There’s something deeply personal—and borderline magical—about finding your lipstick. It can pull a look together, lift your mood, and live in your bag for years without ever letting you down. While trends come and go (remember concealer lips?), some shades have cemented their place in beauty history. Here are five lipsticks we consider true icons, worthy of the hype and then some.
1. Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
The effortless cool-girl tint
Black Honey isn’t just a lipstick, it’s a phenomenon. First launched in the ‘70s and revived for the TikTok era, this cult classic somehow flatters everyone. It’s not quite a balm, not quite a lipstick, more of a sheer berry tint that adjusts beautifully to your skin tone. Swipe it on when you want to look like you’ve made an effort, but not too much. Think “I woke up like this” with better lips.
2. Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in 99 Pirate
The definition of a power red
If you’re going to wear red lipstick, wear this red. Chanel’s 99 Pirate is a true-blue red with just enough depth to feel timeless, not trendy. It glides on with the kind of satin finish that feels grown-up but never dry. And that click-to-open gold case? Utterly satisfying every single time. It’s the lipstick you wear when you want to feel invincible.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in 90s Pink
The underrated sister to Pillow Talk
We know. Pillow Talk gets all the love. But if we’re being honest? 90s Pink might be even better. It still has that nude-rose vibe Charlotte Tilbury’s known for, but with a touch more warmth and a slightly deeper undertone. It’s flattering on more skin tones, makes your lips look fuller, and gives off that ‘90s supermodel’ energy without trying too hard. If Pillow Talk is the girl-next-door, 90s Pink is her cooler older sister who listens to Fiona Apple and wears vintage Levi’s.
4. Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick in 999
The heritage red that suits everyone
Dior 999 is a red lipstick with a legacy. It’s said to be based on the first two lipsticks ever created by Christian Dior in 1953, and it shows. This formula is rich, pigmented, and somehow manages to be both bold and classic. It comes in multiple finishes (satin, matte, velvet), so you can choose your texture while still getting that unmistakable red. There’s just something about it that feels French, polished, and forever.
5. MAC Ruby Woo
The matte that started a movement
We couldn’t make this list without the OG: MAC’s Ruby Woo. It’s the retro matte red that launched a thousand selfies and still holds court in makeup kits everywhere. Yes, it’s drier than most modern formulas, but the colour payoff? Unmatched. It’s bright, bold, and has that vintage pin-up energy that never really goes out of style.
Whether you’re a tinted balm girl or a full-glam red-lip devotee, these five lipsticks have earned their status as beauty staples. They work across seasons, face shapes, and decades, and sometimes, they’re the fastest way to make your day a little better. If you haven’t tried them yet, now’s the time to start your own iconic collection.
Let us know your ride-or-die lipstick in the comments, bonus points if it’s a secret shade we haven’t discovered yet.
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