We love fun projects and this one was no exception. Two months ago, we decided to test out close to 40 lipsticks, lip oils and lip stains from many luxury brands. We took many factors into account when reviewing them: the overall performance, the way the product looked and felt on the lips, the colour selection, the repair and moisturizing qualities, how long the product lasted once applied, and even the packaging.

Today, on International Women’s Day, we are happy to reveal the results and the 10 brands that made our list for the ultimate, luxury lipstick selection that would make any woman happy! Whether you are looking to treat yourself or want to celebrate a strong, independent, amazing woman in your life — these lipsticks are sure to make a fabulous gift no matter who the recipient is or what she likes. 

Here are our top 10 brands in no particular order — and we’ve also included specific products from each one! Enjoy.

The Review Crew

Gucci

The Rouge à Lèvres Mat range stands out in many ways. It’s all about pretty packaging, lots of hydration and a lightweight feel. This lipstick range features a creamy, long-lasting matte finish. It is formulated with oils, rich pigments and gelling waxes, which result in a soft, velvety feel.

Three of the cool things about this lipstick range are: the floral fragrance with violet notes and a soft, fruity scent; the packaging that is inspired by vintage designs, recalling an era when lipstick cases were envisioned as objects of art and decoration; and, finally, the fact that the lipsticks within all of the collections can be layered and blended to create new colours and finishes! Time to play and have fun.

We also love the Rouge à Lèvres Satin range. This is a lipstick collection that provides intense colour with a long-lasting satin finish. It is formulated with oils and a mix of waxes and resin: think creamy formula that is comfortable and moisturizing. This is a lightweight product that can be buildable from medium to high coverage, which transitions great from day to night.

FAJO recommends: Rouge à Lèvres Mat Auroral Amber 123, Rouge à Lèvres Mat Fanny Rose 222 and Rouge à Lèvres Satin Elena Sand.

Retailing at $61. 

Yves Saint Laurent

You can’t go wrong with the iconic The Inks Vinyl Cream range. YSL is renowned for its lip stains and this is a mirror shine staining colour lacquer. It boasts up to 24 hours of moisturizing feel, and features a cream-like texture that will melt over your lips without stickiness.

This gorgeous lipstick is perfect for a night out when you need something that lasts without smudging. It has a creamy texture with a beautiful high-shine finish, feels super comfortable (not sticky at all!), and smells amazing with a hint of fruity sweetness.

FAJO recommends: Brown Ignition, Nude Lavallière or Nude Champion shades.

Retailing between $58 and $61.

Clé de Peau Beauté

Renowned for its luxury products, Clé de Peau Beauté always impresses. We enjoyed their holiday selection and decided to pick another favourite this season, opting for the Cream Rouge Shine range.

With high shine and bold pigment, this is the perfect lip for a glamorous look. With a satin finish and an all-day wear formula, it keeps your lips comfortable and hydrated thanks to its unique blend of makeup and skincare benefits. 

Think rich, highly pigmented colour with a light floral scent. The formula feels like a cross between a lipstick and a lip gloss with Argan oil and Vitamin E for smooth, moisturized lips for hours on end.

FAJO recommends: Legend of Rouge shade.

Retailing at $68.

Charlotte Tilbury

We have featured Charlotte Tilbury many times over the years, so we absolutely had to include her fabulous lipsticks in this guide. This time, we tested out several pieces from the Matte Revolution and Hot Lips ranges. 

When trying out Matte Revolution, we absolutely loved their highly-pigmented classic lipsticks. Each one glides easily through the application, lasts all day without creasing or smudging (even after eating, drinking and even showering!), and keeps the lips hydrated and soft. The pigment is rich and buildable, creating a soft matte finish. This lipstick is enriched with oils and 3D effect glowing pigments, that will give you fuller-looking and soft lips. It also features beautiful packaging that will look like a pretty accessory in your purse. 

Meanwhile, the Hot Lips range is the ultimate choice with a creamy, satin finish that flatters a variety of skin tones. Its hydrating formula glides on smoothly, delivering a soft, pillowy look that’s perfect for everyday wear or a classic, glamorous touch.

FAJO recommends: Matte Revolution Hollywood Vixen, Matte Revolution in Red Carpet Red, Matte Revolution Lost Cherry and Hot Lips Kim K.W. 

Retailing at $47.5. 

Shiseido

Who can say no to a pretty lipstick from Shiseido? The TechnoSatin Gel range provides a long-lasting colour and hydration. It feels very comfortable on the lips and makes them soft. Since it has no scent, you may even forget you have something on, yet still feel fabulous! 

This lipstick glides on like butter! The rich pigmentation makes it the perfect choice for fall and winter looks. Plus, its lightweight, long-wearing formula keeps your lips feeling fabulous all day. Whether you’re going for a bold statement or a soft, romantic look, Shiseido adds the perfect touch of elegance.

FAJO recommends: TechnoSatin Voltage Rose.

Retailing at $38.

VIOLETTE_FR

Our latest obsession is VIOLETTE_FR, a multi-category, luxury beauty brand founded in 2021 by the industry-beloved French makeup artist, Violette Serrat.

Bisou Balm is one of our favourites. If you are a French speaker, you’ll absolutely love the names of lipsticks in this range. The packaging is reminiscent of a painting, with Violette_FR face logo on top of each lipstick cap. Even the boxes are pretty, with brand’s bright blue sticker used as a seal on each of them. This product has a lovely avant garde touch and would make a beautiful present. 

