10 Best Lipstick Brands in India: Your Ultimate Guide

Have you ever experienced that overwhelming feeling when you are standing in front of a wall of lipstick? Relax, it's okay. It is almost impossible to make up one's mind with all these lipstick types and different shades of colors available to choose from. Should I choose a long-lasting lipstick? A moisturizing lipstick? Matte or shiny?

This guide is your road map to the wide lipstick options. This comprehensive guide is here to simplify the process. We will walk through everything you need to know about skin tones and undertones and also review some of the best lipstick brands available today, including Mars and Maybelline, so you can find the perfect lipstick for your unique style and needs, be it a dramatic black lipstick or a natural Maybelline nude for everyday wear.  

Skin Tone and Undertones: These two factors are pretty important for your choice of lipstick that looks right on you. A skin tone shall vary from fair to deep, and undertones, the hint of color typically below the skin surface-consciously can be classified as cool, warm, or a combination of both. 

Hence, when considering matching lipstick to their skin tone and undertones, they tend typically to cause an even and balanced appearance. For instance, people with cool undertones should wear lipsticks with bluish or purple shades, whereas warm toned bodies should stick with orange peach shades.

Matte Finish: Your lipstick's finish reveals what it looks and feels like on your lips. Types available traditionally include matte, satin, glossy, sheer, frost, or metal. Waterproof Matte lipsticks implicate the characteristic of being a long-lasting lipstick, while satin finish provides a light sheen and comfortable wear. Glossy lipsticks, on the other hand, give lips a high-shine and kind of fuller-lip effect; a sheer finish offers a lot of subtle wash of color; and frost and metallic tend to give shimmer and dimension.

Lipstick formula: The lipstick formula determines its feel, application, and long-lasting nature. Common forms of lipstick include cream, liquid lipstick, stain, and balm or tinted lip balm. Cream lipsticks can be smeared on smoothly and keep the lips hydrated, liquid lipsticks offer a color pay-off that is high in density and grading, stains give a tint that looks natural, and balms or tinted balms hydrate and sometimes enhance the lips. 

Ingredients and Sensitive Skin: If you have sensitive skin or allergies, it is very important to pay attention to the ingredients, look for hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and paraben-free ones. Choosing lipsticks that contain other nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and aloe vera can be a boon for lip health to keep them from drying.

Longevity and Transfer: Think about how long you'll need the lipstick to last and how much transfer you're willing to tolerate, some formulas are designed to last the duration and contain ingredients with great staying power, while others minimize transfer onto cups and clothing. 

Lip shape and Size: The natural shapes and sizes of your lips can influence the choice of specific lipstick shades or finishes as to what would suit you best. Dark lipstick, for instance, can give the impression of smaller lips when applied to thin lips; lighter shades and glosses give the illusion of plump, fuller lips.

Occasion and Personal Style: The occasion for which you are wearing lipstick and your personal style should also be borne in mind. Natural tones with sheer finishes are perfect for a day look, whereas bolder hues and more dramatic finishes are the most desired for special occasions or to convey a particular style.

Budget: There is a wide price range for the best lipstick brand which is luxurious. You should set your budget ahead of time in order to narrow down your options and follow the path of least resistance in order to find a lipstick suitable for your requirements without breaking the bank. 

Scrub Your Lips: Having the lips scrubbed a little once or twice a week was sure to wipe away the dead skin. It leaves behind a smooth surface ideal for lipstick application; and helps lipstick from adhering to any dry areas for an overall more even and polished look. It also promotes the appearance of natural pink color of lips.

Moisturize Your Lips: It is recommended to apply a hydrating lip balm before the lipstick to ensure the lips retain their moisture and thus avoid dryness, cracking, and feathering of the lipstick before their comfortable and smooth application.

Lip Liner for Defining Your Lip Color: Lip liner is applied to give definition to the lip shape, prevent feathering or bleeding of the lipstick outside its boundary, and create a base with better lipstick adherence while lengthening its wear.  

1. Lakme: A good price point, affordable classic Indian brand with a ton of popular lipstick ranges to browse through. The formulations are comfortable and hydrating, having finishes anywhere from creamy mattes to glossy sheers. It's worth noting the Lakme Forever Matte Liquid Lipstick for its longevity and high color payoff.

2. Maybelline New York: Being in the line of pharmacy brands that enjoy the benefits of being a top competitor in Indian beauty, Maybelline has launched an infinite assortment of trendy colors and innovative formulations available to all at easy price points. Generally speaking, the Maybelline lip products are known for their rich colors and finishes from creamy to matte to liquid. There are shades for all occasions and moods. The Maybelline liquid lipsticks are renowned for their staying power, while the Color Sensational line provides a plenitude of creamy comfort options.

3. MAC Cosmetics: All of you makeup artists, enthusiasts, and professionals have this fantastic options of high-quality lipsticks known for their superb pigmentation of colors and long-wearing abilities. They have a huge demand for their classic shades like Ruby Woo (universal red), making M.A.C a hot touchpoint for any special occasion or statement-look creation.

4. SUGAR Cosmetics: A new Indian brand that gained immense popularity, SUGAR Cosmetics is firm with vibrant, long-lasting, and cruelty-free lipsticks. While their matte liquid lipsticks are most loved for super intense color and supreme comfort of wear, they continue to impress with exotic and trendy shades.

5. Loreal Paris: Loreal Paris is a prominent beauty giant, offering some luxurious and newest innovations in various lipstick textures and finishes. The Color Riche range is known for creamy, hydrating comfort, while their Infallible lipsticks promise stay-on and coverage with intense color.

6. Faces Canada: This brand is everything that with affordable lipsticks provides decent color payoff and is super easy to wear, making them great for budget-conscious consumers in search of everyday lip color options. They come in a range of finishes with a few creamy and others matte.

7. MyGlamm: MyGlamm is known to come out with trendy products that bring in all things glam. It has a unique variety of liquid lipstick shade collections devised by different influencers. The finishes offered range from semi-matte to matte and the high color pay-off is super comfortable to wear. Here is the details of two different types of lipsticks offered by the brand, MyGlamm: Ultimatte Long Stay Matte Liquid Lipstick and MyGlamm Soft Matte Lipstick Superior Matte Finish

8. Mars: In the Indian market, MARS Cosmetics has become immensely well-liked due to its wide choice of affordable makeup, though mainly known for lipsticks. They usually pay attention to trendy shades and finishes, for example, matte liquid lipsticks and metallic lipstick, pointing toward a younger audience. Their price range is lower usually but some users of the brand find their value to be worth it, making them a good option for everyday wear and the chance to try new looks.

Check the products of the best lipstick brand here, MARS Candylicious Lip Gloss Hydrating & High Shine and MARS Drip Lip Mist Hydrating Glossy Finish

9. Blue Heaven Cosmetics: A very cheap Indian brand, Blue Heaven, provides very cheap lipsticks and hence is available to a larger purchase options. While the formulations may not be as long-lasting as those of higher-end brands, they provide great opportunities for basic lip color suitable for daily wear.

10. Insight Cosmetics: Another affordable Indian brand, Insight Cosmetics provides a wide range of varieties and finishes in matte, glossy, and metallic finishes, all are very reasonably priced. They offer an extensive shade selection at affordable prices, thus popular with people out to try different colors without heavy spending.