Is any woman’s wardrobe truly complete without lipstick? Definitely not! No matter the occasion, having a few go-to lipsticks is a must. This includes shades and formulations of all types.
For example, if you’re ready to dazzle a cocktail party brightly, you need a stylish red lipstick. On the other hand, a cute girls’ day out means wearing a nude brown.
But choosing the right lipstick can be a bit of a task, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the different brands and their collections.
In 2023, the Indian lipstick market was estimated to be around USD 62.08 billion! So, if you’re thinking of buying a few shades for the upcoming festive season, then here is a complete list of brands that you need to know!
1. Maybelline New York
Maybelline New York has become a household name for lipsticks, mostly due to its huge range of collections and affordability. They have different shades of reds, pinks, nudes, and browns for all Indian skin tones.
The Color Sensational range, which features special creamy matte lipsticks, has become a cult favourite among the youth.
It gives a soft, velvety finish to the lips without drying them out, so it’s perfect if you’re worried about lipsticks draining the moisture from your skin.
Maybelline also has a Superstay collection, where the lipstick stays on throughout the day and doesn’t smudge even a bit, no matter how oily the food is!
As for affordability, their lipsticks start at a humble price of just Rs. 300 and go up to Rs. 800 or slightly more.
2. Sugar Cosmetics
If you’re looking for truly smudge-proof lipsticks, then Sugar Cosmetics will be your best bet. Their special Smudge Me Not collection features bold shades of reds, browns, and bright pinks that can instantly transform your look!
The Matte As Hell lip range also contains transfer-proof materials, which means that you can put on a single swipe of the lipstick and forget about reapplying it throughout the day!
However, if you’re looking for muted shades or more budget-friendly options, you can try out Sugar Pop, which is an exclusive collection for young women who have just started experimenting with makeup. It features fruity lipsticks and lipglosses that start from as low as Rs. 200!
3. Lakme Cosmetics
Lakme is yet another household name, famous for its affordable range of lipsticks and other cosmetic items.
Lakme is widely known to cater to the majority of Indian women through strong advertisements and a huge range of lipstick shades. In fact, it has 33 different shades of just red lipstick!
Lakme features satin, matte, lipgloss, and lip tints for all occasions. The most famous lipstick collection is the 9-to-5 range, especially meant for working women.
It is a special formulation that contains both lipstick primer and lipstick, which means it can stay on for more than 14 hours! Lakme is also budget-friendly, with lipsticks starting from Rs. 449.
4. Nykaa Cosmetics
Nykaa was initially launched as an online makeup and skincare shopping platform, but the brand grew so well that it launched its own range of makeup, wellness, skincare, and even clothing!
Nykaa lipsticks are of a different kind altogether, with numerous collections catering to every possible woman.
Their Matte To Last lipstick range quickly became every woman’s obsession. It contained different shades inspired by the different cities of India, such as Mishti, a bright red that paid tribute to Kolkata, and Bombae, a nude pink that was home to the city of Mumbai.
Other than this, Nykaa has launched its So Creme creamy matte lipsticks, Butter Bomb lip balms, and a Luxe collection for high-end customers.
5. Loreal Paris
Loreal Paris is, yet again, another household name famous for its bold shades of lipsticks.
For women who are tired of reds and nudes, Loreal Paris is here to help! You can flaunt a bright orange lipstick for the days you feel like conquering the city or a bold violet for a chic evening party.
Their luxurious matte lipsticks contain a special jojoba oil formulation that keeps your lips intensely hydrated so there’s no chapping.
The Color Rich Intense Matte collection features an impressive 43 shades–all meant to flatter Indian women and their unique skin tones.
The website also has a virtual try-on feature that allows you to take a virtual sneak peek so that you can truly be sure of which shade you want and tell yourself that you’re worth it!
6. Colorbar Cosmetic
Colorbar is a homegrown makeup and skincare brand that’s popular among women for its impressive range of red lipsticks.
The Sinful Matte Lip Color range has an ultra-hydrating formula to keep your lips all plump and beautiful.
Moreover, Colorbar contains lipsticks from all ranges and formulations. So, if you’re looking for affordable lipsticks, you can go for the Color Powerkiss Vegan Matte lip colours that start from Rs. 479.
Or if you wish to spend a little extra, then the Kiss Proof Lip Stain should be your ideal choice. The brand also has a special lip brush that allows you to draw and fill in your lipstick exactly the way you want!
7. Bobbi Brown
Here’s another high-end lipstick brand for women who want to take their lipstick game up a notch. Bobbi Brown herself created ten unique natural shades of lipsticks, which became a rage among women.
Today, the brand features luxurious shades of reds and browns, all in different formulations. The Bobbi Brown Crushed Lipcolor is the brand’s go-to lipstick range, which is the perfect blend of satin lipstick and everyday lip balm.
For women who don’t want to put on too much makeup but still want to look and feel good, this range will be perfect.
You can also go for the Luxe Lip Color and the Luxe Matte Lip Color ranges that come in over 30 beautiful shades! The price of Bobbi Brown lipsticks starts from about Rs. 2400 and goes up to Rs. 3900.
8. Smashbox
Smashbox is a very popular brand among makeup artists simply because the lipsticks are super comfortable.
Smashbox was started in a Los Angeles studio, and right then, the founders realised the potential of their lip products, especially under studio lighting and camera flashes.
Today, Smashbox has become a hot favourite among influencers and stars, and the brand produces all its lipsticks using cruelty-free and vegan methods.
Their After The After Party Lip set contains a beautiful dark brown lip liner that can be used either to line the lips or as a base, and a nude brown Always On liquid lipstick to complete the look and make you look like a diva!
9. Faces Canada
As the name suggests, Faces Canada has a Canadian heritage of over 40 years and produces high-quality lipsticks at affordable prices.
Their Ultime Pro Matte lip crayons are one of the most well-known collections due to their versatility and ability to go well with Indian skin tones.
Most importantly, the products are all cruelty-free and hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry about any quality issues while applying their lip shades!
Their Comfy Matte Wow liquid lipstick range starts at only Rs. 299 and has a rich, transfer-proof formula, which you can pair with the Ultime Pro Lip Liner.
Their website also features a special Color Family, through which you can check out different shades and choose a lipstick or lip crayon based on preferences!
10. MAC Cosmetics
For women who love a touch of luxury, MAC is their best friend. MAC is known all over the globe for the exceptional color payoff on the lipstick range. Though the prices are a little high, women just can’t get enough of MAC!
Shades like Ruby Woo and Paramount have become hot favourites, not just among the women of today but also among celebrities.
MAC has also recently launched its MACXimal collection, which features four stunning lip shades in two finishes: Silky Matte and Sleek Satin.
You can also create your lip combo by choosing among a variety of different lipsticks and lip pencils, all meant to suit Indian skin tones. So, the next time you’re in a hurry to get ready for office, don’t forget to put on a bit of MAC!
Conclusion
Finding the perfect lipstick shade or brand is a personal journey that can take weeks or even months. But once you do find a lipstick that makes your heart flutter, don’t forget to take good care of it!
You can even use red and pink lipsticks as a blush or eyeshadow and brown tones for contouring. So, take your time and find the best fit for you!
