12 Best Lipstick Brands for Hiking: Long Lasting Color for Outdoor Adventures

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I’m going to keep it honest with all of y’all. I’m new to wearing makeup – VERY new. As in…I could rent a car before I started wearing makeup. And if I’m being quite honest, lipsticks are the part of a makeup look that I struggle with the most. I don’t know what it is about lipstick, but even with a full beat face everywhere else, adding color to my lips just makes me hyperaware of my appearance and extremely self-conscious about my budding makeup experience. I rarely wear lipstick when I put on makeup. And with that preface, let me introduce to you why finding lipstick brands for hiking completely changed my life.

They say that the ability to authentically express yourself is the ultimate form inner power, and in some cases, rebellion. Makeup is a beautiful form of self-expression, whether it is used as a billboard or as a shield, and until I started dabbling in both makeup AND the outdoor community, I never would have thought twice that they wouldn’t necessarily mesh. I mean, they’re totally independent of each other, so…on shouldn’t have an affect on the other….right?

Right?

You see, I didn’t always like hiking. Some days, even now, I don’t even know if I ACTUALLY like hiking, or just the time spent in nature. Like, would I equally enjoy the view if a cable car took me to the top? Absolutely. But, alas, cable cars are not available at every single trail in the entire world, so hiking will suffice. What I do enjoy about hiking, however, is that I can be totally and completely me. Who’s gonna judge me? A squirrel? I can definitely take a squirrel on in a fight.

So hiking became my sort of refuge to try out new lipstick, where I can feel confident and good about myself, and getting some exercise in along the way. Win-win!

What’s With all the Judgement??

However, I soon learned another side of the outdoor world. The side where other hikers on the trail give you weird looks for wearing makeup and lipstick, and not because it looks BAD (like someone would at the grocery store or something), but because they don’t think real adventurers should wear lipstick or dress up. It’s the same side that judges people for not having the latest gear, or would probably call the police on a group of Black people trail running. It’s the side of the outdoor industry that emphasizes how *~*transformative*~* it is to #OptOutside, but only if you look like x, y, and z.

It’s…extremely hypocritical. And yanno what?

IMMA WEAR LIPSTICK AND BE A LIL MOUNTAIN CUTIE IF I WANT TO, OKAY?? And I’m not the only one who feels that way. Along with some of my baddest blogger friends, we’ve done the work to test out a bunch of different lippies to determine which are the best lipstick brands for hiking. The criteria is as follows:

• long-lasting (it would be annoying to put down your poles every five seconds to reapply)
• crack-free (both figurately in that your lips won’t be lookin crusty – and literally)
• eco-friendly (companies need to be cruelty free – no animal testing – and also help the environment in some way)
• cute (duh)

And I’m incredibly pleased to announce that we’ve tested more reds, pinks, and nudes than a valentine’s day party and can definitively say we’ve found the absolute BEST lipstick brands for hiking. Plus, we’ll also be sharing our top tips for wearing lipstick while on the trail. And while you’re getting dolled up to go hiking, don’t for get to put on a layer of sunscreen too! Alright, let me stop blabbering on and just give you the good stuff.

Fenty Beauty

by Sojourner White from Sojournies

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average cost: $20-25 USD

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Quality, color, and staying power are important, which are only some of the reasons Fenty makes the list of top lipstick brands for hiking. Founded by Rihanna (musician, designer, and an entrepreneur of all things skin), Fenty has one of the widest ranges of makeup lines that are inclusive to a large majority of skin tones.

Sojourner says, “Fenty is a great choice because when I’m hiking, I don’t want to worry about reapplying. I love Fenty’s Stunna lip paints because I barely have to reapply, unless I eat on the hike. I also adore how it pops on my skin tone. Apply a moisturizer underneath to prevent slight drying. Fenty’s colors are so vibrant and luxurious just like Rihanna, and I love supporting a Black woman-owned brand. The shade I wear is their red called Uncensored.”

