Cons: If you have dry lips, you may notice more fading, so be sure your lips are properly prepped.
Claim: "Lasts for hours"
Hours before fading: 5*
*Testers were torn. One editor with chapped lips reported that this began to fade badly enough that she wanted to reapply or remove it after five hours. For the rest of us, it lasted up to seven hours.
Cons: Hard-pressed to find a negative, editors did note that it transfers to utensils and coffee mugs. In other words, if we were going to an event where we wouldn't want to leave lipstick marks on glasses (or on the cheek of Alexander Skarsgaard -- hey, a girl can dream), we'd leave this one at home.
Claim: 12 hours
Hours before fading: 7.5
Cons: It applies a little tacky and sticky. Also, if your lips aren't properly exfoliated, it can cause them to dry out more. One tester's already dry lips flaked in one spot, resulting in a patch of missing color. But the good news: No matter how much she rubbed her lips together, the color didn't transfer -- a true testament to its staying power.
Claims: Tested five hours underwater, long-lasting
Hours before fading: 7
Photo 14/14
Best Long Lasting Lipstick No. 1: Rimmel London Provocalips 16 HR Kiss Proof Lip Colour, $6.99
Cons: Without makeup remover, this lipstick would outlast a nuclear holocaust. That just might not be a bad thing, though.
Claim: 16 hours
Hours before fading: 8