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What a time to be alive for lovers of lip color.
Photographed by: Lucie Rox. Fashion stylist: Jaime Kay Waxman. Hair: Tomo Jidai. Makeup: Michaela Bosch. Manicure: Naomi Yasuda. Set Design: WayOut Studio. Models: Sherry Shi, Simona Kust. On Set Production: Tiffany Bloomfield.
We made it our mission to identify the ones that stand out the most in each category.
When all was said and done (and sloughed off), these 16 products emerged triumphant.
As it glides across lips, it builds gleaming color in 20 glamorous shades.
Associate beauty editor Annie Blay applies the Merit Signature Lip Matte.
“This may very well break me out of the stubborn gloss phase Ive been in.”
“My favorite shade in the line is Vermillion, which is a true red.
It’s so good!”
And those rich pigments make themselves at home all day long, neither fading nor drying out.
Tester Feedback:“This has been a staple of mine for years,” says Han.
“And though some may disagree, I love that it’s free of fragrance or flavor.”
Associate beauty editor Annie Blay applies the Merit Signature Lip Matte.
Tester Feedback:“I love this lip gloss,” says senior business director Eilish Morley.
“It’s hydrating and glossy without being tacky, and its a great value.”
Tester Feedback:“So manylip-plumping formulasmake you pay for the enhancement with stinging and burning.
Associate beauty editor Annie Blay applies the Merit Signature Lip Matte.
The added bonus: a gorgeous glazed finish.
),” says associate beauty directorSarah Kinonen.
“It’s just so good.
“It’s downright therapeutic for my chronically chapped lips.”
“In every flavor, the plush formula feels like a hug for your lips.”
The refreshing, physically exfoliating sugar lifts away evidence of chapping to create a smooth canvas for color.
“A little bit does the job and it doesn’t leave an oily residue or sting behind.”
“It lines and colors in with incredible ease and never, ever drags.”
It never feathers or bleeds, yet it’s easy to blend with the built-in brush.
We tested over 7,000 products for 24 weeks on different skin types with various concerns.
To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our completereviews process and methodology page.
Senior beauty editor Paige Stables applies the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm.
Senior beauty editor Paige Stables applies the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm.
