by Debbie Ashpes
I wear lipstick every day to work, but I donāt want to have to think about it. I donāt want to worry about it getting on my teeth, or wearing off in patches, or coming off after my first cup of coffee (or my third). If I can make it through lunch without touching up, even better. Liquid lipsticks are generally great for this, but over the past year, Iāve been moving away from the super matte look (and the super drying texture). Hereās a round-up of my favorite formulas and shades of non-liquid long wearing lipsticks:
The Best Long-Wearing Non-Liquid Lipsticks
NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Bahama and Cruella
I have a good handful of these pencils. The formula is great. Theyāre matte, but comfortable, and very long-wearing. And that theyāre basically crayons makes them super easy to apply. My only complaint is that I often forget to sharpen them before I head off for the day and then it becomes difficult to reapply. But thatās a pretty small complaint.
My favorite shades are Cruella and Bahama. Cruella is a bit on the darker side of red, but I donāt know if Iād actually call it dark red. Itās just dark enough to be very wearable. Bahama is the perfect everyday pinky-brown. Itās more brown than pink, and a nice, medium color. If I had to pick just one lipstick to take on a trip, Iād probably go with this stick, and in Bahama, which I am wearing in the photo above.
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 1993
Sometimes I want the drama of dark lipstick, but red or plum just doesnāt feel right. I donāt know why it took me so long to figure out that brown was what I was looking for, but itās almost always the answer.
And there are a lot of browns out there, but often theyāre too dark or too light or too warm. Victoria Beckham did a collab with Estee Lauder last year and her Victoria lipstick was my holy grail. The color was the perfect amount of drama for parties, but not too much for work. The perfect shade of brown in a creamy, but long-lasting formula. But it was limited edition (and also $50!) so I needed to find something else after washing it a month or so ago. Luckily my clothes came out fine, but my lipstick was completely gone.
After trying a few duds, I gave this one a shot. I didnāt really like the Vice lipsticks when they first came out, but that was because they werenāt quite matte enough for me back then, so I figured theyād be perfect now. And itās pretty awesome.
Itās a very 90ās color ā the name is quite apt ā and while itās not a complete dupe for Victoria, itās pretty darn close. And a heck of a lot cheaper.
This formula also wears pretty well. Itās matte, but not super matte, so itās comfortable to wear. The color lasts through drinking, though after a few hours, it does start to wear off in the middle of my lower lip. Not enough that anyone other than me would notice, but then I have high standards for my lipstick. It does need a bit of dry-down time to set, but nothing excessive. Just wait a minute before taking a sip of water.
MAC Lipstick in Russian Red and Ruby Woo
Of course, you canāt talk about long-lasting lipsticks without mentioning these two classics. I like Russian Red a bit more than Ruby Woo, both for the color and the formula. Itās very matte, but not VERY MATTE like Ruby Woo.
Above in MAC Ruby Woo, and then Russian Red
It took me a while to get used to the feeling of Ruby Woo, and that was when I was wearing liquid lipstick fulltime. But for both, as well as my other MAC lipsticks, I find if I warm up the lipstick a bit first (easiest way is to tuck it into your bra while putting on the rest of your face), it applies a lot better.
NARS Lipstick in Pigalle
I had been trying to find a pink lipstick for a long time without success. Everything was just too pink. Alison had been raving about this shade for at least a year before I decided to try it ā and I instantly loved it, too. This definitely reads as pink without being excessively pink. Itās a very wearable brownish pink.
Itās matte but never looks or feels dry and goes on smoothly straight from the bullet. I liked the formula so much that I tried other shades in this same line, but none were quite right. Itās definitely worth it to go into a store and do some swatching.
LancĆ“me LāAbsolu Lacquer in 274 Beige Sensation
This is basically a pigment-heavy gloss, but it does stay on really well considering. I probably should reapply sooner than lunchtime, but it wears off so nicely and the color is close enough to my own lip color that I usually donāt bother. This shade is perfect for me and I love how shiny it makes my lips. I wore it all summer and thought I loved it because I was into more coral-y blush, but Iām still loving it now that I lost my tiny bit of tan and am back to wearing pinks and mauves.
I do have this in 236 Pour Toujours, a more mauve-y shade, and while I really like the color, itās a good deal pinker than my lips, so is more noticeable as it wears off. But the shape of the applicator makes it easy to reapply without a mirror.
Bonus #1: favorite lip brush ā Make Up For Ever 304 Lip Brush
I had some specific requirements when looking for a new lip brush. I didnāt want anything retractable, no mechanisms that could fail (Iāve been burned on this before). I wanted an actual lid, so I could throw it in my bag without getting lipstick on everything. And I wanted it to just be a really good brush. This one fits all requirements. It has an extra-long lid that attaches to the bottom, which makes it as long as a regular brush & thus easy to use.
Bonus #2: favorite glossy lip balm ā Tarte Quench Lip Rescue Balm in Clear
Sometimes I donāt want any additional color on my lips, but I still want a little oomph. Something thatās kind of in between a lip gloss and Chapstick.
This Tarte glossy balm is perfect. Itās hydrating enough to take the place of a lip balm but isnāt goopy or as shiny as a gloss. Just adds a nice sheen to my lips. And I really like that there are seahorses on the packaging.
Debbie Ashpes is Alisonās little sister, as well as her skincare and makeup guru, concert and travel buddy. Sheās the adorable blonde baby in the #WO2TBT posts, though her hair darkened as she got older. Follow her on Instagram, @DebbieFaye78, where she is once again an adorable blonde.

The Ruby Woo reminded me of a drugstore favorite for those a little lower on price point, as I’ve often been: Rimmel Lasting Finish has never done me wrong so far. Glad to see the lip brush rec – I’m in the market for some new brushes. Good lookin’ out!
Yes, Rimmel is great! Another affordable option that I love – and forgot to include here – are the Colourpop Lippie Stix. Love Life is a great red and what I wore today!