The Lip Product Guide: Our 7 Favourite Formulas for National Lipstick Day 2026 (and Beyond)

Lipstick has been transforming faces (and confidence) for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until 2016 that National Lipstick Day was officially established. Since then, July 29 has become an annual celebration of one of the most iconic products in any makeup bag.

Few beauty products have the staying power of lipstick. Many women own several shades, a classic red is said to instantly boost confidence, and every year brings new innovations in long-wearing formulas, nourishing ingredients and trend-driven colours. Whether you’re loyal to a signature shade or love experimenting with the latest launch, National Lipstick Day is the perfect excuse to swipe on something new.

To mark the occasion, we’ve created a lip product guide from luxurious splurges to affordable drugstore finds that perform far beyond their price tag. No matter your budget, there’s a perfect shade waiting to brighten your smile and the ideal lip product for your needs. Because lip products aren’t just about colour anymore, I’ve included glosses, oils, and balms too.

Canadian Favourites:

Watier Supreme Vinyl Lip Lacquer – $36.00 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix*

I personally tested each lip product on this list. Watier is a classic Canadian luxury brand. Their Supreme Vinyl Lip Lacquer has intense shine and is pigmented enough to be opaque on your lips. It isn’t sticky and is longer lasting than many glosses. It comes in just six shades, but there is plenty of variety.

DIVINE Tip: The shine is intense. If you want to make the Supreme Vinyl Lip Lacquer more work-friendly, simply blot off some of the shine with a tissue.

Vasanti Matte Crush Lipstick Pencil – $25.00 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix*

Vasanti was founded by four women – three siblings and one childhood friend. They started Vasanti because of the lack of diversity in the beauty space when the founders had trouble finding products that worked on their skin tones. Although I have fair skin, their Matte Crush Lipstick Pencils will work on all skin tones. While the finish is matte, what I personally love is that it doesn’t look flat because there is dimension. It has staying power without drying out your lips. Vasanti is definitely a Canadian brand worth trying.

Luxury Lip Product

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Blush Balm Lip Tint – $43.50 at Sephora*

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Blush Balm Lip Tint has the best of both worlds. It performs like a sheer lipstick leaving a wash of matte colour, but it is nourishing. The formula feels weightless and is long lasting. The packaging is luxurious and feels weighty. It is a lip product that should be on your must-try list (budget permitting).

Drugstore Lip Products

Revlon Photo Ready Instant Plump Serum – $16.49 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix*

Fun fact – some lip plumpers work by using chili peppers for that plumping sensation. I love chili peppers, but like many, find that stinging sensation hard to take at times. Revlon Photo Ready Instant Plump Serum uses cooling, warming, and circulation-boosting ingredients designed to create a temporary plumping effect. The gloss contains menthol, which provides a tingling versus stinging sensation which is more comfortable. The lip product itself is a great gloss with enough pigment to wear on its own, but sheer enough to look natural.

DIVINE Tip: If you want longer lasting colour, fill in your lips with a neutral pencil before applying any gloss.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Glow Reviver Slipstick – $13.49 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix*

If you love lip oils but want more pigment, e.l.f. Cosmetics Glow Reviver Slipstick is the lip product for you. It has nourishing ingredients like squalane, shea butter and jojoba oil with more colour payoff. It provides a soft, shiny finish, but isn’t sticky. The magnetic component is luxurious, especially for the price point. Best of all – it has a subtle mango-vanilla scent.

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid LipStick, Longwear Matte Finish – $20.49 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix*

If you want to wear red lipstick, a matte finish often means less movement and smearing. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid LipStick has a diamond-shaped applicator that allows you to lay down the colour precisely. If you are looking for an evening look with impact, liquid lipstick will last longer, be more transfer-resistant meaning no lipstick marks on your wine glass, it won’t smear, and will give you that opacity that lets the red really stand out.

DIVINE Tip: This is a very rich, red lipstick. Use more natural makeup on the eyes and cheeks to let your lips take centre stage and avoid looking overly made up.

NYX Smushy Matte Lip Balm – $15.69 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix*

Not everyone likes shine and right now, there are even options for lip balms which tend to have at the very least, a bit of sheen. NYX Smushy Matte Lip Balm solves that problem. It has a lightweight, matte finish and still moisturizes your lips. It blurs the look of lines on your lips without settling into them when you wear it no matter what your age.

There are so many options out there, and it can be confusing when you are looking for the ideal lip product. That is why I test so many so thoroughly. Remember the following tips when you are looking for the right lip product:

• Don’t look at who the brands advertise to – it’s almost always Gen-Z. Look at what your specific needs are. Whether it’s long-lasting lipstick or lip treatments, there are so many really good options now to choose from.
• Don’t assume that luxury products are better than drugstore. Mass retail brands spend millions of dollars on testing their products. While the components may not be as luxurious, it’s what is on the inside that counts.
• Look for sales. Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora both have weekly sales. You can also shop directly on brand websites and they often have sales or gifts with purchase. Bookmark your favourites so you can find exactly what you need when you need it.
• Regularly check your lip products. If they smell off – a tell-tale scent is crayons – they are expired and should be thrown out.
• Finally, if you are looking for a place to recycle your packaging, Winners has a box in their beauty sections where you can drop off your used products.

*Products were supplied for review purposes. Opinions are my own.