The best lipsticks to wear on your wedding day

Meghan Markle - best lipsticks for brides

Read this before saying “I do”

Beauty Crew Beauty Writer / August 06 2018

Choosing a lipstick for your wedding day isn’t easy. And as it’s the finishing touch to your bridal beauty look, you want to make sure you’re making the right decision.

But with so many options out there it can be hella difficult to zero in on the right colour choice. And you’ll often end up in an exhausting search for THAT perfect, better-than-natural shade that’s not too pink but not overly nude, with a bit of shine. But not too much shine. So. Damn. Hard.

Luckily, we have the Internet to help us out! In a recent thread on Reddit’s Makeup Addiction subreddit, women from around the world shared the best of the best long-lasting, kiss-proof/drink-proof/dance-proof lipsticks they wore when they walked down the aisle.

And if you’re looking for a classic nude with the ultimate staying power (read: EVERYONE), Maybelline New York Matte Ink in Seductress seems to be a popular pick.

One user who goes by the name Blue-French-Horn wrote, “I wore the Maybelline Matte Ink (their liquid lipstick in the cool matte packaging) in the shade Seductress. I put it on for boudoir photos 2 hours before the wedding and it was still pristine during...ahem...after.”

She explains, “For context: I had a rowdy wedding…there was a chocolate fondue station, massive Italian food (I'm talking lasagna, greasy sausage and peppers, pasta, salad with oil, etc.), a lot of booze, and so much sweaty dancing that my concealer quit before my lipstick did. And it was comfortable throughout. It's not a traditional dry cracky liquid lipstick.”

Another Redditor agreed, writing “I wore the exact same and while my wedding wasn't rowdy, it was in a brewery and mine lasted through several beers at the wedding/reception, plus another brewery after and a trip to Waffle House.”

Another Maybelline fan swears by Maybelline New York 24 Hour SuperStay in Wildberry. She says, “It stayed on my lips through coffee, cake, and dinner, and drinks from about 3pm to 7am. I love the SuperStays—they’re the most bulletproof lip product I’ve ever encountered!”

If you’re looking to give your usual nude a major upgrade, ladylara19 recommends this cult-favourite NARS number, which she says is the perfect finish for a bronzed makeup look: “NARS lipstick in Niagara. It's a pinky coral shade and went well with my bronzy Florida wedding vibe.”

Brides-to-be who are after a classic red lip, Redditors suggest trying out MAC Lipmix in Red and Anastasia Beverly Hills in American Doll. Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge in 09 Burgundy was also a favourite on the red lip front (note: it’s currently sold out in Australia!). One user wrote, “I wanted something that wasn't going to transfer onto my husband at the alter! An Ulta employee actually pulled me aside and told me to go to Sephora to get this exact lip product in this shade. I'm really happy with how it looked. In some photos it looks like a really deep burgundy, and others it looks like a brighter red.” 

Those looking for a splash of colour that is a little bit more ‘out-there’ than your average nude lippie, one Redditor recommends trying Sephora Cream Lip Stain 15 in Polished Purple. She says it “Survived the entire reception (talking, semi-greasy dinner, cake, drinking) with maybe 2 touch-ups and no transferring to my husband's face.” 

Another bride opted for a darker burgundy shade for her winter wedding: “I wore Tom Ford Matte Lip Color in Black Dahlia. The make up artist put Know Cosmetics No My Lips Are Sealed on top. It lasted all day without touch-ups.”

As if that wasn’t enough guidance, other wedding-approved favourites included Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Italian RoseSephora #LipStories in Labyrinth City, MAC Lipstick in Really Me, MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour In Oh Lady, Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in Dolly and YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil-In-Stick Lipstick in Bright Strawberry Pink.

If you’re having a hard time picking from all these great suggestions, we recommend narrowing it down as best you can to just a couple and trying out each colour for two full weeks before deciding on THE shade. You’ll want to consider your skin tone, how it looks with your dress and how long it lasted on your lips.

Not sure which nude lipsticks are suited to your skin tone? Check out four things you need to know to find the perfect nude lip colour.

What is your go-to lipstick product? What lip colour do you plan to wear on your wedding day? Let us know in the comment section below.

Main image credit: Getty

Erin Docherty is a Beauty Writer for BEAUTYcrew, Beauty Editor for Women's Health magazine and a Grooming Writer for Men's Health magazine. She has a keen interest in cosmeceutical skin care and is currently working on minimising her 9-step skin care routine – because ain’t nobody got time for that. When she’s not writing about the latest beauty news, or applying copious amounts of serum, you can find her spending all her money in Sephora.