Like most girls I’ve got too many lip products to count. Truly. I feel like I clean them out every few months and still have an overloaded collection (insert monkey with hands over his eyes emoji here!) What I’ve come to realize though is that it isn’t worth holding onto ones you aren’t finding yourself grabbing on the reg. Therefore I’ve narrowed down my top 5 favorite ones + included my favorite colors for each as well.

Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour: This brand makes two of my favorite colors. The Spiced Rose color is great for everyday (worn in this post and paired with this gloss in Petal Pink over it which I blot using these for a close-to-perfect neutral lip) and then Red Amour is such a great classic red (seen in this post.) The reason I love this lipstick so much is the semi-lustrous finish that’s great for everyday wear and it goes on so smoothly. It’s got olive oil + Vitamin E so it hydrates and glides on.

Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon: I’ve waxed poetic about this product before because I am genuinely obsessed. I own it in Brandy (my favorite), Fraise (worn here), Tatin and just bought Frambroise. Bite claims the secret to these amazing matte colors is orange peel wax that locks in moisture. Did I mention they are also water-resistant, long-wearing and made without parabens, sulfates and phalates? Brilliant, just brilliant. You NEED these in your life.

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Satin Radiance Lipstick: I bought this lipstick in Color 4 Rouge Vermillon which is a rich raspberry red that I actually like for daytime as much as I do nighttime. It’s just bold enough for daylight without being overpowering and I think photographs really beautifully (seen in Part 1 of this post). It’s very similar in feel to the Laura Mercier lip color – smooth, satin-y and hydrating feeling. (I really cannot stand lipsticks that feel drying as you apply and leave lips looking worse after application!)

Lipstick Queen Lip Pencils: I keep one of these in multiple purses because the Golden Arrow and Nymph colors are great when you just need a little something on your lips. The texture is smooth and has major staying power.

NARS Audacious Lipstick: In spring and summer I really love a bright, matte pink lip and NARS’ Claudia is just the ticket to achieving that. It’s got a very creamy consistency, too which I like for matte colors.

As for my favorite budget buys at the drugstore – you can’t beat this for dry lips (with the slightest hint of color!), these lipsticks because they are so hydrating and this lipstick in Make Me Pink has been my favorite one under $9 for more than 6 years!

Need to prep dry lips? I’ve recently been using this GLAMGLOW exfoliating treatment in the shower and this lip duo before/after showering. The Frank scrub smells like coffee / chocolate!

And as always, find all my current beauty favorites here.

What are your favorite lip colors!?

p.s. a little history on lipstick and creating custom lip colors in New York City.