Each year the cosmetics industry comes out with the latest and greatest lipstick formulas, making it hard to keep up with. Looking for a new addition to your makeup bag? Then you may want to check out what’s new in the world of lipstick and what types are the most popular. The more you know, the easier it’ll be to find your favorite lipstick the next time you go shopping.

Looking at the infinite collections of lipstick on display at most makeup counters can be quite overwhelming. You don’t want to spend money on the wrong item so it helps to understand the terms and what they mean so you’ll know exactly what you’re buying. The most common types of lipstick formulas are matte, cream, moisturizing, satin/sheer, frosted, transfer-resistant, and long-wearing. Transfer-resistant and long-wearing formulas are pretty self-explanatory. Transfer-resistant lipstick is ideal for women who are tired of their lip color getting onto their clothing or on their food and glasses, instead of staying on their lips. Most transfer-resistant lipsticks last for eight hours, making for lip color that you won’t need to constantly retouch. As the name implies, long-wearing lipstick formulas last for 4-6 hours but can feel slightly dry. The best long-wearing lipstick formulas contain natural moisturizers such as aloe and vitamin E.

Matte lipstick is not shiny or glossy but instead provides the lips with a more opaque color. Cream lipstick formulas are great at keeping the lips moisturized and contain light waxes but tend to not last as long. Lipsticks that are labeled “moisturizing” contain ingredients like aloe and vitamin E that not only hydrate the lips but allow the color to go on smooth and shiny. This formula doesn’t tend to offer long-lasting color, however. Frosted lipsticks give off a shimmery color that tends to reflect the light. The shades are often metallic in color. Satin/sheer lipstick is glossy and moisturizes the lips but unfortunately needs reapplication over time.

You can choose from traditional tube lipstick, lip color in a bottle (like lip gloss) or lip stains. Tube lipstick has continued to be popular throughout the years and is the most common type of lipstick where you can choose from the formulas described above. Lip color in a bottle and lip glosses usually come with its own wand and is easy to apply when you’re on the go. Most lip color in a bottle also offers gloss, frosted, moisturizing or satin/sheer formulas. Lip stains are ideal for lip color that is long-lasting and give off rich and vibrant colors. Lip stains come with their own lip brush but the drawback is that once the stain dries on your lips it can’t be wiped off or blended so if you make any mistakes, you’ll have a tough time correcting them. That’s why practice makes perfect!

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