Gorgue

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average cost: $24 USD

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The thing about Gorgue that will strike you first, and ultimately suck you in, is that all of their lipsticks are all themed after food dishes around the world. You’ll find hot dogs, tacos, shrimp fried rice, and even noodles, each roughly corresponding with their lipstick shade. For example, the salmon nigiri is a salmon-y nude tone. But it’s not just a fun gimmick, the quality is fantastic as well, have great durability, and are COMPLETELY transparent in their manufacturing and vegan and cruelty-free practices.

Plus, the owner, Maesa Koeber is a complete sweetheart and truly built her company from the ground up. I love that Gorgue is humorous, silly, and 100% committed to showcasing diversity and individuality in the makeup community. The outdoor industry could learn a thing or two, eh?

Cheekbone Beauty

by Larissa Crawford from Future Ancestors

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average cost: $26 USD

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While I was searching for the best lipstick brands for hiking, I used social media to find inspiration and see if any outdoor baddies had suggestions. One brand that repeatedly showed up on my radar was Cheekbone Beauty, founded by Jennifer Harper, an Anishinaabe woman who is committed to creating a beauty brand that is cruelty-free, gives back to the community (over $100k!!), and is on the fast road to reaching zero-waste by 2023. So Cheekbone Beauty was definitely one of the lipstick brands for hiking that I NEEDED to check out.

I reached out to Larissa Crawford, one of the people featured on the brand’s Instagram page, to ask more about the brand and why she liked their products. Aside from loving the brand for their message and business practices, Larissa recommends opting for their liquid lipsticks with a lip pencil for maximal long-wear. She also makes sure to use a lip scrub before applying lipstick to help prevent lipstick flaking and cracking.

Lipslut

Rebecca from Whatever Packs Your Bag

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average cost: $20 USD

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According to Rebecca, “Lipslut is the one of the best lipstick brands for hiking, for three reasons. First, 50% of all the proceeds go to amazing charities chosen by you when you check out.”

Wait, hold up. HOW DOPE IS THAT??

“Second, it lasts all day in all weather conditions.” As you know (or maybe you don’t), you can encounter a range of weather conditions just on one hike! It can go from sunny to rainy to windy to foggy and then back to sweltering heat – so when it comes to lipstick brands for hiking, you definitely want one that can withstand the storm. “Third, the color is strong and the matte keeps your look super fresh (even if masks continuing being a thing)! The color I am wearing is Fake News, and it is super bright in all the best ways.”

“Although, they don’t have a ton of colors, all the colors they have are amazing and of course they are vegan and cruelty free. They pride themselves on giving back and supporting women’s causes and how can that not be everything we as women need in our lipstick!”

Spela Cosmetics

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average cost: $18 USD

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I first heard of Spela Cosmetics from their nail polish, but after learning they also had makeup, I was curious if they would fall into the list of best lipstick brands for hiking. As it turns out, thankfully, their quality transferred into other areas of their brand!

Spela’s liquid lipsticks are ULTAAA pigmented, meaning if you want a nice BOLD color that won’t wear off, they have you covered. Or, if you want something more subtle, you can blot it out for that effortless color tint effect, and it STILL won’t wear off. Either way, after you apply your lipstick, make sure you let it sit for about five seconds. When it’s dry, it will last all day. So hold off on taking a sip of your drink, it’ll be worth it! Their colors are mostlyyy in the neutral range, but they are also surprisingly mixable, so you can get two shades and make a custom color, kind of like paint.

I really gotta give it up for Spela, especially because they’re from my homebase of Portland, Oregon! So, as one of the most outdoorsy states in the country, it’s very fitting that this Portland based brand would be one of the best lipstick brands for hiking. The founder, Miriam, was born in Iran but her family left to Vancouver, Canada as political refugees when she was young. Spela Cosmetics follows the core principle of quality over quantity, providing safe and fair working wages and environments for all levels of product creation, and staying vegan and cruelty free!

Ah-Shi Beauty

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average cost: $29 USD

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Ah-Shi in Navajo means, “this is me, this is mine, that’s me.” That statement alone embodies what I feel when I’m exploring the outdoors. The “THIS IS MY BEAUTY” motto by Ah-Shi is the reason why I like getting dressed up to hike. Surrounding myself in the beauty of nature is ME and I deserve to be there just as much as anyone else, premium hiking boots or not.

