey, the highest-quality beauty products come from Japan, the United States, and France (in that order). In this survey, 65 percent of those who used a wide variety of beauty products from different countries placed Japanese products in the number one spot.
Our Top Drugstore Lipsticks
"Forbidden Lipstick" refers to a specific, popular line of intensely pigmented, moisturizing lipsticks from the natural makeup brand Rituel de Fille, known for bold colors, a semi-matte finish, and ingredients like castor oil, jojoba, and lavender, offering a natural, cruelty-free alternative to conventional cosmetics. The name evokes daring, rich hues like deep reds and berries, often using natural pigments, with shades like "Carnal," "Written in Blood," and "Fortune Teller".