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Matte is serious, gloss is dramatic, satin is the happy middle. These expert-backed satin lipsticks are perfect for Indian skin tones and weather

A woman wearing the best satin lipstick in India in the colour of pink

There are lovers of matte lipstick, lovers of glossy lipstick, and then there are those who swear by  satin lipsticks—a hybrid of both. Satin lipsticks strike the perfect balance between matte and glossy formulas, boasting a rich colour pay-off as well as a hint of sheen. In a country where make-up melts before your second coffee, these best satin lipsticks in India show up hydrated, pigmented and drama-free.

Saikat Chakraborty, national artist with M.A.C Cosmetics, explains, “Hydrating satin lipsticks render a soft, velvety finish to your lips with some sheen—not shine. Matte, on the other hand, is serious, flat, and can sometimes be a little drying.” In the satin-finish lipstick versus matte-finish lipstick debate, the former is a clear winner. Chakraborty ranks satin lipsticks higher than creamy and glossy lipsticks too. “Creamy lipsticks can feel like too much butter on toast. Glossy lipsticks? Full-on shine, like you’re ready for a music video. Satin is then that perfect middle ground—polished, chic, but not extra. Skip satin lipsticks only if you’re looking for transferproof formulas.”

According to the make-up expert, satin lipsticks are great for Indian skin tones because “it’s not desert-dry like matte and not slippery like gloss—it stays put and feels good, even when it is hot.” Stating the best hacks to ace the application of a satin lipstick, Chakraborty says, “Start with a quick [lip] scrub and balm—it really will change the game. Line your lips for that sharp, snatched look—you can also fill in the lips completely to increase the longevity. For extra staying power: swipe, blot, powder lightly, then swipe again. This will lock in the colour ensuring the finish is at its best.” If you’re convinced you need a new lipstick, here are some of the best satin lipsticks in India

MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick, M.A.C Cosmetics: Best long-lasting satin lipstick
Photograph: (Instagram.com/maccosmetics)

1. MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick, M.A.C Cosmetics: Best long-lasting satin lipstick

Infused with oils such as castor, jojoba, argan and rosehip seed together with pomegranate extract, this newly relaunched product is one of the most long-lasting satin lipsticks in India. With over 25 of the best lipstick shades—across pinks, plums, reds, oranges, and nudes—these bullets house about 3.5 grams of product (more than the previous rendition). But what makes them cop-worthy is the one-swipe colour pay-off that’s opaque, rich, and comfortable. 

Pop Longwear Lipstick, Clinique:  Best hydrating satin lipstick for dry lips
Photograph: (Instagram.com/metrodept)

2. Pop Longwear Lipstick, Clinique: Best hydrating satin lipstick for dry lips 

Packaged in electric green tubes, these new lipsticks come in satin, matte, and high-shine finishes. The satin lipsticks, however, combine a punch of colour and hydration in one bullet. You can choose from over 30 colours—each comes packed with castor oil, olive oil, apricot oil, shea butter, and wheat germ extract to keep your lips soft, smooth, and protected. 

Priced at ₹2,400

Available at tirabeauty.com 

Explicit Lipstick, NARS: Best comfortable satin lipstick for daily wear
Photograph: (Instgram.com/narsissist)

3. Explicit Lipstick, NARS: Best comfortable satin lipstick for daily wear

This hydrating satin lipstick, now available in India, features a unique formulation: it wears like a satiny-soft lipstick, and leaves behind a creamy-matte finish, making it the perfect lipstick for a 9-to-5 day. Buildable, hydrating, and pigmented, you can layer this lipstick, or even reapply it throughout the day. The good-for-you ingredients in this satin lipstick are sodium hyaluronate, squalane, rosehip seed oil, and vitamin E. 

Priced at ₹3,500

Available at sephora.in 

Satin Lipstick, Anastasia Beverly Hills: Best pigmented satin lipstick for Indian skin tones
Photograph: (Instagram.com/anastasiasoare)

4. Satin Lipstick, Anastasia Beverly Hills: Best pigmented satin lipstick for Indian skin tones 

The colour deposition left by these satin lipsticks scream pigmentation—with an added touch of sheen that’s not sticky, and yet, long-lasting. Available in vibrant, brown skin-friendly colours, this product will end the satin-finish lipstick versus matte-finish lipstick debate for you. It promises long wear, similar to—or better than—your typical matte lipstick. 

Priced at ₹2,600

Available at tirabeauty.com 

31 LE ROUGE, Chanel: Best luxury satin lipstick with refillable packaging
Photograph: (Instagram.com/chanel.beauty)

5. 31 LE ROUGE, Chanel: Best luxury satin lipstick with refillable packaging

Besides looking like an art object, this satin lipstick from Chanel is formulated with 75 per cent natural ingredients, including the brand’s signature gardenia oil along with maracuja oil. This satin lipstick offers a buttery-soft glide, an intense punch of colour, hydration, and lip care. The best part? You can shop for a refillable of the colour of choice, after you finish your lipstick. 