This is a moisturizing matte lipstick-meets-balm hybrid that delivers a sheer colour. Creator Violette says, “In France, after the red lipstick, our favourite lip look is called ‘bouche mordue’ (just-bitten lips). To achieve it, we apply lip balm, add a touch of lipstick, and then kiss a tissue to remove excess shine, so it looks more like our natural lips. Bisou Balm leaves behind *just* the right amount of pigment and comes in the most delicious colours, inspired by the traditional French candies of my childhood.” 

Bisou Jelly is another of our favourites. This is a very unique range. It is engineered with two distinct layers—a Vitamin E-infused pigmented core that allows for blurred colour within the natural lip, and an outer jelly layer rich with emollients. You may be surprised when you open the lipstick, but trust us when we say: the unique jelly layer will hydrate your lips and allow the colour to be released in all its glory.

FAJO recommends: Bisou Balm Amour Fou, Bisou Balm Bêtise and Bisou Jelly Bonbon Caramel.

Retailing at $45.

Clarins

Clarins is well-known for creating groundbreaking beauty products, based on extraordinary research that is conducted in their labs. The next-generation Joli Rouge range is no exception, offering an outstanding range of 27 shades with a satin finish. The new Joli Rouge features an 86% skin care formula that provides optimum comfort and protection for the lips. True to its typical approach, Clarins focused on plant extracts (84% of Joli Rouge ingredients have natural origin). This is hydration at its best.

Next on our list is Joli Rouge Shine. This award-winning lipstick range is available in 13 shades! This is your one-stop-shop for comfort, hydration and protection against dry lips. The colour is radiant with a satin feel. The texture is creamy and lightweight, and applies evenly. The balm-like texture works great for cold or very dry weather. The hydration will be felt after a few hours, with visibly moisturized lips.

Last, but certainly not least, is the Lip Comfort Oil, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. This lip oil is great for every day use. It’s perfect on top of a colour to add an extra shine or on its own. Along with making your lips look incredible and shiny, it’s also really hydrating and thanks to the sweetbriar rose oil, it smells great! 

FAJO recommends: Joli Rouge Pecan Nude, Joli Rouge Shine Nude Brick, Joli Rouge Shine Grenadine and Lip Comfort Oil Iconic Red.

Retailing between $42 and $45.

Makeup by Mario

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is a true master of his craft, so we certainly love his lipsticks. The SuperSatin range is our favourite.

Who needs a lipliner when you use Makeup by Mario lipstick! It glides on with ease and doesn’t smudge. The formula is super creamy and long-lasting. The magnetic clasp feature is a nice touch. 

This is a lovely, silky lipstick that is a great choice for daily wear. This entire line is inspired by Mario’s hometown: New York City. It is available in 18 shades, all named after a NYC neighbourhood or area code.​ 

This range is vegan and cruelty-free. If you are looking for a classic, creamy, satin lipstick, with a soft sheen, we can’t recommend it enough!

FAJO recommends: Supersatin 917, Supersatin Bronx Baby and Supersatin Rockefeller.

Retailing at $42.

Clinique

Pretty and elegant, Clinique’s lipsticks are classic and timeless. The Almost Lipstick range is a dream for effortless, everyday wear. Lightweight, smooth and packed with emollients that keep lips soft and hydrated, this lipstick will become your go-to quickly. 

The sheer, glossy finish will instantaneously enhance your lips. This lipstick is also great for on-the-go use. It has a sheer texture and two beautiful colours that complement every skin tone. 

In addition to being 100% fragrance-free, the Almost Lipstick range is famous for being “not quite lipstick, not quite gloss”, since its texture is more like a tinted lip balm you can easily layer.

FAJO recommends: Almost Lipstick Pink Honey and Almost Lipstick Black Honey.

Retailing at $33.

Fenty Beauty

We tested out so many Fenty Beauty lipsticks and we have to say: it was hard to pick our favourite as we loved all of them! However, two ranges in particular stood out.

First of all, the Gloss Bomb Stix. The buttery texture will glide on your lips, leaving a beautiful shiny finish. Your lips will feel soft and moisturized, with a touch of glow thanks to the nourishing ingredients, including Vitamin E, Shea Butter and Squalane. This is a high-shine gloss stick that looks like a lipstick, with a fruity scent and pretty packaging.

Up next is the Fenty Icon Semi-Matte range. You will definitely need a Youtube tutorial video to figure out how to assemble this lipstick first. But it is all part of the fun! With just one stroke, this lipstick will leave the lips bright! It has excellent pigmentation with a semi-matte finish and a velvety feel that lasts for hours. A true luxury on your lips. Frankly, we aren’t sure what we like more: the feel and colour of this lipstick or the really cool packaging and ‘pop-out’ feature. Like all Fenty Beauty products, this lipstick is 100% cruelty-free. You can also purchase refill lipsticks to add to the sleek, reusable case, which is 100% sustainable.

FAJO recommends: Gloss Bomb Stix Hot Chocolit, Gloss Bomb Stix Blaz’d Donut, Gloss Bomb Stix RiRi, Gloss Bomb Stix The MVP, Fenty Icon Semi-Matte The MVP, Fenty Icon Semi-Matte Motha Luva, Fenty Icon Semi-Matte Danger Danc’r and Fenty Icon Semi-Matte Pose Queen.

Retailing between $34 and $56.

Feature image by Aleyah Solomon. All product images courtesy of each brand.