From baby pink glosses to high-impact hot pinks, Vogue Scandinavia’s senior beauty editor Josefin Forsberg gas swatched and tested the year's buzziest launches and cult classics to crown the best pink lipsticks for every category – just in time for Valentine’s Day
Thanks to a steady return of 1980s influences across the runway (see: punchy blush, blue lids, power shoulders and peplum), bold pink is back in rotation. This is not to say everyone’s reaching for fuchsia. The trend has split in two. On one end: soft, rosy pinks and milky baby shades made for a balletcore face and a blurry kiss print. On the other: punchy, high-gloss magentas and satin brights that wouldn’t look out of place during a Dynasty rewatch.
It tracks. Pink has always been the more personal lip colour – more intimate, more wearable, but also more varied. Everyone has a version that works for them. Which is why, in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, we swatched and stress-tested the best pink lipsticks across every finish, price point and category to find the ones worth your time.
How do I find the best pink lipstick for me?
Start with your skin's undertone. If you tend to wear silver jewellery and your skin leans cooler, try pinks with hints of blue or berry. If you wear gold and tan easily, peachy or rose‑based pinks are usually safer bets. Neutral tones can wear both.
Next, decide how visible you want your lip to be. A sheer balm or gloss will let your natural lip colour show through. These are easy to wear and rarely need a mirror for reapplication. Cream lipsticks offer more colour but still tend to be forgiving. A full matte or satin bullet is where you max out your pigment impact.
If you can, always test the lipstick on your actual lips. Some “universal” pinks oxidise or shift after five minutes of wear. A flattering baby pink on one person can pull chalky or bubblegum on another. Still unsure? Go with a muted rose or a “your-lips-but-better” pink. You’ll get the polish without the commitment, and it won’t clash with the realities of a busy life.
The 12 best pink lipsticks in 2026:
Best pink lipstick overall - Charlotte Tilbury's K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in ‘Velvet Underground’
What it is: A satin-finish bullet from Charlotte Tilbury’s K.I.S.S.I.N.G range, delivering medium-to-full pigment with a softly blurring payoff.
Why we love it: A true pink is harder to find than brands would have you believe. Most pull coral, beige, or worse, mauve. 'Velvet Underground' lands squarely in that unapologetic 1980s territory – nostalgic statement colour without that vary vintage texture. It perfects the lip in one pass, delivering a blurred, juicy finish that somehow survives coffee rounds without fading. If pink is making a comeback, this is the formula leading the charge.
Bets nude pink lipstick - Anastasia Beverly Hills' Lip Velvet in ‘Kiss’
What it is: A whipped, matte liquid lipstick with a velvet texture that wraps the lips in muted colour.
Why we love it: Somewhere between a muted rose and a brown-leaning pink, ‘Kiss’ is the gateway shade that makes pink feel wearable even to its loudest protesters. The formula feel more like a mousse than a liquid, going on with zero tug and drying down without that telltale flake. Beware: It is best when paired with a brown liner to stop it drifting into washed-out territory.
Best light pink lipstick - Clinique's Almost Lipstick in ‘Pink Honey’
What it is: A sheer, balm-lipstick hybrid offering a subtle veil of warm, rosy pink.
Why we love it: Pink Honey is the younger sister of the cult Black Honey. It gives you just enough rosy tint to make your lips look healthier without any hint of shimmer or stickiness, which is why it works for daytime or low-effort evenings. Paired with the brand's new Pink Honey liner for date night, it becomes surprisingly polished. Worn alone, it is the kind of pink you can apply in the back of a taxi without a mirror. Ideal if you’re pink-curious but not ready to fully commit.
Best pale pink lipstick - Nyx's Soft Matte Lip Cream in ‘Istanbul’
What it is: A lightweight soft-matte cream with buildable colour and a cloud-like texture.
Why we love it: There’s a specific kind of yearning attached to pale pink lips. A Wuthering Heights type of yearning. Very Elle Fanning in The Great or reminiscent of the bevvy of Bridgerton brides on Netflix. But be wary: Pale pink is a dangerous category. One wrong undertone and you are in concealer-lip territory. Nyx's Istanbul avoids that by keeping a faint rosy base under the milkiness, especially when applied with tap-tap-tapping fingers for that perfect period drama pout. The texture is forgiving, easy to build, and inexpensive enough that you do not panic when it lives permanently in your coat pocket.
