12 Different Types of Lipsticks: A Guide to Make the Perfect Pick

by Coco Lee April 14, 2022

Stunning colors, dazzling variants, and fascinating hues, there’s so much to choose from when it comes to lipsticks! Shimmering shades, matte selections, or glossy tints, each come with varying textures and offer different finishes. Lipsticks are as extensive as the makeup looks you can ever imagine. But there are 12 different types of lipsticks that every girl and woman must own! We’ll break them down here for you so that you know what exactly to add to your cart in your next makeup shopping. You may want to check out the 9 best lip shades for dark skin before you start buying lipsticks!

Different types of lipsticks every woman must own

High-pigment lip gloss
High-shine lipsticks
Velvet matte lipsticks
Liquid matte lipsticks
Lip cream and stains
Lip stains or tints
Powder lipsticks
Lip lacquers
Lip crayons
Lip oils
Metallic lipsticks
Holographic glosses

Things to consider when buying different types of lipsticks

Shelf-life of the product
Buy shade for your skin tone
Buy lip colors as per your need
Avoid buying similar shades
Buy high-quality products

So here’re all the types of lipsticks with names and types of lipsticks with pictures…

Different Types of Lipsticks Every Woman Must Own

1. High-pigment lip gloss

A glossy formula, they offer high shine to the wearer, something that one just can’t miss. Some of these come in lip-plumping formulas giving the lips a lush, fuller look. Their sheen offers a soft glam in translucent shades that has been a classic everyday wear makeup item for years. They brighten the face instantly with a chic natural look. You can enhance their stylish wearability as a top-up to seal in any lip color.

2. High-shine lipsticks

High-shine sheer lipstick is lightweight and easy to wear gliding smoothly on the lips. From beach outings to any time get-togethers, these high-pigmented and high-shine lipsticks have all the benefits of lip balm. At the same time, they do up the lips with sleek pigmentation of crème color adding punch and glisten to your pout! Their velvety satin finish adds class to the color on your lips. Make a must-have collection of different types of lipsticks that will stand by you any time of the day, for any event.

3. Velvet matte lipsticks

Coming in the traditional lipstick format, matte colors are perfect for any occasion giving you a mix of classy and contemporary looks. As the name suggests, these lipsticks have a velvety matte effect. These are highly pigmented and have a lot of staying power. You can apply these on your lips even if they’re experiencing a bit of dryness. They come in all possible shades, are transfer-resistant, smudge-resistant, and long-lasting, giving you that hard-to-miss chic.

4. Liquid lipsticks

Liquid lipsticks perhaps top the chart when it comes to the popularity of different types of lipsticks during these recent years. Available as thick liquid formulas with an applicator as part of the bottle, most ladies find them easy to use compared to solid lipsticks. They are strongly transfer-proof and smudge-proof and offer a long-lasting high matte payoff. Their special formulas help them stay put even through meals meaning no hush-hush touch-up work to do! They are available in all classical colors and in contemporary metallic hues for every occasion you can think of. Follow our guide on how to apply liquid lipstick step-by-step, for that eye-catching look!

5. Lip cream and stains

Creamy liquid formulas bottled with brush applicators are much like the liquid matte lip colors except that their texture differs. They typically dry off in under a minute and offer color payoff that can last up to 6 hours. Applying these creams and stains adds a softer look to your face compared to the dry matte. They are a good choice for the day when you want to add a hint of color in nude shades, and light pinks for a great low-key makeup look. Lip creams are a great choice for those with small lips as they help give a volumizing effect with their smooth shine.

6. Lip stains or tints

Lip paints and tints have come a long way since they were first introduced during the late twentieth century to becoming mainstay lip colors. Though the first product was water-based, now they come in balmy textures making application easy, offering better depth of color. They are less pigmented compared to conventional stick and liquid lipstick, and are great when you want to give the lips only a flush of color! This justifies the name stain or tint as they add a hint of coloring tint without adding the sensation of wearing lipstick. They are super-long-wearing and come in different pigmentation levels and almost all shades from sheer to the boldest and most vibrant ones.

Image Credit: WikiHow

7. Powder lipsticks

Among the latest trends in the world of lipsticks, powder lipsticks come with bold colors but spread out evenly to give a thinned-out matte effect. These are soft lip formulas that give your lips a blurred finish with their porous, and powder-like texture. Once they are applied with a brush or even fingers, they react with the natural oils in the lips to give that almost-there look. They are best left with a single uneven layer on the lips with their stunning ombre effect. The weightless product with its super-soft finish is meant to stay on for hours, adding a soft tint to the lips!