Though, the ‘this is mine’ part would be more like ‘this [accomplishment] of my body is mine’ and not like a John Smith you think you own whatever land you land on.

#LandBack

But I digress. You might not believe me when I tell you the quality of Ah-Shi is INCREDIBLEEEE, but the second you slide on their liquid VELVET lipstick, you will be a believerrrr. It glides so effortlessly and for a product that is so pigmented and long-lasting, it’s one of the most lightweight lipsticks I’ve ever tried. AND – no flakes. I also love that even within their different lipstick collections (purples, reds, nudes, pinks, browns), there are multiple shades to fit a range of skin tones and moods.

Founder Ahsaki Baa LaFrance-Chachere, or Mrs. LaChach for short, works tirelessly to bring positive change and diverse Indigenous representation to the beauty industry. By creating one of the best lipstick brands for hiking, she’s doing the same for the outdoor industry as well!

Deck of Scarlet

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average cost: $28

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Something that Deck of Scarlet does that almost no one else does is the reason why they hands down make the list for the best lipstick brands for hiking. Dose of Colors has created a lip OIL.

Lip Oil? What’s that?

YOU’RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

Deck of Scarlet’s lip oils have a 3-1 combo deal; you have a moisturizer, lipstick, and lip gloss all in one. It’s…genius, really. When I first tried it, I had never IN MY LIFE felt something so silky and easy. Truly revolutionary. Another thing I like about these lip oils is that they work similarly to a lip tint in that the color effortlessly blends into your lips so even if you aren’t wearing foundation or any other makeup, it still looks great and not too stark in contrast.

I personally don’t mind hiking with foundation (probably because I have dry skin), but if you’re in a humid environment, have oily skin, or just don’t want to sweat off your $40 full coverage, this is definitely one of the best lipstick brands for hiking.

If you do want more pigment from light to medium coverage lip colors, such as this lip oil or lip tints, apply the first layer, let it dry, then apply a second layer. This will deepen the thickness of the color.

 Hue Noir

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average cost: $15 USD

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Ooooo baby, if you’re looking for deep rich colors, especially ones that compliment darker skin tones REALLY well, Hue Noir is one of the best lipstick brands for hiking. And, yanno, IN GENERAL. Another Oregon based cosmetics company, I was so pleased that Hue Noir really delivered on both quality and affordability. As someone who is not as comfortable with lipstick, the price point helped ease me into trying some of the darker colors that turned out to look real punk rock on the trail.

Hue Noir, founded by Paula Hayes, has some of the best customer service in the game, and can even help you pick a shade that will effortlessly compliment you, and can arrange product samples for you to try out.

For added dimension to color, apply a tinted lip balm moisturizer under your lipstick. The moisturizer of course will give you an extra smooth application and prevent your lips from drying, but if you want a more sheer look, a tinted balm will do the trick! And yes, Hue Noir has those too – for only $5!!!

Body Shop

by Victoria from Guide your Travel

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average cost: $16 USD

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Victoria recommends The Body Shop because they are “certified cruelty free and vegetarian. They have a number of vegan products, including some of their lipsticks. Their matte liquid lipstick is especially long-wear and perfect for outdoor adventures. It doesn’t flake and still leaves your lips moisturized. If you do feel like they’re a bit dry you can always apply lip balm on top which won’t disturb the color. Even through sweat and eating these lipsticks will stay on making them the perfect choice for a longer hiking trip.”

“If you ever have those days where you want to feel pretty, but don’t feel like putting on a full face of makeup, these lipsticks are exactly what you need.” They also make the list of lipstick brands for hiking for their lip stains (if you want a more subtle effect).

Nyx Cosmetics

by Sojourner White from Sojournies

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average cost: $7 USD

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Queen of outdooring in lipstick, Sojourner recommends NYX Cosmetics for as one of the most wallet-friendly lipstick brands for hiking. “NYX’s Liquid Suede lipstick has a glossier finish than many other long-lasting lipsticks.” Lip glosses, in general, aren’t too great at lasting on hikes longer than 2.5 minutes. And a lot of others are matte, which is great because your hair usually sticks to it less, but sometimes you might want a little shine.

