These Top Longwearing Lip Stains Require Zero Touch-Ups
When lip stains first hit the scene about a decade ago, we couldn't get enough of their foolproof marker applicators and long-lasting color. You could paint your pout in the morning and still have pigmented lip color by sunset—no matter how many hours were spent sipping, snacking, or smooching in between.
Then as time went on, matte lipsticks and new products like liquid lipsticks captured our attention and cluttered our Instagram feeds. As our interests moved elsewhere, lip stain formulas just kept getting better. They became more moisturizing, colors became even more pigmented and smudge-proof, and best of all, hybrid lip products emerged, combining our favorite lip treatments and color products in a single tube.
If it's been a minute since you've picked up a new lip stain, it’s time to get reacquainted—because this multitasking lip product is back and better than ever. Here are our top 14 picks for the best lip stains you’ll want to swipe on today.
1. Best Lip Stain for Minimal-Makeup Lovers:
BENEFIT COSMETICS Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain
If you tend to go for a no-makeup-makeup type of look, don't write off lip stain as a beauty product you'll never use. Case in point: this iconic dual-purpose lip and cheek stain that's super subtle. Dab the rose-tinted formula on your lips for a natural touch of color, and then add a bit to your cheeks for a monochromatic flush. Both will last for hours without requiring a touch-up while still looking understated and natural.
2. Best Natural-Looking Lip Stain:
DIOR Dior Addict Lip Tint
Here's a lip stain that's perfect for those times when you want to add a little something extra to your makeup look without taking it too over-the-top. The five weightless shades are designed not to mask your natural lip color, but to beautifully boost it. This formula also dries down just seconds after applying it and is totally transfer-proof.
3. Best Moisturizing Lip Stain:
CLARINS Water Lip Stain
If you tend to be prone to dry lips, lip stains may sometimes be tricky to navigate. Here's a hydration-focused formula that pairs long-wearing color with mega moisturizing benefits, so that you can finally have the best of both worlds. While the gel lip stain delivers a bright pop of color, raspberry water and aloe vera keep your lips super soft and hydrated all day long. No cracked or flaking lips here.
4. Best Lip Stain for Bold Lips:
BITE BEAUTY Outburst Longwear Lip Stain
Ready to dial up the pigment? Here's your chance to go bold for hours on end. This supercharged lip stain combines the saturation and precision of a lipstick with the staying power of a stain. With a super opaque satin-matte finish, it applies and looks just like your favorite bold lipstick except it won't budge, smudge, or transfer. Trust us, this stuff isn't coming off until the makeover remover gets whipped out.
5. Best Glossy Lip Stain:
YSL BEAUTY Water Stain Lip Stain
The majority of lip stains may have matte finishes, but this one veers from the pack. This glossy stain miraculously features the finish of your favorite lip gloss while also providing the vibrant color you want from a stain. It's a high-shine lippie that'll stay looking sharp and all day long–no touch-ups needed.
6. Best Neutral Lip Stain:
MANNA KADAR COSMETICS Lip Locked Stain in Pinot Noir
This soft, neutral pink is the perfect "your lips but better" shade. It's a three-in-one product that acts as a primer, stain, and gloss, and is an ideal companion for everything from weddings to a coffee catchup with a friend. While the highly pigmented formula provides a natural-looking color all day long, vitamin E and antioxidant-rich berry extract keeps your lips nourished and protected so they stay healthy as well.
"Great color performance and doesn't dry my lips out," says one Ipster. Another says, "Works so well! Stays on for a long time, even when eating and drinking."
7. Best Creamy Lip Stain:
THEBALM COSMETICS theBalmJour Creamy Lip Stain in Namaste!
If you're a die-hard cream lipstick fan, this lip formula might finally convince you to give lip stain another try. Similar to the BITE BEAUTY formula, this cream lip stain offers the soft, buttery texture of a classic lipstick, but adds in the longwear capabilities of a stain. It applies just like a gloss, dries down to a stain, and ends up with a finish that falls somewhere in the middle. It's truly the best of all worlds.
"I love this product! It’s so creamy and moisturizing on the lips, so different than the drying lip stains I’m used to," one Ipster writes.
8. Best Lip Stain Pen:
AURORA 24H Lively Lipstain in Sangria
One of the great things about lip stain is that you can finally commit to bold, bright colors without worrying about them fading or smudging throughout the day. One of our favorite vibrant lip stain shades right now is this warm fuchsia from AURORA. It delivers highly pigmented color and a soft matte finish. From your morning coffee to your eight o'clock glass of wine, this full-coverage stain isn't going anywhere.
"Really intense color that LASTS without coming off, even with eating and drinking," says Ipster laurenkn.
9. Best K-Beauty Lip Stain:
PERIPERA Tint Water in Cherry Juice
This lip stain hails from the buzzy Korean makeup brand PERIPERA and it's definitely one of the cutest (and coolest) lip stains we've tried in a while. The beauty of this stain is that it allows for super buildable color. Just feeling like a subtle wash of red on the lips? Apply a quick coat using the doe-foot applicator. In the mood for more of a vibrant pop of cherry red? Go back and reapply until you’ve achieved your desired shade.
"I love everything about it. The feel is nice and light and the color is beautiful and super pigmented," writes Ipster Bansheegator.
10. Best Color Payoff:
TRESLÚCE BEAUTY Bold y Atrevida Lip Tint
Founded by artist, actress, activist, and glam queen Becky G, TRESLÚCE BEAUTY celebrates Latinx culture through vibrant and high-quality makeup, like this lip tint. Take on the day with this award-winning product. The moisturizing formula (thanks to lip balm-like ingredients including hyaluronic acid and glycerin) leaves behind a bold burst of dewy red that’s ultra-comfortable and long-lasting.
11. Best for Dry Lips:
FENTY BEAUTY Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain
One swipe of this nourishing lip stain leaves the prettiest, glossy tint that looks plumping. As the gloss wears throughout the day, you’ll be left with a sheer-to-medium hint of color that will last and last. But unlike other long-wear lippies, this tinted stain won’t dry your lips out thanks to the oil-in-water formula boosted by squalane.
12. Best Drugstore Lip Stain:
FLOWER BEAUTY Bitten Lip Stain
We’re all about beauty on a budget, which is where this drugstore favorite comes in. The water-based lip stain has a unique gel-like texture that dries down to a pigmented tint that won’t feather and feels amazing on your lips.
13. Best Multi-Tasking Lip Stain:
SEPHORA COLLECTION Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick
Don’t get confused at first swipe! This creamy formula goes on more like a liquid lipstick than a lip stain. But rest assured, you’ll get all the full-coverage, transfer-proof, silky application benefits you love from the former with the last-all-day, lightweight finish of the latter.
14. Best Matte Lip Stain:
L’ORÉAL PARIS Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain
Just because it’s considered a lip stain, doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with the finish. Exhibit A: this mattifying lip stain from L’ORÉAL PARIS. It delivers on the no-touch-up-needs of a lip stain in a high-impact color and a matte finish.
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