4 Kiss-Proof Lipsticks For Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day has its share of problems, and lipstick is one of them. You're going wear red lipstick—it's practically mandatory—and you're going to kiss it off pretty fast. So what's the point? That's where long-lasting lip color comes in, and with its own set of issues. There's the “lip ring,” where all the color fades away save for a crusty colorful outline. There's also that wrinkled, dried-up coating that some lipsticks leave you with after a few hours. Sure the color's there, but your lips look half their size.  Luckily, there's been some improvement on the long-lasting lip color front. I road-tested a slew of sticks, and pulled out the best of the best. Some have better colors, others better texture, some last practically forever, and some will just get you through the night—which is all a girl can ask for this Valentine's Day.

Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour 2-Step Lip Color, $7.94
24 hours seems kind of extreme—who wants to wear their lipstick for 24 hours? — but this formula by Maybelline definitely took the "longest lasting" title. The color is intense, and there are 30 shades to choose from. It just doesn’t budge, through food, drinks, napkins, whatever. Apply to dry lips, and let color set for a full two minutes, then top with the conditioning balm, otherwise your lips will be parched. You can keep applying balm throughout the day to keep your lips soft. You need an oil based makeup remover—the kind usually used to remove liquid liner—to take it off.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick—Kate Moss Collection, $5.49
Leave it to party queen Kate Moss to make a lipstick that can keep up with her through all sorts of antics.  Kate’s set of 10 shades are velvety, matte and enriched with a touch of powdered rubies—how much I don’t know, I couldn’t see any gemstone-worthy glam in mine. The best shades are the red ones. The rich red pigments from this particular collection are really gorgeous and stay true in color for hours on end.

Makeup Forever Aqua Rouge, $24
Created for the Parisian Aquatic Ballet—those dancers who splash around in water all day in a full face of makeup—this formula is crazy-durable. It was tested and refined until it was able to last under water for five hours. This is a fantastic, professional grade line (available at Sephora) that as a whole could win a medal in a marathon. It’s the same sort of color-and-gloss formula as Maybelline's, but this has more of a satiny finish. It’s not a glossy-gloss.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar, $18
Despite its strange name, and the fact that it comes in a little squeezy tube, this is actually lipstick. The colors of this line are STUNNING: lots of pretty pinky-nudes, and juicy reds, but also crazy shades like taxicab yellow and teal. They go on just as bright and rich as they look in the packaging. They come with a little lip brush, which you definitely should use. This formula clings, so applying with your finger makes for a potentially messy, outside-the-lines application, and will stain your finger. Plus, using a brush gives you much more control. That's always a plus when it comes to long-lasting lipstick. Once you put it on—right or wrong—you're stuck with it.