I Tried Every Black Liquid Lipstick at Ulta So You Don't Have To

At this point, I've been wearing black lipstick nearly every day for ten years! Sure, I'll switch it up now and again to purple or blue, but black will forever be best. Not only that, but black is an unforgiving color in makeup. If it's not perfectly opaque, you might as well re-label it grey instead.

I've been a Kat Von D stan forever, but in recent years, her gothic makeup brand has gone down the drain. After her multiple controversies and selling off of the brand, now KVD, what was the black lipstick holy grail of Witches from the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick line is no more.

The product has been reformulated and repackaged, is cakier and drier than ever, and I have been determined to find the best replacement! Sephora now no longer sells a single black liquid lipstick, at least from what I could find online. Ulta is a different story, though. I was pleased to see five brands that carried this product: MAC, NYX, Maybelline, Juvia’s Place, and Ofra. 

I put each one to the test to discover the ultimate black liquid lipstick that can stand the test of time, feels the best, and most importantly, exudes the blackest of black pigment.

MAC Cosmetics

Best Splurge

On day one, I randomly picked the Mac Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick in Caviar to try out first. You get 0.17 fluid ounces for $26, so it's definitely the most pricey option on the list. I've never used much of MAC before, so I was excited to give it a whirl!

First impression: I love this applicator shape. It has a well in the middle and tapers, so it picks up plenty of product while letting you create super-precise lines. I always draw my cupid's bow, so applicators like this are my favorite.

As for pigment, I'll give it an 8/10. One swipe coverage on the bottom lip and two swipes for the top, mainly because I focus on drawing the outer shape, then fill it in once I'm satisfied. I went to work wearing the lipstick, and it stayed phenomenally! I had to reapply once, which is standard given that I'm dancing and sweating for hours.

If you desire a luxury black liquid lipstick, this is a phenomenal choice.

Ofra Cosmetics

Alright, in all honesty, the Ofra Cosmetics Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in The Bronx was my least favorite formula of them all. The applicator looked like every other applicator in the world, complete with clumps of the product stuck to the end.

The pigment was lackluster, coming off more grey than true, deep black. The only time I found it to be as black as it needed to be was after a re-application in the middle of the day. That might've been layer six or seven overall! While it wasn't drying, it was certainly flaking off by the end of the day. 

For $20, I would expect a much higher quality liquid lipstick. Sorry, Ofra!

Maybelline Cosmetics

Best Budget Pick

I keep coming back to Maybelline's SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Thrill Seeker! Love the shade name, too. The applicator shape is nearly identical to MAC's, with a well for product and a sharp tip for precise lines.

This liquid lipstick is BLACK!!! Thick, creamy, and smooth to apply, I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. While it took a bit longer to dry down due to the thickness, I wasn't mad at it at all. I did experience some stickiness in the corners, and while I expected it to worsen throughout the day, it didn't.

Throughout dancing, sweating, eating, and drinking, this lipstick stayed put. I barely dealt with pigment loss or flaking. For $12.99, Thrill Seeker is my true budget pick of the lot. I absolutely will be buying some of their deep reds to continue replacing my KVD collection.

Juvia's Place

Best for Big Lips

I love Juvia's Place! An amazing indie brand, I first started using their products years ago, starting with their incredibly pigmented eyeshadow palettes. Masquerade? iykyk

So, of course, I was expecting perfect pigment. Juvia's Place Liquid Lipstick in Ebony certainly delivered. Out of all the lipsticks I tried, this one takes first place for pigment, and all for $15. Incredible.

Now, to the downside: the applicator is gigantic. If you have bigger lips and don't draw a defined cupid's bow, you'll have a much easier time than I did. However, I have small lips that I overdraw, and the applicator was a bit bushy, so I really struggled creating my usual shape.

The lipstick stayed on so well throughout my workday, and I'll certainly continue to use this formula. The only change I'll be making is using smaller disposable applicators that are better suited for my lip shape.

NYX Cosmetics

For drugstore makeup lovers, most of us have probably tried the NYX Lingerie XXL Liquid Lipstick, this shade being Naughty Noir. It had been a while since I used this formula, and I was surprised to see my expectations flipped on their head!

The applicator was the shape that I love, a nice point, but it was flexible instead of stiff. I found that this made it more difficult to control. Where I thought the lipstick would be super pigmented, it was not. It took me several coats to get my lips entirely black. Additionally, it was definitely sticky on the sides, bunching up, and left me less than excited to wear it through the day.

I thought the formula was going to be dry and flaky considering my experience with the lipstick, but it turned out to be very nice throughout the day! I didn't have to reapply once, and there was barely any coverage loss in the middle of my lips.

This liquid lipstick is not my favorite, but I know some people swear by it. I will give it points for how it wore all day; one of the best on the list in terms of longevity.

Conclusion

Okay, final results!

1. Maybelline Cosmetics - Great price, pigment, and staying power
2. MAC Cosmetics - Luxury pick, amazing pigment, and does a good job throughout the day
3. Juvia's Place - Incredible pigment, but I highly dislike the applicator
4. NYX Cosmetics - Lackluster pigment, but stays all day like no other
5. Ofra Cosmetics - Barely any pigment, bad staying power, basic applicator

I hope this helps you decide which black liquid lipstick is best for you.

Stay beautiful, my darklings!

~ With Love, Beatrix Devine

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