If you know me, you know my go-to makeup product is lipstick. I covet a new lipstick/gloss/stain. You could say I’m an avid collector, in fact. So much so, that it got to a point where I needed to pare down on my collection and I did that by dumping all of my lip products into a Steve Madden shoebox…the lid barely closed.

I’ve spent the last year testing lipsticks from all different brands to break down which ones are worth the purchase and which ones you should avoid. Read on and tell me your favorites in the comments!

1. Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick in Backstage Bambi, $20, KVD VEGAN BEAUTY

8/10
Hot pink
Bright, cheerful color; goes on smoothly and smells SO good, but a little chalky

2. Color Sensational Satin Lipstick in 880 Electric Orange, $8, Maybelline New York

5/10
Very sheer color, you really have to go over it a few times to get even a little color
Goes on very smoothly, feels fairly hydrating

3. Blue By You Metallic Lipstick, $25, Lipstick Queen

7/10
Much pinker and sheerer than you’d expect, but still a fun color

4. Artist Rouge Lipstick in C505, $22, Make Up For Ever

7/10
Deep burgundy
I love this color—it’s almost an edgy shade; goes on almost a little too easily so you have to be careful

5. Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in S1ngle, $18, Fenty Beauty

8/10
Trendy warm brown
Super matte but smooth application

6. Color Sensational Elixir Lip Lacquer in 085 Hibiscus Haven, $7, Maybelline New York

5/10
Sheer hot pink, kind of a bummer how sheer it is
Goes on like a gloss, a little sticky

7. Revolution High-Color Lip Gloss in Scandal (Discontinued—shop similar), $20, Urban Decay

7/10
Fun hot pink
Goes on nicely

8. Ultra HD Metallic Matte Liquid Lipcolor in 710 HD Dazzle, $10, Revlon

5/10
Bright magenta
I love other colors of this particular lipstick, but this one doesn’t go on smoothly and the color isn’t nearly as fun as you’d think

9. Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick in 35 Rebel Red, $4, Maybelline New York

6/10
Great red, but more glossy than matte
My lips felt a little tingly after putting this on…have to apply very carefully because it will get messy

10. ColorBurst Matte Balm in 210 Unapologetic, $10, Revlon

8/10
Bright reddish-coral
Bright, cheerful color with easy application

11. Vice Lipstick in Streak, $19, Urban Decay

5/10
Light coral
Not that bright or fun of a color, good for subtle pop; smooth, but a little dry/chalky

12. Modern Lip Color in Duchess 105 (Discontinued), $32, Sunday Riley

5/10
Bright pink
Goes on a little dry/chalky

13. La Petite Robe Noire Deliciously Shiny Lipstick in 064, Guerlain, $32

8/10
Hot pink, not too bright
Goes on like a glossy balm, little shiny; fruity fragrance

14. Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Violet Fury, $18, Fenty Beauty

8/10
Super fun, dark yet bright violet
Goes on smoothly, stays on well

15. Infallible Pro-Matte Gloss in Statement Nude 316, $8, L’Oreal Paris

7/10
Dark purply-nude
Easy application; very liquid, but not messy…

16. Matte Velvet Lipstix in Satin Rose, POP Beauty

5/10
Darker rose
So hard to put on...it sticks to your lips in a very dry way

17. Color Sensational Color Elixir Lip Color in 080 Captivating Carnation, $6, Maybelline New York

6/10
Super subtle hot pink
Very glossy/sticky, plus easy application

18. Color Sensational Color Elixir Lip Color in Petal Plush, $6, Maybelline New York

7/10
Pearly light pink
Very glossy/sticky but easy application

19. ColorBurst Matte Balm in 220 Showy Flamboyante, $10, Revlon

7/10
Hot pink
Smooth application and comes off pretty easily

20. Crystal Crème Shimmer Lip Crayon in Candied Guava, $24, Bite Beauty

8/10
Shimmery burnt orange
The perfect fun, fall color

21. Delight Tony Tint in #2 Red, $6, Tony Moly

Dark cherry red—deeper red than expected
Lip stain, but actually goes on really nicely; stays put through eating and drinking, just need to check edges

22. ColorBurst Balm Stain in 025 Sweetheart Valentine, $7, Revlon

6/10
Sheer hot pink
Smooth application and pretty shiny

23. Cushion Pang Lip Tint in #2 Trendista Pink, $10, Peripera

7/10
Sheer reddish pink
Easy application but note: it takes a loooong time for the color to come out originally

24. Liquid Lipstick in Maude, $20, Anastasia Beverly Hills

8/10
Deep warm brown
One of the most stay-on, matte liquid lipsticks I’ve ever encountered...you have to scrub to get this off. If you want to feel yourself...put this on.

