To be or not to be… practical? That is the (ultimate beauty) question. The plight of all makeup wearers has always been the choice between practicality and aesthetics—especially when it comes to lipstick. We’ve adapted, of course. Carrying mini mirrors in our purses, constantly reapplying and blotting, and counting on our friends (the good ones) to tell us if we have any smudges on our teeth. But does it have to be this way? What if we could go out without digging for the right shade of lipstick to replace the coat now smudged on our coffee cup? Enter: the best lip stains that get the job done.
Lip stains are not new, but they’re increasingly becoming the lip product of choice. We’re entering a new age where the best makeup is made to suit our lifestyles, not get in the way of them. From multi-tasking products to trends that celebrate what we actually look like, it was only a matter of time before we swapped out smudgy lipsticks for long-lasting color choices fit for all skin tones.
Featured image from our interview with Cyndi Ramirez by Belathée Photography.
Lip trends are no longer just about the color du jour. The best products prioritize hydrating ingredients and powerful pigments. The matte trend gave us long-wearing products, but the trade-off was dry lips. The enduring glazed lip trend offers hydration, but not the transfer-free pouts that work for our everyday lives. So if you’re seeking products that nourish your lips and last through the day, read on to discover the best lip stains on the market.
The Difference Between Lipsticks and Lip Stains
There used to be just lip balms and lipsticks. Now we’re spoiled by choice. Lipsticks are your classic creamy makeup staple. But now there are also liquid lipsticks, which give you the same coverage without the waxy coating.
So, what sets the lip stains, oils, and tints taking over the beauty sphere apart? Let’s investigate.
- Lip Tints: A sheer color option for a more effortless look.
- Lip Gloss: A sticky gloss coating that gives your lips a shiny surface.
- Lip Oils: An oil-based product with a liquid, glazed finish.
- Lip Stains: A long-lasting liquid that absorbs into the skin.
What makes a lip stain long-lasting?
Unlike other lip products, lip stains don’t just sit on top of your lips. They absorb into your skin to create a long-lasting pigment that doesn’t budge. Since the pigment is not on the surface of your skin, it’s transfer-proof.
Ingredients to Look For in a Lip Stain
The best lip stains are as nourishing as they are pigmented. Look for ingredients that give your skin moisture and lasting hydration, such as:
- Jojoba oil
- Shea butter
- Coconut oil
- Squalane
- Hyaluronic acid
- Beeswax
- Honey
- Aloe vera
- Petroleum jelly
- Avocado
- Vitamin E
How to Apply a Lip Stain
The right lip stain goes—and stays—on smooth. But preparing your pout doesn’t hurt. Some lip stains go on with just one swipe or a couple for more buildable coverage. Others, you have to swipe or peel away.
Whatever type of lip product you choose, proper lip care can boost your lip health:
- Use a lip scrub weekly. To avoid your lip product flaking or sticking to dry patches on your skin, add an exfoliating lip scrub to your routine to give yourself a clean slate.
- Try a nightly lip mask. The best way to hydrate your lips is to drench them with a nightly lip mask. You’ll wake up to hydrated lips, which create a healthy canvas for your daily products.
- Choose your lip balm wisely. Did you know that some lip balms slowly suck the moisture out of your lips? Choose one with hydrating ingredients like natural oils to nourish your lips instead of just applying a synthetic glossy coating.
- Remove with an oil-based cleanser. How you take off your lip stain is just as important as how you put it on. By gently wiping (don’t rub or scrub!) with an oil-based cleanser, you can easily remove pigment without drying out your lips.
The Best Lip Stains for Vibrant Color and Long-Lasting Coverage
Every product is curated with care by our editors and we’ll always give an honest opinion, whether gifted or purchased ourselves. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
FENTY BEAUTY Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain
The hype is real. This squalane-infused lip stain delivers rapid hydration in a bleed-resistant formula. And it’s available in a range of flattering shades for all skin tones. Just wipe off the glossy formula to reveal a soft tint.
Thanks to the liquid matte formula, this lipstick stays put without drying out your lips. An effortless swipe yields a vibrant, velvety finish. This is our top pick for lip stain lovers with a darker complexion.
Practically Permanent Lip Stain Marker
Color in your lips with this ‘permanent’ lip stain marker. The pen-like applicator makes it easy to apply this long-wearing, weightless product that stays in place.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick
This lightweight rouge is a matte finish that won’t dry out your lips. The formula lasts through the day for a deep pigment you can count on.
Yves Saint Laurent NU Lip & Cheek Tint Balm
Hyaluronic acid and shea butter make this luxe lip stain a must-have for an effortlessly natural look.
Benefit Cosmetics Liquid Lip Blush & Cheek Tint
Another multi-tasking product that doubles as a lip stain and blush. This liquid color lasts for hours. It soaks deeply into your skin leaving it looking naturally flushed.
Ere Perez Beetroot Cheek & Lip Tint
A clean beauty favorite, this antioxidant-rich stain provides a hydrating formula made of nourishing beetroot extract.
Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love Lip & Cheek Tint
This non-drying, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E-enriched formula glides onto your lips for a luxe, satiny finish.
This viral favorite is formulated with cherry oil for unique, long-lasting hydration. Get 12 hours of comfortable, hydrated wear in just a few swipes.
This cream lip and cheek stain boasts a combination of buriti oil plus shea and cocoa butter to intensely hydrate while the concentrated pigment washes your skin with color.
Drench your lips with hydration with this water-based treatment that intensely softens with raspberry water and aloe leaf. It also protects the sensitive skin on your lips from environmental stressors with its anti-pollution complex.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint
Layer on this weightless gelée for a buildable flush of color made with hyaluronic acid and squalane. Its flattering formula plumps and smoothes as it hydrates for an overall perfect pout.
Yves Saint Laurent Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain
This vinyl lip stain offers full coverage without the hassle. The water-based stain softens and defines your lips while delivering intense color and smudge-free shine.
This liquefied matte color provides lasting, weightless coverage with a lightweight texture that instantly locks in moisture and color to suit any skin tone or occasion.
Get the longevity of a lip stain with the shine of a gloss with this hydrating, water-based formula that delivers buildable coverage with a high-shine finish. Its antioxidant-rich ingredient list is packed with vitamins that rejuvenate the skin and fight free radicals.
Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Masque
The unique peeling process of this lip stain is a TikTok favorite. Apply 1-2 coats then wipe away to reveal the signature touch-up-free color.
Flower Beauty Bitten Lip Stain
This refreshing, gel lip color moisturizes on application then dries to a long-lasting tint. The gentle pigments apply like a gloss and stay put like a stain.
Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Liquid Lip Stain
This vibrant and colorful lip pigment achieves its bold, vibrant color with photopigments while softening and hydrating lips with shea butter and grapeseed oil.
