Ulta Beauty Luxe Lipstick Review: Is the $12 Satin Worth It?

Ulta Beauty Luxe Lipstick

The product most people mean is the ULTA Beauty Luxe Lipstick, Ulta’s own-brand creamy bullet. It’s sold only at Ulta, and it’s one of the store’s more affordable lipsticks. Here’s what it is, what to expect, and who it suits.

Quick Verdict

The Luxe Satin Lipstick is a comfortable, creamy, budget-friendly everyday lipstick with a wide shade range. It isn’t long-wear, and some reviewers find it a little drying or stiff. If you want a pretty satin color for the price and don’t mind touching up, it’s a solid pick. If you want hours of wear without reapplying, look elsewhere.

DetailWhat to know
BrandULTA Beauty Collection (sold only at Ulta)
FinishCreamy satin and shimmer finishes
CoverageFull coverage, bold pigment
Size0.14 oz
List price$12.00 (often discounted during sales)
Shade countAbout two dozen; Ulta’s own Q&A refers to 27 wearable shades
Rating at time of writing4.2 out of 5 from 806 reviews; 83% would recommend
StandardsCruelty free; meets Ulta’s “Made Without” clean ingredient standard
PackagingCase made with 30% post-consumer recycled plastic

Pricing, shades, and promotions change often, so confirm them on Ulta’s product page before you buy.

What Is the Ulta Beauty Collection Luxe Satin Lipstick?

It’s a classic bullet lipstick positioned as comfortable and pigmented. Ulta describes the formula as ultra-creamy, with rich color in one swipe. The finishes are satin with a few shimmer shades, not a flat matte.

Searches for “Ulta Luxe lipstick,” “Ulta Beauty lipstick,” and “Ulta Luxe Satin lipstick” all lead to the same product line, so don’t be thrown off by the varied names. Ulta has also sold other lipstick formats, such as a dual-ended lipstick and liner, a liquid lipstick, and a gloss stick, so check that the listing says “Luxe Satin Lipstick” before you add to cart.

The Formula: What’s Inside

Ulta highlights these key ingredients:

  • Castor seed oil: a humectant that helps lips hold onto moisture.
  • Squalane: softens and conditions lips.
  • Shea and murumuru seed butters: rich butters meant to leave lips feeling supple.
  • Hyaluronic acid: helps lips retain moisture and look fuller.

The formula meets Ulta’s “Made Without” list, which limits or prohibits ingredients such as parabens and phthalates. As with any cosmetic, ingredient lists can vary by shade and over time, so read the box if you have allergies. Shade ingredient lists also include mica, iron oxides, and other pigments.

Shade Range: How to Choose Yours

Ulta’s listing includes a long line-up of named shades with codes, including Barely There 300, Berry Currant 301, Cappuccino 302, Cherry Picked 303, Chocolate Kiss 305, déjà vu 308, Dusty Mauve 330, Girl About Town 389, Hard To Love 310, Ladies Night 312, Mischievous 313, More Mauve 371, Plush Pink 314 (formerly Nudely Interrupt), Party Crasher 315, Precious Pink 316, Princess Pink 317, Raisin 318, Red Carpet Red 320, Red Flag 321, Social Status 332, Sugar & Spice 323, Sunday Vibes 388, Tell It All 384, Toasted Almond 383, Valley Girl 325, Vintage Wine 326, and Wine Night 372.

Ulta describes Toasted Almond 383 as a cool brown with a slight gold shimmer. For the rest, the names give hints about the color family, but they aren’t a reliable guide to undertone, so confirm with swatches or try-on before buying.

A Simple Way to Narrow It Down

  • Everyday nudes and soft pinks: start with the names suggesting nude and pink tones, such as Barely There, Plush Pink, and Precious Pink.
  • Dusty rose and mauve: Dusty Mauve, More Mauve, and Mischievous point to the mauve family.
  • Classic reds: Red Carpet Red, Red Flag, and Cherry Picked are the obvious red-leaning picks.
  • Berry and wine shades for fall: Berry Currant, Vintage Wine, Wine Night, and Raisin suggest deeper, moodier colors.
  • Brown and cocoa tones: Chocolate Kiss, Cappuccino, and Toasted Almond fit the brown, 90s-inspired trend.

Use the Try-On Tool

Ulta’s GLAMLab virtual try-on lets you test shades on your own face from the product page. It’s the quickest way to avoid a mismatch, since screen swatches and real life often differ.

Real-World Wear: What Reviewers Say

Across 806 reviews, the pattern is consistent.

