Bellas, you LOVED my last collaboration with my favorite Los Angeles makeup artist Nicole Evans. – you guys shared, pinned and tweeted our 25 Best MAC Lipsticks For Women of Color post to the gods! Thank you so much. Via Twitter and in the comments, we kept getting requests for MORE posts like that. More lists of essential, tried and true cosmetics items that beauty insiders swear by. Afrobella is here to deliver!

Most specifically, you guys asked for a DRUGSTORE edition, featuring essential lipsticks for women of color. This proved to be a little more challenging. Nicole can explain why.

“In my experience, the difference between what you’ll find in a drugstore (or even department store) consumer cosmetic line and a professional cosmetic line is that consumer cosmetic lines usually offer less pigment in their product because it’s assumed by these companies that their average consumer doesn’t really want much color. Professional lines usually offer more color in their products.Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules. Matte lipsticks generally pack more color and contain fewer moisturizers and waxes. This list doesn’t necessarily contain all exceptions to the rule, but some really pretty and fun colors.”

So yes, this post includes colors we’ve tried and loved from our neighborhood drugstores. And this drugstore list keeps it purely drugstore, purely lipstick, and purely based on what we’ve actually tried and would recommend – we didn’t include other great, affordable picks like the NYX line that’s available at Ulta, for example. We didn’t include any lipglosses or pencils – that’s a whole ‘nother post. We tried to curate a list including the items we’ve found easily and tried personally, so there’s definitely room for suggestions here. If you’re seeing glaring omissions and brands the people have been sleeping on, please feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments! For now, read, enjoy, shop and SHARE!

30 Essential Lipsticks For Women of Color – Drugstore Edition!

Red:

Neon Red ( Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids)

Hot (CoverGirl LipPerfection)

Cherry Bomb (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Red Velvet (Milani)

Stoplight Red ((Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Orange:

Vibrant Mandarin ( Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids)

Electric Orange ( Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids)

Fiery Veil (L’oreal Colour Riche Caress)

Pink:

Vivid Rose ( Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids)

Cherry Picking (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Stormy Pink (Revlon Superlustrous Matte)

Pinkerbell (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Powderpuff Pink (Cover Girl Queen Collection)

Coral:

Shocking Coral ( Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids)

Purty Persimmon (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Coral-ine (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Siren (Revlon Superlustrous)

Purple:

Brazen Berry ( Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids)

Vamp It Up (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Sugar Plum Fairy (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Ebony Wine (Black Opal True Color Lipstick)

Brandywine (Black Radiance Perfect Tone lipstick). Could NOT find a link where you can buy online, this is the closest match.

Fine Wine (CoverGirl Queen Collection)

Nude:

Just Peachy (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Bare It All (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Sandstorm (Wetn’Wild Megalast Lipcolor)

Smoked Peach (Revlon Superlustrous)

Fig Jam (Revlon Colorburst)

Nude Attitude (CoverGirl Queen Collection)

L’Oreal Infallible in Molten Caramel.

What did I learn when working on this post? I need to give more drugstore brands a try! Also, I really wish some makeup brands (Black Opal, Black Radiance) would have more of an online presence. Here’s hoping the tide turns in that direction soon, they’ve got great products that deserve to be more available to the shopping public!

Did we miss any of your faves? Got any killer recommendations? Tell us in the comments!

Click here to hire Nicole for your makeup needs, and click here to follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Thanks again, Nicole!