Priced at ₹16,450

Available at chanel.com/in  

Crushed Lip Colour, Bobbi Brown: Best everyday satin lipstick with skincare benefits
Photograph: (Instagram.com/bobbibrown)

6. Crushed Lip Colour, Bobbi Brown: Best everyday satin lipstick with skincare benefits  

Trust this satin lipstick to fill in for your lip balm, lip stain, lip tint, and lipstick, for it balances colour and care simultaneously. The pinks, browns, and reds all look natural on the lips, whether worn as a stain or layered as a lipstick. Ingredients like castor oil, fatty acids, and vitamins C and E equip this lipstick to secure a seat amongst the most hydrating lipsticks in India. 

Priced at ₹2,450

Available at nykaa.com  

Rouge Pur Couture Satin Lipsticks, YSL: Beauty Best transfer-resistant satin liquid lipstick
Photograph: (Instagram.com/mylifemyjoys)

7. Rouge Pur Couture Satin Lipsticks, YSL Beauty: Best transfer-resistant satin liquid lipstick 

Packaged in an opulent golden case embossed with the YSL insignia, this satin lipstick delivers care and longevity, courtesy of castor oil and titanium dioxide. The statement-making reds and nudes in this range complement Indian skin tones beautifully, while the lip-loving formula works for those with chapped lips, even in dry weather. These satin lipsticks leave a velvet matte finish with a hint of a sheen that isn’t loud, yet noticeable. 

Priced at ₹4,000

Available at nykaa.com

Satin Lipsticks, Hermès: Best lightweight satin lipstick with a natural finish
Photograph: (Instagram.com/hermes)

8. Satin Lipsticks, Hermès: Best lightweight satin lipstick with a natural finish 

If you’re considering a satin lipstick for the luxurious wear it offers, look no further than this one from Hermès. Available in the softest shades for an understated, natural look, this lipstick also allows you to shop for refillables, making it a sustainable choice. A nourishing complex of ingredients including Abyssinian seed oil, white mulberry root extract, and vitamin E, make it a highly hydrating lipstick—enough to give lip balm a miss. 

Price available at request 

Available at Hermès boutiques only 

Lumiere Satin Matte Lipsticks, RAS Luxury Oils: Best for medium-to-deep skin tones
Photograph: (Instagram.com/rasluxuryoils)

 9. Lumiere Satin Matte Lipsticks, RAS Luxury Oils: Best for medium-to-deep skin tones

A bestseller from the homegrown skincare brand, these satiny lipsticks personify ‘luxury on a budget’. The bullet delivers an intense colour pay-off, a smooth glide, and comfortable wear. Curated keeping in mind the unique skin tones—and under tones—of Indian women, each colour coats the lips evenly and opaquely. A blend of avocado oil, shea butter, rosehip oil, aloe vera, and hibiscus extracts makes it one the most hydrating lipsticks in India

Priced at ₹2,290

Available at rasluxuryoils.com 

Rouge Artist Lipstick, Make Up For Ever: Best glossy satin lipstick
Photograph: (Instagram.com/makeupforever)

10. Rouge Artist Lipstick, Make Up For Ever: Best glossy satin lipstick

These slick lipsticks from Make Up For Ever—available in both matte and satin finishes—make application a cakewalk, courtesy of their angular tip that could also double as a lip liner. Castor, pomegranate and passion fruit oil make this a super-nourishing formula, while the high-shine finish renders a glossy effect that stays longer than you would expect. 

Priced at ₹2,400

Available at nykaa.com

Frequently asked questions on the best satin lipsticks in India

What is the difference between satin and matte lipstick?
Satin lipsticks offer soft, velvety finish with a subtle sheen while matte lipsticks are flat, serious and often drying. As Saikat Chakraborty, national artist at M.A.C Cosmetics explains, “Hydrating satin lipsticks render a soft, velvety finish to your lips with some sheen—not shine. Matte, on the other hand, is serious, flat, and can sometimes be a little drying.” While a satin lipstick won’t end up looking crusty, that is likely with a matte lipstick. 
Which satin lipstick is best for dry lips in India?
For dry lips, look for satin lipsticks with nourishing ingredients like jojoba or shea butter.  Clinique’s Pop Longwear and Bobbi Brown’s Crushed Lip Colour are some options available in India. 
Which satin lipstick works best for Indian weather and skin types?
The best satin lipsticks for Indian weather combine hydration and stay power. Options like M.A.C's Sleek Satin or RAS’s Lumiere range offer rich colour that won’t melt or dry out lips in extreme heat or dryness. 
Are satin lipsticks long‑lasting and transfer‑proof?
No, most satin lipsticks are not fully transfer-proof. But many can still be long-lasting—especially those with rich pigments or hybrid satin-matte formulas like YSL’s Rouge Pur Couture.

Ria Bhatia profile imageRia Bhatia
Ria Bhatia is the associate beauty editor at The Established. She explores beauty and wellness through industrial, cultural, and social lenses, with bylines in Femina, ELLE India, Harper’s Bazaar India, Masala UAE, and VOGUE India.

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