Best lipstick: The budget no-smudge lipstick that costs less than $10 and is French Girl-approved

I'm French, and one of the few clichés I subscribe to when it comes to my own country is the wearing of red lipstick.

I use it daily, and I have tried all sorts of textures, hues and brands, from the priciest to the cheapest.

There is a drawer in my apartment filled pretty much exclusively with various red lippies, all of which remain untouched these days. That is because none of them will ever top Maybelline’s Superstay Matte Ink, in the Pioneer shade.

I have raved about this lipstick so many times I’ve lost count. People have commented on it in the bathroom at work, at various shops, even at the dentist’s office.

Each time, I’ve said the same thing: this lipstick has consistently exceeded my expectations. Its main virtue is that it does not smudge. And I mean that, it can handle anything that's thrown at it. I put it on most mornings around 7.30am and don’t reapply until I leave work around 6pm – and even then, only a tiny touch-up at the center of my lips is needed.

The outline endures throughout the day, even if I eat a salad or an apple, lipstick’s sworn enemies. I have worn this lipstick during a teeth cleaning. I have worn this lipstick while running an actual marathon. Each time, it completely surpassed expectations. If anything, this lipstick’s only drawback is that it can be hard to remove, even with a waterproof make-up remover – just make sure you got all the colour off before you wipe your lips on your crisp, white bath towel.

It’s easy to apply, too – sure, you can use a contour and a proper lipstick brush if you’re so inclined, or you can be lazy like me and just use the provided brush, which works a charm.

The Pioneer shade is that classic red so many people are after, not too bright and not too dark. Maybelline’s other shades are nice too, by the way – Pioneer has just stood out as my new essential. I have been known to buy tubes of it two or three at a time, I always have a little stockpile waiting at home, and I live in the constant fear that Maybelline will discontinue it.

To top it all off, the Superstay Matte Ink retails for $9.99, an absolute steal when compared to some of the higher-end offerings on the market right now. And it truly, genuinely does a better job for a fraction of the price.

Buy Maybelline’s Superstay Matte Ink in Pioneer by clicking here.

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lip Color - 0.17 fl oz

Maybelline

$9.99

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