8. Lip lacquers

A non-sticky sibling of the high-pigmented gloss formulas, lip lacquers come in intense shades but provide a sheer finish. Lacquer means a smooth, and glossy finish, and their lip versions come in ultra-glossy texture that gives the lips a great sheen. Lip lacquer formulas are pigmented for long-wear and are usually enriched with moisturizers and vitamins. You can use them as a sole product to tint your lips or top up a matte lipstick for the extra sheen. Lip lacquers are your answers to which type of lipstick is best for dry lips!

9. Lip crayons

Lip colors are packaged as crayon pencils, lip crayons can come as matte, cream, or glossy formulas. The malleable colors can be sharpened just like you would do to color pencils to get a sharp tip for easy lip outlining and application. Most crayon lipsticks are super-pigmented to give a long-wear color payoff in bold as well as light shades. A silky matte finish with soft texture, these lip color forms are an excellent choice for everyday wear, and subtle makeup looks. Easy to carry, apply, and reapply, these continue to be popular among different types of lipsticks!

10. Lip oils

Chic, lightweight, and non-sticky, lip oils are an emollient version of lip gloss. They give off a high shine that has a soft touch to it. Most of these products have nourishing lip oil as their base that keeps the lip supple. They have low pigment and are perfect for that light gloss effect that also nourishes the lips while giving them a touch of color. Most users love their glass-like finish, especially in ultra-chic colors such as pink, peach, and coral tones.

11. Metallic lipsticks

Metallic or frosted lipsticks continue to be a rage ever since the 90s when they were first introduced. These lipsticks reflect light making the lips sparkle that in turn gives the illusion of a plumper pout. Highly pigmented, some of these products contain tiny flecks of shimmer or glitter that are responsible for that extra shine much like molten metal. Metallic or frosted lipsticks add that illusive 3-dimensional effect giving your looks a super edge. If you’re a party or socializing animal, make sure to add this to your collection of different types of lipsticks!

12. Holographic glosses

Holographic makeup is a rage across age lines and holographic glosses can pep your looks with that extra edge. Iridescent and holographic, these glosses usually reflect a pearly sheen adding a sparkle that takes even the most minimalistic look to the next level. The multidimensional pearls of the 3D holographic effect illuminate the lips in different ways as light hits at different angles. There’s an overall frosty color payoff that these extra special glosses give out!

Top 5 things to consider when buying different types of lipsticks

1. Shelf-life of the product

This is the most important among the things to consider when buying lipsticks. You’re about to apply a product on one of the most sensitive parts of your body, that is, the lips. So, make sure that you check out the manufacturing date and the date of expiration. Most high-quality lipsticks have a shelf-life of about 3 years. Check out these and buy a product depending on how frequently you’re likely to use it. If it’s a bold color that you’ll be wearing less frequently, buy one that is just out of the factory. This will ensure you get the full value of your money as you get to use it for some time to come.

2. Buy shade for your skin tone

What might look great on your bestie may not be good for you! Check out your skin tone and stick to shades that complement it. Dusky skin tones look brighter with lipsticks with deep undertones while peach and coral shades suit all. If you’re in love with nude shades, pick one that is at least a couple of shades darker than your skin tone. The best way to verify it is to swatch the shades on your hands and see the effects.

3. Buy lip colors as per your need

Now that you know about all the 12 different types of lipsticks that are on the market, pick only the ones that you’re going to use most frequently. Those favoring only a light hint of lip color can opt for lip tints or gloss depending on the shine-effect that you prefer. Tube, liquid, or crayon, ease of application, and its effect should determine which you should include in your makeup kit. If you’re looking for long-wear lipsticks, buy liquids or matte tubes. For a fuller lip effect, pick up a gloss cream or frosted colors.

4. Avoid buying similar shades

Once you know your skin tone, try out different shades that complement it instead of buying the same shade over and over again. Different outfits and makeup looks demand that you have a few shades at your disposal to set off a chic look. Be ready to explore newer forms of lipstick as per the changing seasons too and see how they make a difference to your comfort level apart from adding oomph to your looks.

5. Buy high-quality products

Invest in genuine and high-quality products only instead of getting fooled by replicas. Most people tend to get put off by the price tag of quality products, but there’s a lot in return. Effect on the skin, color payoff, and longevity all come with the price of high-quality products.

Wrapping up

Texture, shade, and wear-time of lipsticks differ according to the types that abound on the market. The 12 different types of lipsticks that are on the market will surely help you identify your preferences with their types. Make sure you follow the basic rules of checking them out before you make your next investment in a good-quality lipstick. Check out De’Lanci Everlasting Matte Liquid Lipstick for long-wear with their high color payoff.