11 Cruelty-free Drugstore Lip Products for the Summer
Three things the reader should know:
This list has been organized from least to most expensive.
I did not specify the color, which means I’ve tested more than one shade.
This post is not sponsored, nor are my opinions bought or paid for.
1
e.l.f Cosmetics
Product: Lip Lacquer
Price: $3
The Lip Lacquer adds a nice gloss to the lips. Some people find the stickiness uncomfortable; I was one of those people.
2
wet n wild Beauty
Product: Mega Last Matte Lip Color
Price: $3.19
These cheap lipsticks are a great purchase in a pinch. They don’t feel luxurious, but they’re good lipsticks to keep locked and loaded in your arsenal if you want to experiment without spending an arm and a leg.
3
Essence Makeup
Product: Extreme Shine Volume Lipgloss
Price: $3.99
The smoothest high-shine lip glosses that won’t break the bank. They don’t feel sticky, and they have a nice slip.
4
Vitamasques
Product: Caramel Tinted Lip Butter Balm
Price: $4.99
It left my lips feeling soft and supple, even in the 88-degree weather during my walk. I slept in it, and my lips still felt good when I woke up. However, this won't replace my jar of Cocoa Butter Vaseline (I can't live without my Vaseline).
5
Milani Cosmetics
Product: Color Statement Lipstick
Price: $6.99
This brand produces some of the prettiest nude lipsticks on the market. They offer a wide range of tones that flatter a broad spectrum of skin tones. These lipsticks come in matte, semi-matte, creamy, and metallic finishes.
6
Revolution Beauty
Product: Lip Allure Soft Satin Lipstick
Price: $8
Soft but not as creamy as the Milani lipsticks. It’s not transfer-proof, and the shade Divine Brown needs a lipliner for brown-skinned beauties.
7
NYX Cosmetics
Product: This is Milky Gloss Milkshakes
Price: $8.50
Pretty color range and creamy formula. People who don’t like thick lip glosses might wish the Milky Glosses were a little more gloss and a little less milk.
8
Hard Candy
Product: Hard Candy Fierce Effect Lip Stick
Price: $5 - $12
A fantastic shade range for anyone who loves to break a few rules and have fun with their makeup. The mattes can feel dry, and the metallics too slippery, creating patchiness upon application.
9
Versed Skin
Product: Tinted Lip Serum
Price: $11.99
It provides a natural-looking gloss that’s effortlessly flattering, but the minty sensation on my lips was a shock to the system.
10
Black Opal
Product: COLORSPLURGE™ Liquid Matte Lipstick
Price: $12.75
Highly pigmented but slightly sticky. It took over a minute to dry down, and it commits the one sin a liquid lipstick never should: it's not transfer-proof.
11
The Lip Bar
Product: Soft Kiss Nourishing Lipstick
Price: $13.99
An easily built-up lipstick with a glossy finish. Soft and nourishing, it’s not transfer-proof, so expect your nachos to break this baby down.
This post was updated on September 1st, 2025 at 11:07 PM.