People have been staining their lips for thousands of years, and some of the first cosmetics come from Ancient Mesopotamia! But modern lipsticks are very different from their ancient counterparts, especially regarding price. Most lipsticks are relatively pricey, with an average price of about $20 per tube, but what is the most expensive lipstick in the world?
The most expensive lipstick in the market is the Bond No. 9 Refillable Lipstick With Swarovski Crystals. This single tube of refillable lipstick costs $400. However, the priciest lipstick ever sold was the H. Couture Beauty Diamond Lipstick, which came with mascara. This set cost an astounding $14 million!
If you’re looking to treat your lips to a luxurious experience, you’ll want to check out this ranked listing of the world’s most expensive lipsticks.
Here Are the Top 10 Most Expensive Lipsticks in the World:
- Bond No. 9 Refillable Lipstick With Swarovski Crystals – $400
- Guerlain Limited Edition Rouge G Lucky Bee – $290
- Bond No. 9 Gold – $105
- Christian Louboutin Lip Color – $90
- Serge Lutens L’étoffe Du Mat – $80
- Serge Lutens Notre Dame du Rose – $75
- Hermès Rouge Shiny Limited Edition – $72
- Clé de Peau Beauté Lipstick Cashmere – $65
- Jimmy Choo Lipstick – $65
- Sisley-Paris Le Phyto-Rouge – $63
10. Sisley-Paris Le Phyto-Rouge – $63
Many of the world’s most expensive fashion items and cosmetics come from France. As such, it should come as no surprise that Le Phyto-Rouge lipstick, a Sisley-Paris product, is one of the priciest tubes of lipstick on the planet.
This French lipstick features a uniquely angular body design and a golden tube with wavy, Zebra-like markings. The wedge-like tip allows you to apply the lipstick with increased precision, reducing the likelihood of accidentally getting lipstick stuck to the corners of your lips.
Even better, this delicate lipstick comes in almost two dozen vibrant colors. Still, you’ll need to spend more than $60 to own a tube of this glossy lipstick.
Why It’s Expensive
Le Phyto-Rouge lipstick is expensive because it’s imported and made of high-quality components. For example, this lipstick contains soothing jojoba seed oil and antioxidant-rich Camellia oleifera seed oil.
But top-notch ingredients and importation fees aren’t the only reasons this lipstick is so costly. Brand association also influences the price, as Sisley-Paris is a luxury brand.
If you’d like to own a tube for yourself, you can find this lipstick in luxury department stores like Bergdorf Goodman.
9. Jimmy Choo Lipstick – $65
Jimmy Choo is one of the world’s top fashion designers, which becomes evident when exploring Jimmy Choo products. A single handbag from this designer brand can easily set you back more than $1,500!
Fortunately, Jimmy Choo lipsticks are a little more affordable, with each type costing $65. But that’s still more than double the price for the average high-quality tube of lipstick.
Why It’s Expensive
There are two essential types of Jimmy Choo lipstick— matte and satin. But both kinds are $65 per tube.
These cosmetics feature higher-than-average prices because they’re designer-made lipsticks with the Jimmy Choo monogram and an iconic gold-colored tube. These features turn a simple tube of lipstick into a status symbol, making it a desirable option for the world’s most affluent individuals.
In short, this lipstick is expensive because of its branding.
8. Clé de Peau Beauté Lipstick Cashmere – $65
Though Clé de Peau Beauté might sound like a French brand, it’s actually one of the top Japanese luxury brands. And while this brand offers a wide selection of products, from skincare to cosmetics, a few of its top-selling items are lipsticks.
One of the most popular Clé de Peau Beauté lipsticks is called Lipstick Cashmere. This silky-smooth option is available in several colors, including bright pink (Coquelicot) and dark crimson (Decadent).
Like Jimmy Choo lipsticks, you can expect to spend about $65 to own a tube of Lipstick Cashmere.
Why It’s Expensive
Branding is one of the top reasons this lipstick is pricier than the average option. Though Clé de Peau Beauté was founded in the 1980s, making it one of the least established luxury brands, it’s grown massively over the last several decades, both in product variety and international reputation.
When you buy one of these lipsticks, you’re not only purchasing a cosmetic that can briefly alter your lip color. You’re also buying a luxury item. For this reason, you can expect to spend more when buying a tube of Clé de Peau Beauté lipstick.
