Beauty Rare Beauty Lipstick Guide: Pick Your Perfect Shade Today
An educational guide from the Beauty AMZ research team. No hard sell, just what you need to know.
Prepping Lips For Matte
Matte lipstick demands smooth lips. Exfoliate gently the night before. Apply a light balm in the morning. Blot thoroughly before color. Fill with liner to create grip. Then apply the lipstick. This routine prevents the dry, cracked look. Never skip prep with mattes.
Matching Shade To Undertone
Warm undertones shine in Joy and Delight. Cool undertones love Serenity and Happy. Neutral undertones can wear Hope and everything else. Test shades on your lips, not your hand. Daylight reveals the true match. Your undertone is the fastest filter.
Applying For Clean Lines
Use the bullet straight from the tube for speed. For precision, outline with a matching liner first. Fill in with the lipstick. Blot once and reapply for depth. Clean edges with concealer if needed. The whole process takes two minutes.
Making Matte Last Longer
Layer liner underneath as a base. Blot between coats. Avoid oily foods which break down matte. Carry the tube for touch-ups. Reapply rather than layering over old color. These habits double wear time.
Removing Matte Gently
Use an oil-based remover at night. Hold a soaked pad on lips for thirty seconds. Wipe gently without scrubbing. Follow with a rich balm. Gentle removal keeps lips healthy. Never pick at fading matte.
Recommended Products
Our Rare Beauty lip picks rank every Kind Words shade, from the iconic Happy red to the everyday Hope rose.
Best for: Cool undertones wanting a fresh pink lip tint.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil, Happy
- Cool pink tinted lip oil
- Jojoba and sunflower oils nourish lips
- Gel-to-oil texture never feels sticky
- Buildable tint from sheer to bold
Pros
- Cool pink flatters fair to light skin
- Comfortable enough for all-day wear
- Lips feel softer after removal
Cons
- Tint fades faster than a stain
- Applicator picks up too much product
- Premium price for a lip oil
Best for: No-makeup makeup days that need a hint of nude pink.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil, Hope
- Nude pink tinted lip oil
- Never-sticky gel formula
- Conditions with plant-derived oils
- Doe-foot applicator for easy swipes
Pros
- Nude pink works as an everyday tint
- Layers well over lip liner
- No feathering into lip lines
Cons
- Nude may vanish on deeper lips
- Tube looks small for the price
- Reapply after eating
Best for: Warm complexions after a juicy peach lip tint.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil, Joy
- Muted peach tinted lip oil
- Weightless gel-to-oil texture
- Hydrating oils keep lips supple
- Sheer wash of warm color
Pros
- Peach tone warms up the face
- Feels like nothing on lips
- Pretty alone or over lipstick
Cons
- Warm peach not for cool skin
- Color payoff is deliberately sheer
- Cap threads can get gummy
Best for: A your-lips-but-better rose tint for daily wear.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil, Serenity
- Warm rose tinted lip oil
- Plush doe-foot delivers even tint
- Non-sticky cushion texture
- Botanical oils condition lips
Pros
- Rose shade suits most skin tones
- Comfortable through long days
- Subtle shine without glitter
Cons
- Warm rose deepens on pigmented lips
- Not a long-wear product
- Costs more than drugstore oils
Best for: Deeper skin tones or anyone wanting a richer tint.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil, Delight
- Rose brown tinted lip oil
- Rich yet sheer color payoff
- Gel formula melts into lips
- Nourishing oil blend prevents dryness
Pros
- Rose brown looks modern and chic
- Deeper tint for more impact
- Smooths the look of lip lines
Cons
- Brown tint may overwhelm fair skin
- Transfers onto masks and cups
- Needs blotting to avoid excess shine
Ready to Choose?
See our top product picks for rare beauty lip, or jump straight to the head-to-head comparison of the two most popular options.
Tinted Lip Oil Comfort on Dry Lips
Matte lip products punish dry lips, but tinted lip oils like the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch formula were built for the opposite experience. The oil base keeps lips supple while the tint deposits color, which means flaky lips that would crack under a matte can wear these comfortably. Prep still matters, gently exfoliate with a damp washcloth if lips are peeling, then apply the oil directly, since heavy balm underneath can prevent the tint from gripping. Shades like Joy and Happy show dry patches less than deeper tones, because darker pigments settle into cracks more visibly. If your lips are severely chapped, wear the oil alone for a few days as treatment before expecting full color payoff.
Beating the Center-Fade Ring
The classic tinted lip failure is color that vanishes from the center while clinging to the edges, leaving an obvious ring. Prevent it by applying one thin layer, blotting lightly with a tissue, then applying a second thin layer, since two thin coats bond better than one thick one. Avoid oily foods right after application when possible, since oil is what dissolves the tint film fastest. When fading starts, do not layer fresh tint over the remnants, wipe clean with a damp cloth and reapply, because layering over patchy wear creates the uneven buildup people complain about. Carrying the mini size for midday reapplication solves most of this, and a quick mirror check after meals catches the ring before anyone else does.
Sun Protection Your Lip Oil Does Not Provide
Lips burn easily and almost no lip tints or oils include SPF, which is a genuine gap in the category. If you spend time outdoors, layer a dedicated SPF lip balm under the tint, let it absorb for a few minutes, then apply the color on top. Reapply the SPF layer, not just the tint, every couple of hours in direct sun, since UV breaks down unprotected lip skin the same as anywhere else. Do not assume a glossy finish means sun protection, shine and SPF are unrelated. For shade comparisons across the range, the Rare Beauty lip souffle guide covers the sister formula, and the Rare Beauty lip lineup maps every shade in one place.