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The name says it all: Lip stains boast immovable color. Just think lip blushing but without the permanence. "A lip stain is a unique product that is more long-lasting than a typical lipstick due to its ability to stain the lip instead of just covering it with color," says celebrity makeup artist Courtney Hart. These lip products paint a fresh tinge of pigment on lips and cheeks, leaning into trends like "strawberry makeup." Plus, lip stains require much less maintenance. "You won't need to reapply as frequently as lipstick or [lip] gloss," adds celebrity makeup artist J Guerra. "Even as the color gradually fades, it tends to do so more evenly, avoiding the need for emergency touch-ups!"
Longevity is the hallmark of a lip stain. That means lasting for hours (anywhere from four to 12!) without disappearing altogether. We found the best lip stains that you won't mind sticking around based on recommendations from our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab pros, GH staffers and professional makeup artists.
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A good lip stain typically has a water or gel-like base that allows for easy application, per celebrity makeup artist Elizabeth Seropian. "Ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid can help hydrate the lips while maintaining the stain's longevity," she says. Lip stains typically have a transparent consistency, so it's best to apply them in thin layers to create bolder intensity, adds Guerra. For vibrant color and a smooth finish, allow each layer to dry before applying the next one. Top it off with a lip balm for extra shine and hydration.
Benetint Liquid Lip Blush & Cheek Tint
The Benetint sealed its viral fame on TikTok with a cherry kiss. Its transparent, water-like formula paints a stunning flush of color — that builds up with more swipes — onto lips and cheeks. One GH editor swears by it. For a natural look, she swipes on one coat, lets it sit for a couple of minutes, then wipes it off to lessen some of the intensity. She found that just one coat lasted about six hours. Swiping on a clear gloss added extra hydration and shine.
Glossy Lip Stain
The doe-foot applicator helps precisely swipe on the Colourpop Glossy Lip Stain that also happens to be under $10. Note that it's more creamy than a typical lip stain, offering longwear glossiness. After applying a layer, online reviewers enjoyed blotting it to reveal a shiny, non-drying pigment. It's worth noting, though, that many shoppers complained about the scent.
Vinyl Cream Lip Stain
Yves Saint Laurent completely subverts the belief that lip stains are drying and uncomfortable. Of all those he's tried, Guerra found a staple in the brand's "water-enriched" aloe vera formula. "These shades are beautiful neutrals on deeper skin tones and are highly pigmented, lightweight and luminous," he says.
Calligraphy Lip Stain
Line your lips and fill all in one go: This Stila pen features a unique blade-like tip for precise application. "I love how thin the tip is," raves GH Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. "It makes creating the perfect lip shape much easier." The stain comes in a range of brown and nude shades (plus light and deep shades for different complexions) — a rarity for lip stains. The only con worth noting is that some of the stain can get messy on the inside of the cap.
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Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil
Rare Beauty's lip oil made lip stain believers out of our beauty pros: "I love the innovative texture of this product, something I have not seen in this space before," says GH Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek. We found its gel-like formula left a smooth, lightweight coat of moisture on lips. Once the coat wore away, a nice pigment assumed its position. "It doesn’t bleed, and it stays put where I lay it. I keep reaching for it because it is easy to wear!" Wnek adds. Just note that it has a slightly intense cooling sensation upon application.
Addict Lip Tint
Dior's lip tint strikes a balance between long-lasting semi matte finish and hydration, says Hart. Its cherry oil helps nix the drying feeling that manifests as a cracked texture. "The color range is just as impressive as its wearability," adds Guerra. The Natural Poppy hue stands alone as a stunning pop of color while the Natural Tea gives a mauve-y lip that's reminiscent of '90s makeup trends.
Brilliant Signature Shiny Lip Stain
Get the high shine of gloss without the added layers. In a stroke of brilliance, this formula from L’Oréal feels lightweight with the staying power of a stain, says Hart. It comes in 12 pigmented colors, each at a budget-friendly price. The brand claims its precise applicator helps contain feathering and smearing, a common qualm with lip stains.
Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain
Add a punch of color to your makeup look with Fenty Beauty's vibrant, long-lasting lip stains. The line includes bright fuchsias and deep berries, which pop against olive-y to deep skin tones. After just one application, a GH editor found it left a smooth, highly pigmented stain. Some staffers found it clung to dry patches. Guerra recommends prepping by exfoliating with a lip scrub or gently massaging skin with a soft toothbrush, which removes dry or flaky skin. Afterward, "apply lip balm to keep your lips moisturized until application time," he advises.
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Wonder Blading Peel and Reveal Lip Stain Kit
Making the rounds on TikTok for its innovative design, Wonderskin claims to layer lips with pigments that are then sealed in to prevent feathering, fading or budging. Its purple layer peels off to reveal a water-resistant lip stain that lasts 10 hours, according to the brand. Those who want a bit more variety than a pink pucker can choose from any of its 30 color options.
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