The Absolute Best Orange Lipsticks for All Skin Tones
Orange lipstick has a tendency to be a little bit intimidating. Less conventional than red or pink, orange shades are bold, warm, and unexpected. But the right shade of orange doesn't have to be dramatic—unless you want it to be. A pinkish-coral on fair skin can warm your skin tone right up; a deep red-orange on medium skin can help make your complexion glow.
There are plenty of vibrant true orange lip colors for those looking for something super bold, but for the newbies, the best way to warm up to orange lipstick is to choose a pink or red lipstick with orange undertones. But first, let’s find the best orange lipstick for your skin tone.
“You want to use your skin undertone as a great rule of thumb when choosing an orange lipstick,” explains makeup artist Nydia Figueroa. “If you have a warmer tone, you want to choose a lip color that has warmth in it. If you have cool undertones, you want to find a shade of orange that contains a more blue undertone.”
To get you started on your search for the best orange lipstick, we've highlighted 14 of our favorites below. Whether you're looking for something sheer, matte, or super dramatic like electric orange, there's an orange lipstick here for everyone.
Meet the Expert
Nydia Figueroa is professional makeup artist, global beauty educator, and lead beauty director for Fashion GXD Magazine.
Pro-Approved Orange Lippies
1. Best Natural Balm:
BURT’S BEES Lip Balm in Sweet Mandarin
New to the orange shade trend? Don’t be intimidated. Introducing this bright hue to your routine can be as easy as reaching for a citrus-infused lip balm like this one from fan-fave BURT’S BEES. Swipe on this nourishing formula for a squeeze of a sweet, slightly tart Mandarin flavor that’s packed with hydrating shea butter and Beeswax to soften your lips.
2. Best Shimmer Lip Gloss:
ESSENCE COSMETICS Juicy Bomb Lipgloss in Sweet Peach
If you’ve been wanting to rock orange lips but that initial swipe of pigment still makes you a little nervous, we’ve got just the fix. “A way to make a bright orange lipstick more wearable is by adding a nude gloss on top to tone it down,” says Figueroa. The newly subtle orange shade will give any lipstick a more laid back feel—and you can get just the look with this jelly formula from ESSENCE COSMETICS that has a slight sheen and shimmer.
3. Best Shiny Balm:
INC.REDIBLE COSMETICS Lip Balm in When Life Gives You Fruit
More pigment doesn’t always mean more comfortable. But with this pigmented lip balm, you get high-impact apricot color with major moisturization and shine (making it an instant favorite!). The formula is also enriched with vitamin E, which acts as a protective shield to keep your lips from chapping, so you can make sure you put your best lips forward when you’re rocking a bold color.
4. Best Orange for Deeper Skin Tones:
MENTED COSMETICS Liquid Lipstick in Blood Orange
Prepare to be obsessed with this vibrant red orange that looks like a bright orange on deeper skin tones and a rich mahogany on fairer skin tones. “The color orange is associated with joy, warmth, happiness and of course the excitement of a new season! It looks incredible with a tan and can be adjusted for every skin tone,” says Figueroa.
5. Best Creamy Lip Gloss:
VIOLET VOSS Lip Gloss in Delight
Not only is this natural-looking peach shade pretty for everyday wear, but it feels great on the lips, too. Pop this one in your purse for a smooth (never sticky!), high-shine finish whenever your lips need a little boost.
6. Best Lip Tint:
BENEFIT COSMETICS Cheek & Lip Stain in Chachatint
One swipe of this longwearing lip tint, and you'll achieve a juicy, mango-tinted look that lasts all day (yep, even through your meals!). Figueroa adds that because this formula is safe for use on the lips and face, you can get the trendy monochromatic makeup look with ease. For an even more modern look, she recommends adding a true orange eyeshadow.
7. Best Lip Crayon:
BITE BEAUTY Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon in Stinger
This electric orange lipstick shade is made all the more wearable with its creamy (and comfy!) matte finish. To make it even better, its clean formula is full of superfoods like pomegranate oil and wild African mango to nourish your lips and give them a boost of antioxidants.
8. Most Moisturizing Lipstick:
CHANEL Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour in 416 - Coco
Take one pigmented red-orange lipstick and add jojoba and mimosa butters, and you get this comfortable, creamy lipstick from one of the most luxurious brands out there. If the color feels a little bright for you, one tip from Figueroa is to “wear orange lipstick as your focus feature, and keep the rest of your face more natural.”
9. Most Flattering Coral:
OFRA x NikkieTutorials Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Spell
Although this matte lipstick might seem like a bold orange at first, Figueroa says it’s pretty wearable on all skin tones. She shares, “If you are afraid of trying an orange lipstick, try using a soft coral shade to start.” This liquid lip (a collab with beauty YouTuber NikkieTutorials!) has a velvety finish and pigment that stays put with minimal transfer—so you might as well start here.
10. Best Orange for Fairer Skin Tones:
CHARLOTTE TILBURY Matte Revolution in Sexy Sienna
Looking for a coral matte lipstick perfect for fairer skin tones? Look no further than this luxe, golden coral shade inspired by actress Sienna Miller. The soft matte finish is ultra comfortable, non-drying, and contains a blend of oils and waxes that give you long-lasting color for up to 10 hours.
11. Best Sheer Lipstick:
FENTY BEAUTY Slip Shine Sheer Shiny in Tang Thang
Don’t let the bold red-orange shade scare you. With its sheer finish, this orange hue is extremely wearable for every day this summer, and it even conditions your lips with every swipe thanks to the pomegranate butter in this formula. Glide it on and slip into your new favorite effortless lip look.
12. Most Long-Lasting Lipstick:
KVD VEGAN BEAUTY Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in A-Go-Go
When this iconic liquid lipstick hit shelves, it seriously changed the beauty game. This longlasting lip product impressed everyone for its ability to glide over lips like a gloss and set to a true matte finish, made all the more comfortable with natural lip conditioners like vitamin E and sunflower seed wax. Plus, this orange-red color looks great with all skin tones and undertones, especially with a pop of shimmery lip gloss on top. Gorgeous!
13. Best Two-in-One:
BOBBI BROWN Art Stick Creamy Matte Lipstick and Liner in Sunset Orange
When applying a bold lip color, you can help ensure a precise finish by first lining your lips. This chunky lip pencil gets both jobs done by giving you lipstick and liner in one, all with a creamy matte finish. Simply use the tip of the pencil to line your lips, then hold the flat edge of the pencil against your lips to fill in the remaining color. Forget rummaging around your lippie collection for a matching liner and lipstick!
14. Best Matte:
URBAN DECAY Vice Lipstick in Crash
It’s typically easier to find a sheer, balmy orange lip color than it is to find one that’s extremely intense and matte. That's why this stunning shade from URBAN DECAY's bestselling formula is such a winner. This neon orange creates an instant statement lip that basically screams summer—and it’s even formulated with aloe vera, jojoba, avocado, and babassu oils to nourish and soften your lips.
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