What people like

  • Great color selection
  • Even, smooth application
  • Colors that look true to the pictured shade
  • A moisturizing, comfortable feel for many wearers

What people don’t like

  • It wears off easily, especially when eating or drinking
  • Some find it drying
  • A few mention a crayon-like smell or taste
  • A few report clumpy application

The honest takeaway is that this is a comfort-first, short-wear lipstick. One of the most helpful reviews notes that it’s firm for precise application, needs touch-ups, and feels better with a little gloss or balm over it. Another reviewer felt the formula was chalky on their lips and settled into lip lines, which is a reminder that results depend on lip texture and prep.

How to Make It Last Longer and Feel Better

Because wear time is the main complaint, a few simple tricks help a lot:

  1. Exfoliate gently and use a balm first. Smooth, hydrated lips hold color better and look less dry. Let the balm absorb for a minute before applying lipstick.
  2. Line your lips. Ulta itself suggests pairing the lipstick with its Automatic Retractable Lip Liner, listed at $9.50, to help your lip combo last. If you want ideas for neutral and brown shades, our guide to the brown lip liner shows how to pick a liner that blends with your lipstick.
  3. Apply from the center outward. Ulta’s directions say to apply from the center to the outer edges, following your lip contour.
  4. Blot and reapply. Apply one layer, blot with a tissue, then apply a second thin layer.
  5. Touch up after meals. Pop the bullet in your bag; it’s built for convenience.

Ulta Luxe Lipstick vs. Longer-Wearing Options

If your top priority is staying power, a liquid lipstick will usually outlast a creamy satin bullet. For a fuller picture of what a long-wear formula offers, see our Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink review, which covers wear time and comfort in more detail.

If you’d rather have shine and a more lightweight, glossy feel, a lip oil might suit you better. Our look at the Dior lip oil explains how that formula feels compared with a traditional lipstick.

Best Alternatives and Dupes

Here’s how the Luxe Satin Lipstick compares with other lipsticks sold at Ulta, using current Ulta listings:

ProductTypical priceGood for
ULTA Beauty Collection Luxe Satin Lipstick$12Creamy satin color on a budget
NYX Professional Makeup Fat Matte Lipstick$12A matte finish at a similar price
Revlon Super Lustrous LipstickAbout $11 to $12A classic drugstore cream with a huge shade range
MAC M·A·Cximal Sleek Satin Lipstick$25A pricier satin with a bigger shade range
Clinique Almost Lipstick$25A sheer, buildable, skin-like color

If a shade you loved is discontinued, Ulta suggests using its try-on tool to find the closest replacement, since not every old shade has a direct successor.

Is the Ulta Beauty Luxe Lipstick Worth It?

Yes, if you want an affordable, comfortable, wearable color, enjoy variety, and don’t mind reapplying.

Maybe not, if you need all-day wear, have very dry or textured lips, or dislike scented lip products.

The price is the real draw. At $12 list, and often less on sale, it sits well below most prestige lipsticks while still offering a creamy feel and many shades. Ulta also offers a Replenish & Save option that takes 5% off subscription orders, and it has run free-gift promotions with qualifying Ulta Beauty Collection purchases, so check the page for any live offers.

Who Should Buy It

  • Anyone building a lipstick wardrobe on a budget
  • People who like creamy, comfortable formulas
  • Shoppers who want an easy, in-store-or-online option
  • Beginners trying out nudes, pinks, or berry shades

Who Should Skip It

  • Anyone who wants long-wear or transfer-proof color
  • People who are sensitive to fragrance or taste in lip products
  • Anyone with very dry lips who isn’t willing to prep first

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ulta Beauty Luxe lipstick?

It’s the ULTA Beauty Collection Luxe Satin Lipstick, a creamy satin lipstick sold at Ulta in a wide range of shades.

How much does it cost?

The list price is $12.00, and it’s often discounted during Ulta sales. Check the product page for the current price.

How many shades does it come in?

Ulta’s listing shows about two dozen shades, and the brand’s customer answers refer to 27 wearable shades.

Is it a matte lipstick?

No. It’s described as a creamy satin formula with some shimmer finishes.

Does it last all day?

Not for most people. Reviewers frequently mention that it wears off with eating and drinking, so plan to touch up.

Is it drying?

Many reviewers find it moisturizing, while some find it a bit drying. Prepping with a lip balm helps.

Is it cruelty free?

Yes, Ulta lists it as cruelty free and made without a list of restricted ingredients.

Can I try the shades before buying?

Yes. Ulta’s GLAMLab virtual try-on is available from the product page.

What should I wear it with?

A matching lip liner helps with definition and longevity, and a touch of gloss or balm on top adds comfort.

Final Thoughts

The Ulta Beauty Luxe Satin Lipstick delivers what its price promises: a creamy, wearable satin in a broad shade range, with decent pigment and a comfortable feel for many people. Treat it as a short-wear, touch-up-friendly lipstick, prep your lips, and pair it with a liner. Choose your shade with the try-on tool, and you’ll likely find at least one color worth keeping in your bag.

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