The Best Lip Stains for Vibrant Color and Long-Lasting Coverage

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: lip stains.

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 for all skin tones.

Featured image of Lani Halliday 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 the dry lips. The recent glazed lip trend offered 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.

cyndi ramirez best lip stains — *Image by Belathée Photography*

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 coating and coverage without the waxy coating.

And then there are lip stains, lip tints, and lip oils taking over the beauty sphere. But what sets them apart from each other? 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 instead of sitting on top of them

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.

makeup products — *Image by Michelle Nash*

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

catt sadler applying lip balm — *Image by Michelle Nash*

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.

Lani Halliday applying lip gloss in mirror — *Image by Belathée Photography*

The Best Lip Stains for Vibrant Color and Long-Lasting Coverage

FENTY BEAUTY Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain

u003cpu003eThe 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.u003c/pu003e

r.e.m. beauty Practically Permanent Lip Stain

u003cpu003eColor 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.u003c/pu003e

L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain

Yves Saint Laurent NU Lip and Cheek Tint

u003cpu003eHyaluronic acid and shea butter make this luxe lip stain a must-have for an effortlessly natural lip and cheek stain.u003c/pu003e

Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Cheek u0026 Lip Stain

u003cpu003eAnother multi-tasking product that doubles as a lip stain and blush. This liquid color lasts for u003cemu003ehoursu003c/emu003e. It soaks deeply into your skin leaving it looking naturally flushed.u003c/pu003e

Ere Perez Beetroot Cheek u0026 Lip Tint

Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love

u003cpu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003eThe non-dryingu003c/spanu003e u003cspan style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003ehyaluronic acid and vitamin E-enriched formula glides onto your lips and gives you a vibrant, satiny finish. u003c/spanu003eu003c/pu003e

Dior Addict Lip Tint

RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek

Clarins Water Lip Stain

u003cpu003eDrench your lips with hydration with this water-based treatment that intensely softens with raspberry water and u003cspan style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003ealoe verau003c/spanu003e. It also protects the sensitive skin on your lips from environmental stressors with its anti-pollution complex.u003c/pu003e

Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Water Glossy Lip Stain

NARS Cosmetics Powermatte Lip Pigment

Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick

u003cpu003eAvocado oilu003cspan style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003e and u003c/spanu003ehyaluronic acidu003cem style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003e u003c/emu003eworku003cem style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003e u003c/emu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003etogether in this velvety, award-winning clean beauty liquid lipstick that acts like a lip stain and stays put for 6-8 hours.u003c/spanu003eu003c/pu003e

Revlon Kiss Cushion Lip Tint

u003cpu003eThis powerful hybrid formula combines the effortlessness of a lip tint and the lasting pigment of a lip stain to achieve that natural, blotted look. The lush balm and pillowy soft cushion applicator create a buildable pigment with a moisturizing finish.u003c/pu003e

ColourPop Twice Shy Lip Stain

u003cpu003eGet the longevity of a lip stain with the shine of a gloss with this hydrating, water-based formula that delivers buildable coverage with a glossy finish. Its antioxidant-rich ingredient list is packed with vitamins that rejuvenate the skin and fight free radicals.u003c/pu003e

Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint

Wonderskin Wonder Blading Peel u0026 Reveal Lip Stain Kit

Flower Beauty Bitten Lip Stain

MERIT Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil

NOTO Botanics Multi-Bene Stick

u003cpu003eThis effortless multi-stick works as a contour, bronzer, and also pigmented stain for the lip, cheek, and eyes. The universally flattering shade imbuesu003cspan style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003e you with a sultry, earthy pink hue.u003c/spanu003eu003c/pu003eu003cpu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003eu003c/spanu003eu003c/pu003e

Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Liquid Lip Stain

u003cpu003eThis vibrant and colorful lip pigment achieves its bold, vibrant color with photopigments while softening and hydrating lips with shea butter and grapeseed oil.u003c/pu003e

Bossy Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick

u003cpu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003eThis liquid lipstick may have a matte finish, but it contains u003c/spanu003evitamin E and vegetal glycerol for its antioxidant and emollient properties, protecting the lipsu003cspan style=u0022font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, u0026quot;Segoe UIu0026quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, u0026quot;Helvetica Neueu0026quot;, sans-serif;u0022u003e u003c/spanu003eagainst the effects of free radicals while also moisturizing for all-day wear.u003c/pu003e

LYS Beauty Speak Love Moisture Matte Lipstick

u003cpu003eChia seed oil conditions while hyaluronic acid infuses lips with intensive, long-lasting hydration. Maxi Lip visibly plumps while the powerful pigment delivers a one-swipe color payoff.u003c/pu003e

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Author

Langa Chinyoka

Makeup02.19.23

Yes, Smudge-Free Lip Stains Do Exist—These Long-Lasting Lip Products Passed the Coffee Cup Test

In this article

The Difference Between Lipsticks and Lip Stains

What makes a lip stain long-lasting?

Ingredients to Look For in a Lip Stain

How to Apply a Lip Stain

The Best Lip Stains for Vibrant Color and Long-Lasting Coverage

Makeup02.19.23

Yes, Smudge-Free Lip Stains Do Exist—These Long-Lasting Lip Products Passed the Coffee Cup Test

In this article

The Difference Between Lipsticks and Lip Stains

What makes a lip stain long-lasting?

Ingredients to Look For in a Lip Stain

How to Apply a Lip Stain

The Best Lip Stains for Vibrant Color and Long-Lasting Coverage

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