25. Be Legendary Longwear Lip Lacquer, Smashbox (No longer available)

7/10
Light pinkish purple
Sticky gloss

26. Petal Pout Lip Color in Fuchsia Flush, $10, FLOWER Beauty

6/10
Deep purple-red
Doesn’t go on super smoothly, almost stiff, and you definitely need to check your edges

27. Milk Makeup

7/10
Vibrant pink-red
Goes on very smoothly

28. Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in 210 Unapologetic, $10, Revlon

6/10
Deep brownish purple
Doesn’t go on as smoothly as I’d like

29. ColorSensational High Shine Lip Gloss in 80 Gleaming Grenadine, $7, Maybelline

6/10
Sheer cherry red
Very glossy

30. Lip Locked Stain Lip Gloss in Sienna, $24, Manna Kadar Cosmetics

6/10
Rosy nude but goes on almost slightly orangish

31. Generation G in Zip, $18, Glossier

7/10
Bright, slightly sheer red
Really have to build it and it slightly sticks when putting on. The stick broke off for me but customer service is great and sent me a new one free of charge.

32. Lipstick in Adore, $56, Kjaer Weis

5/10
Deep red
Color is pretty nice, but it’s a massive pain to apply and there are bumps in the actual lipstick. Definitely not worth the cost, in my opinion.

33. Lippie Stix in Ellarie, $7, ColourPop

9/10
Deep red (Such a pretty color!)
Smells really good and goes on so smoothly. I LOVE ColourPop—you can’t beat that cost.

34. City Lips in Dusty Rose, $35, City Beauty

7/10
Deep rose
Slight tingling a few minutes after application. It’s super glossy, but not really sticky. It’s actually pretty annoying to apply because so much gloss comes off and it doesn’t spread super well. Seems expensive for the product frankly.

35. My New Favourite Gloss in LAX, $16, Floss Beauty

7/10
Light nude pink
Smells good and is very subtle and natural-appearing

36. Holographic Glitter Lip Gloss in Pink, $8, Unicorn Snot

7/10
Sparkly pink
Fun to play with both it’s mostly clear pink with some pops of glitter. Easy application

37. Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon in Cognac, $24, Bite Beauty

6/10
Dark reddish brown
Doesn’t go on as smoothly as I’d like

38. Plush Rush Satin Matte Lipstick on Clever, $22, Butter London

7/10
Orangish nude
Goes on really smoothly but not a huge fan of the color

39. Liquid Lipstick in Nocturnal (no longer available), $20, Anastasia Beverly Hills

8/10
Deep indigo blue
Goes on super easily and dries very matte, but not too difficult to fix lines

40. Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Flamingo Acid, $18, Fenty Beauty

8/10
Deep pink with reddish-tint
Goes on easily, not too difficult to fix smudges, bold color and semi-matte but not too drying

41. Matte Lipstick in Sedona, $18, Anastasia Beverly Hills

5/10
Pale terracotta
Little dry and powdery and much lighter and pinker than expected

42. Matte Lipstick in Rage, $18, Anastasia Beverly Hills

7/10
Vivid grape
Suuuuper hard to apply because it’s so dry. Hoping it gets creamier with use. Absolutely obsessed with the color though!

43. Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Exorcism, $21, KVD Beauty

7/10

Deep blackberry

Have to be careful applying because it goes on super easily and liquid, but dries super matte. It’s a little sticky after drying but doesn’t come off too easily.

44. Lippie Stix, $7, ColourPop

9/10

Warm terracotta

Like I said earlier, I LOVE ColourPop. There’s really not much more to say! Love the easy application, the cost, the smell, the color variety—it’s all good!

45. MatteTrance™ Lipstick in Elson, $38, Pat McGrath Labs

8/10

Deep crimson

This stuff is pricy but, god, is it worth it. There’s a reason she’s legendary (and a literal dame!). I highly recommend starting with the mini trio if you want to ensure you love this product before dropping $40 on one. It’s super creamy, has staying power and the colors are way more luscious than you’d guess from looking at the colors.

46. MatteTrance™ Lipstick in Fever Dream, $38, Pat McGrath Labs