23 Non-Drying Lipsticks Skin Experts Keep in Their Bags

“Honestly, since COVID, I don’t really wear lipstick anymore since it makes such a mess behind the masks. I do love PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Lip Booster ($46), though. I have one in my bag, in my desk and in my car!”

—Pasadena, CA plastic surgeon Lily Lee, MD 

“Ulta Tinted Juice Infused Lip Oil ($9) is moisturizing and not sticky. It was great for all my Instagram lives and Zooms because it gave shine and a pop of color. I can even use it on chapped lips. I use Nudestix Magnetic Plus Paint ($28) primarily for my lips but have also used it on my cheeks in a pinch and it can be used on eyes. It contains dimethicone, which acts as an emollient and occlusive, so lips are hydrated and color doesn’t get stuck in creases. It has more color and coverage than a tinted lip oil. The colors and the feel of Tom Ford Lip Color ($58) (the original version) are so great—they go on great, don’t dry my lips out and don’t run. Lastly, the NARS Satin Lip Pencil ($19) is a creamy crayon that glides on without pulling the lip and it contains hyaluronic acid to hold in moisture.”

——Nanuet, NY dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, MD

“I use EVE LOM’s Kiss Mix ($22) for a low-key look! Easy to apply without need for a mirror, it lives in my bag all year round. With a rich, balmy texture and cooling menthol, the kiss mix cools and comforts my lips even when dry and chapped.”

—Erica MacCallum, lead trainer and master facialist at EVE LOM

“During a busy work day, the last thing I want to think about is a lipstick that is going to make my lips not feel their absolute best! I tend to stick to tinted lip oils but also have favorites that I just cannot get enough of if I want a more traditional lipstick. In the high end category, Bite Beauty Power Move Hydrating Soft Matte Lipstick ($28) is a standard non-drugstore priced lipstick but it feels incredibly luxurious. Not only is the pigment and color range fantastic, but it is also made with clean ingredients like cocoa butter and tapioca pearls mixed with fatty acid waxes for a creamy and comfortable wear. Honey Nude is my favorite shade! In the affordable category, I love the Colourpop Lux Lip Oil ($6). A trend that I have loved seeing as a dermatologist is the emphasis on more realistic makeup items such as lip oils. Gone are the days that women are buying drying matte liquid lipsticks most often! These lip oils look just like a gloss with a sheer tint to them and they feel very nourishing on the lips due to being made with calendula oil. They are also made with just the right amount of pigment. I like to pair this with a lipstick, liner or honestly just on its own. Favorite shade: Hot Shot. It’s such a staple!”

—Melville, NY dermatologist Kally Papantoniou, MD

“Dior Addict Lip Glow ($35) keeps the lips hydrated long-term and works with your natural lip tone to create the perfect pink tint. It’s formulated with shea butter and sunflower and rice waxes that nourish the lips and recreate the natural moisture in the lips. Revision YouthFull Lip Replenisher ($35) is a favorite lip gloss that I always keep in my bag. It replenishes the youthful volume and contour of the lips and restores natural healthy lip color, while locking in hydration. All of Victoria Beckham’s products are clean beauty and clean packaging. Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Lipstick ($38) contains what the brand considers ‘superfood for lips,’ a powerful blend of rose flower, rosehip, coconut and avocado oil and a pomegranate jojoba complex.”

—New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD

“I love Dior Lip Glow ($35) because it provides a semi-sheer color and glow as it’s packed with hydrating ingredients. It is available in a number of different shades and I have several of them stashed all over—not only in my bathroom vanity, but also in my lab coat pocket, my desk drawer, my car console, my book bag and the shelf by my house entry door! The other product I like is Dior Addict Lacquer Stick ($38). It’s super sexy and glossy (like a mirror) with saturated color. Great for an evening out!”

—Washington, D.C. dermatologist Tina Alster, MD

“It’s been really hard for me to find non-drying lipsticks, but here are my favorites: Charlotte Tilbury has the best in colors and textures that are moisturizing, Chantecaille has beautiful creamy lipsticks with great vivid colors for fall and Gucci lipsticks have amazing matte colors that are nourishing.”

—Nerida Joy, celebrity aesthetician

“Lipsticks are often very drying for my lips, but I love Trish McEvoy and Bobbi Brown.”

—Prospect, KY dermatologist Tami Buss Cassis, MD

“I love the Revision YouthFull Lip Replenisher ($35). It keeps my lips moist and it’s also an anti-aging lip treatment. I also use the entire Dior Addict lip collection. I love the color options and the softness they give.”

—Houston, TX plastic surgeon Olga Bachilo, MD

“Prepping the lips before applying any kind of lipstick helps a lot. I use the Biologique Recherche Lotion MC 110 to gently exfoliate and plump the lips. Then I grab one of these: Axiology The Goodness ($28), a beautiful shade of rose and softens up the lips throughout the day, ILIA Color Block Lipstick ($28) in Amberlight, which leaves a matte finish without drying out the lips and RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek ($36) in Demure, a multifunctional formula for lips and cheeks.”

—Mariam Saprichyan, aesthetician and co-owner of Kariné Kazarian Spa in New York