7. Hermès Rouge Shiny Limited Edition – $72
Like Versace or Louis Vuitton, Hermès is well-known for its luxury-quality fashion accessories. But this brand doesn’t only produce expensive Birkin bags—they also make some of the world’s most expensive lipstick.
This limited edition lipstick is an excellent example, with a price tag of $72. It adheres to the skin with ease and has a slightly shiny finish, and it also comes in three bright, summer-friendly botanical colors.
But you won’t find any precious metals or expensive jewels on this lipstick’s simple three-tone tube. So, why is it costlier than the average lipstick?
Why It’s Expensive
There are two reasons why this Hermès lipstick is more expensive than other options (including standard Hermès lipsticks).
Firstly, this lipstick features the Hermès brand name. This feature raises the base price of the lipstick by quite a bit, as Hermès is an internationally-recognized luxury brand.
But secondly, this lipstick is a limited edition color released for the 2022 Spring-Summer seasons. So shoppers only have a small window of time to buy it before it’s gone from store shelves.
As a result, this particular shade is relatively rare, a quality that only makes it more valuable.
6. Serge Lutens Notre Dame du Rose – $75
When shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue, there’s a good chance you’ll spot a few Serge Lutens lipsticks on display. This French designer brand produces some of the highest-quality luxury cosmetics, including the Notre Dame du Rose lipstick.
Available in five stunning colors, this lipstick might not look particularly extravagant at first glance. After all, the tube is made of a straightforward black material that doesn’t feature any glitz or glam.
But a single tube of this stuff costs $75, making it one of the priciest lipsticks available.
Why It’s Expensive
Notre Dame du Rose lipstick is more expensive than other types of lipstick because it’s a luxury-grade cosmetic that features a French designer’s name. Several of the most popular luxury department stores carry this lipstick due to its refined reputation and exceptional ingredients.
5. Serge Lutens L’étoffe Du Mat – $80
Though the Serge Lutens Notre Dame du Rose lipstick is a high-quality choice, it’s not the brand’s most expensive lipstick. That honor goes to Serge Lutens L’étoffe Du Mat.
Available in three rose-colored tints, this expensive tube of lipstick is one of the most long-lasting matte options available from this French designer brand.
Why It’s Expensive
Like the previously mentioned Serge Lutens lipstick, L’étoffe Du Mat is primarily expensive because it’s a designer brand lipstick. However, this cosmetic is also long-lasting, which is a feature that makes it slightly pricier than other Serge Lutens lipsticks.
4. Christian Louboutin Lip Color – $90
The Christian Louboutin brand creates some of the most easily recognizable luxury-quality lipsticks. Each tube has a distinct dagger or bullet-like shape that helps make it an identifiable status symbol.
Most Christian Louboutin lipstick also features tube caps with small metal circles, allowing you to wear your lipstick as a pendant necklace. So, while a single tube might cost $90, you’re investing in a product that functions as a cosmetic item and a piece of fine jewelry.
Why It’s Expensive
Few lipsticks double as jewelry, making Christian Louboutin lipsticks pretty unique. But the reason why these cosmetics cost almost $100 per tube goes beyond their multipurpose design.
Packaging and brand reputation also boost the price of these lipsticks. After all, each tube of designer lipstick comes in an opulent-looking box that exudes elegance!
3. Bond No. 9 Gold – $105
Bond No. 9 is one of the most popular luxury brands based in New York City, the most expensive city in the United States. As such, this brand’s lipsticks are often some of the priciest on the planet. This is certainly true of the Bond No. 9 Gold lipstick, which costs about $105.
This affluent-looking lipstick comes in three striking colors, though the burgundy (Queens) and violet (New York Nights) options are some of the most popular. But there’s a good chance you won’t be able to concentrate on the lipstick hue while handling this item, as the gorgeous gold case truly steals the show.
Why It’s Expensive
The primary reason this lipstick is so expensive is that it comes with a golden lipstick tube holder. However, the refillable nature of this model also adds to its value, as users can keep the decadent case and replace the empty tube, thus making this lipstick a long-term investment.
2. Guerlain Limited Edition Rouge G Lucky Bee – $290
When discussing the world’s most expensive lipsticks, it’s crucial to mention Guerlain. After all, this brand is responsible for producing some of the priciest cosmetics ever sold, including a $62,000 tube of lipstick (Guerlain KissKiss Gold and Diamonds Lipstick) created in the early 2000s.
But one of the most expensive Guerlain lipsticks currently available is the Limited Edition Rouge G Lucky Bee. This single tube of lipstick costs $290. Notably, the Guerlain Prestige Edition All-In-One Lipstick also costs $290, resulting in a tied ranking.