NYX Cosmetics was born in my home city of Los Angeles, California, AND they are committed to delivering cruelty-free, vegan, quality products that stay at the lower range of industry standard so that their products are accessible to a wider range of budgets.

(That said, they’re a huge company, so they can afford to that)

They use a wide range of models in their campaigns, and have shades like “deep wine red” (that Sojourner is wearing above) that look amazing on darker skin tones.

Prados Beauty

average cost: $15 USD

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Funny story about Prados. I actually found out about this company while I was planning my upcoming trip to New Mexico, and a blog post mentioned visiting their brick and mortar down in Las Cruces. If a makeup store earned a spot on a “One Day in Las Cruces” blog post…thennn it MUST be bomb.

Even with already high expectations, Prados Beauty blew my mind out of the water. First, I just gotta get this out, their shade of purple lipstick is to DIE FOR. It gave me all kinds of saucy Selena Quintanilla vibes. I wouldn’t call their shades neutral, but they do give off an effortless classy look that is absolutely remarkable. Especially in the outdoors! But what really makes Prados one of the best lipstick brands for hiking is that their lipsticks are super smooth to put on and don’t bleed or transfer outside of the lip area.

Though, if you do find that happening with whatever lipstick you are using, to stop lipstick from bleeding, use a lipstick liner and blot to remove excess lipstick.

Founder Cece Meadows is also an inspiration, and her eyeshadow tips are probably the reason why I know what a “crease” is haha.

Stila Cosmetics

by Casandra from Karpiak Caravan

I first got hooked on Stila from their amazing eyeliner, but honestly they also have one of the best lipstick brands for hiking as well. Casandra testifies, “this iconic lipstick is long wearing, won’t bleed or feather once applied, and is enriched with Vitamin E and Avocado Oil to help nourish your lips without drying them out.” Hiking is inherently drying to your lips, and even more so if you’re out on a arid or windy day. When looking for lipstick brands for hiking, you’ll be grateful for those extra vitamins!

Casandra continues, “the color is a full coverage, matte finish that will definitely turn heads, even on a trail! Stila recently launched the Stay All Day Sheer Lipstick, which has the same staying power as the original but in a more sheer and translucent finish.”

“I have personally been using this product for 10+ years because once I put it on, I can just forget about it and it will last all day long.” And if you have a lighter skin tone, don’t be intimidated by loud, bright shades either! “The colors look fantastic against my pale skin and blonde hair. They have become my signature makeup look whether I am heading out for the evening, hiking up a mountain or spending the day at the beach. Stila does not test on animals, is proudly cruelty-free and a part of The Leaping Bunny Program.”

Other Lipstick Brands for Hiking

I obviously have not tried every single possible lipstick brands for hiking that deserve a spot on this list, so I wanted to share a few other suggestions! Hopefully I’ll be able to try them soon, but if you get to them first, let me know what you think; they all come highly recommended!

• K7L
• Dose of Colors
• Beauty Bakerie
• Besame

Lipstick Brands for Hiking: Conclusion

Yayyy so that concludes my list of the best lipstick brands for hiking! Whew that was a doozy. I’ve never bought so much lipstick in my life hahah. I hope you enjoyed this round up of the best lipstick brands for hiking, and perhaps found one or two you would be interested in trying, thank you so much to all of my bloggie friends that chimed in to contribute!

Do you have any lipstick brands for hiking to suggest? Leave them in the comments below!

I want to end this Lipstick Brands for Hiking post by reiterating that you DESERVE to develop a relationship with the outdoors just as much as anyone else. Whether you grew up having camping trips with your family or if you didn’t have access to trails until you were older. Whether you have a PhD in environmental studies or if you’re a cute bimbo who wants to give kayaking a try. Even if all you want to do is take pictures and pose in front of a mountain – you deserve that opportunity, so don’t let anyone shame you out of being outside.

Put on that lipstick and hit the trail. Go with the shoes you already have. Go with the clothes like to wear, in the style that makes you most comfortable. Speak YOUR language on the trail. Do not shrink yourself to fit some arbitrary mold.

Come as you are.

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