Liquid lipstick
Liquid lipstick is a lip colour sold as a fluid in a tube with a wand applicator, usually drying down to a matte or satin finish.
Most liquid lipsticks contain ingredients that evaporate after application, leaving a thin film of pigment that sets on the lips. This setting step is what makes many of them long-wear and transfer-proof once dry. Before they set they can be blended or corrected; afterwards they usually need an oil-based remover.
The finish is most often matte, with full, flat colour, although satin and metallic versions exist. Because the film is thin and even, a liquid lipstick reads on the lips close to its measured hex. It also shows the lip line sharply, so a lip liner in a matching shade is commonly used for a clean edge.
Some wearers find that set formulas feel tight or dry over a day. A thin first layer, left to dry before a second, usually wears more evenly than one thick coat. Liquid lipstick differs from a bullet lipstick, which is a solid stick, and from a lip stain, which tints the lips rather than forming a film on top.
Last verified . How we measure.