Both of these lipsticks feature iconic oval-shaped Guerlain tubes and eye-catching bee emblems. Still, we think the Limited Edition Rouge G Lucky Bee lipstick might be the better investment.
Why It’s Expensive
These French lipsticks feature decadent tubes decorated with rhinestones, handmade embroidery, and precious jewels. They’re also part of the infamous Guerlain brand, a French luxury brand that produces some of the most expensive lipsticks ever sold.
This combination of high-quality materials and brand reputation helps keep these cosmetic prices abnormally high. Still, these Guerlain lipstick prices pale in comparison to Bond No. 9’s costliest lipstick.
1. Bond No. 9 Refillable Lipstick With Swarovski Crystals – $400
The most expensive lipstick is Bond No. 9’s Refillable Lipstick With Swarovski Crystals. Fortunately, these crystals aren’t part of the lipstick. Instead, they adorn the lipstick case, giving it an eye-catching shine that can turn heads.
While these crystals might not be the most expensive crystals in the world, they’re Swarovski, which means they’re high-quality. This lipstick and its sparkling case come in two primary varieties—diamond crystals and ruby crystals.
When it comes to lipstick color, you have plenty of options. After all, this refillable lipstick comes in six striking colors, from a rich red (Nolita) to a bright violet (Astor Place).
But what makes this lipstick so pricey?
Why It’s Expensive
Bond No. 9 is one of the top luxury brands in the United States. Not only does it provide luxury-grade lipsticks, but it also sells some of the world’s most expensive perfumes. The most notable feature connecting this brand’s most expensive products is the presence of Swarovski crystals.
These tiny, diamond-like stones are more expensive than standard glass stones or artificially-produced gems. That’s because creating a single Swarovski crystal is incredibly labor-intensive and time-consuming.
These glittering stones are also more durable than glass jewels, making them less likely to shatter if dropped. This refillable lipstick features a case smothered in rows upon rows of crystals.
So, the materials used to produce this particular lipstick are the primary reason it’s so expensive. However, brand reputation also plays a small part in making this Bond No. 9 lipstick so pricey.
What Is the Most Expensive Lipstick Ever Sold?
The most expensive lipstick ever sold is the H. Couture Beauty Diamond Lipstick and Mascara, released in late 2006. This makeup duo sold for a massive $14 million, valuing each individual item at about $7 million. But why was this lipstick so pricey?
The answer has far more to do with the lipstick’s packaging than the lipstick itself. This lipstick tube is 18-karat gold and is covered in more than a thousand pink diamonds. However, the fortunate few who can purchase this makeup can enjoy a few additional perks.
For example, this lipstick and mascara come with a lifetime of complimentary refills. So, when the lipstick or mascara tubes are empty, you can have them refilled for no charge! If you’re eager to enjoy luscious red lips and thick dark lashes for the rest of your life, this $14 million makeup set could be a wise investment.
Why Are Some Lipsticks So Expensive?
The world’s most expensive lipsticks often feature jeweled containers and tubes. These shimmering canisters are usually made of precious metals and encrusted with luxury-grade gemstones.
Guerlain KissKiss Gold and Diamonds Lipstick is an excellent example. This lipstick cost more than $60,000 per tube, and its price primarily stemmed from the fact that the lipstick container was made of 18-karat gold and contained almost 200 2-carat diamonds!
Still, a bedazzled lipstick tube isn’t the only thing that can make this cosmetic pricey. Lipsticks made of rare ingredients can also fetch high prices.
But apart from packaging and high-quality ingredients, brand reputation might be the most influential factor behind lipstick prices. For example, makeup brands well-known for producing some of the world’s most expensive cosmetics will naturally continue to set high prices on their goods to maintain their reputation.
French designer brands tend to charge the highest prices for cosmetics, though a handful of American designer brands are equally expensive.
What Is the Most Expensive Lipstick in the World?
The most expensive lipstick ever sold was H. Couture Beauty Diamond Lipstick and Mascara. This cosmetic set featured a $14 million price tag. But finding this set today can be challenging.
If you’re looking to buy a luxury-quality lipstick today, you might be better off choosing Bond No. 9 Refillable Lipstick. While this option might not contain diamonds, the tube is covered in sparkling Swarovski crystals. You can even choose between ruby-colored stones and diamond-colored stones!
For more information about the world’s most expensive experiences and items, check out these related articles!