Best rosy pink lipstick - Lisa Eldridge's Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in ‘Love of My Life’
What it is: A sheer-to-medium glossy lipstick with a balm-like slip and comfortable wear.
Why we love it: Eldridge’s matte Velvets have certified cult status, but this glossy Lucent deserves equal airtime. The rosy tone flatters everyone, the texture feels plush, and the payoff is just enough to leave a sultry smudge on your martini glass. The formula feels comfortable for hours and fades evenly rather than collecting at the inner rim. If you're after a date-night pink this is a well-behaved version and forgiving enough to reapply without a mirror.
Best baby pink lipstick - Caia's Cushion Glaze in ‘Bon Bon’
What it is: A glossy cushion-tip lip colour with a milky pink tint and balm-like texture.
Why we love it: It's only the start of February but the internet has already been on a collective hunt in 2026 for the perfect milky baby pink. Most options either pull chalky or too cool. My suggestion? Bon Bon, Caia's cushiony glaze, that actually delivers that soft, creamy tone people keep screenshotting on TikTok. The texture feels closer to a lip mask than a gloss, meaning there's next-to-no slip and slide. It is low commitment, high payoff, and sits well over bare lips or liner without turning streaky.
Best bright pink lipstick - Hermès' Silky Lipstick Shine in ‘Rose Hacienda’
What it is: A luminous satin lipstick with vivid pigment and a lightweight feel.
Why we love it: Ask ten people for a bright pink and you will receive ten different shades (most of which, surprisingly, will be more nude than pink). Rose Hacienda is most definitely pink... and not of the shy variety. The colour is vivid and the satin finish keeps it from looking flat while still delivering impact. Also, the Hermès casing makes reapplication feel ceremonial, which does matter when you are paying this much for a lipstick.
Best hot pink lipstick - Westman Atelier's Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in ‘LFG’
What it is: A high-pigment matte lipstick with a smooth, precision bullet and soft-focus finish.
Why we love it: Hot pink is not for the indecisive. LFG is punchy, graphic, and unapologetic – the sort of lip you expect to carry the whole look. But the formula is forgiving enough that you do not need surgical liner skills as the powdery, feathered finish helps blur possible imperfections. The real surprise is the wear time. After swatching, it held through oil cleanser and a hot shower, which is frankly excessive performance for a lipstick.
Best dark pink lipstick - Fenty Beauty's Stunna Lip Paint in ‘Unlocked’
What it is: A long-wear liquid lipstick delivering rich fuchsia pigment with a soft-matte finish.
Why we love it: Sometimes lighter pink shades can be tricky to get right on richer skin tones. Deeper pinks solve that problem. Fenty's Unlocked delivers saturated magenta without any sign of muddiness. One swipe gives full opacity and the colour stays crisp for hours before fading to an even stain. It requires a steady hand on application, but once set it does not migrate.
Best matte pink lipstick - Mac's Maxximal Silky Matte Lipstick in ‘Hot Girl Pink’
What it is: A high-pigment matte bullet with a smoother, more flexible take on Mac’s classic matte finish.
Why we love it: Few brands understand matte like Mac. This newer silky version keeps the bold payoff but dials down the old-school dryness, and the shade Hot Girl Pink is exactly what the name suggests. Bright, confident, and addictive. I didn’t expect to become obsessed with the fluorescent-in-a-good-way shade, but it sharpens the whole face without needing liner, and the formula grips just enough to stay put without clinging to dryness.
Best frosted pink lipstick - L’Oréal Paris' Color Riche Lipstick in ‘Rose Tendre’
What it is: A satin lipstick with a pearlescent, light-reflective finish.
Why we love it: Shimmer lipsticks have crept back into the conversation, whether we admit it or not. Rose Tendre plays the part perfectly, slotting into our current affection for the early-aughts alongside Zara Larsson pop-star sparkle, sequinned Fendi baguettes, and bedazzled Motorolas. But with clean skin and a brushed-up brow it is still surprisingly wearable on a day to day basis. It's also under €20, meaning we can afford to experiment.
Best pink lip balm - Chanel's Rouge Coco Baume Shine in ‘Blushing Pink’
What it is: A hydrating lip balm with a sheer pink tint and glossy finish.
Why we love it: Some days, lipstick can feel like too much. Chanel's balmy Blushing Pink is the perfect halfway point: it hydrates like lip care but still renders enough pink pigment to Impact the overall look. It smooths out chapped lips and adds a soft shine – which is precisely why this one lives in my handbag and gets more play time than most of my other lippies.