Make Your Lip Color Last With the 10 Best Lip Stains, Starting at Just $8 (2024)

TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Finish: Natural | Size: 0.20 oz | Shades: 6

No list of lip stains would be complete without the lip stain: Benefit’s Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain. The formula’s six hues deliver a smudge-proof flush of color (and subtle glow) to the lips and cheeks that will look like you were born wearing it. It’s a favorite of editors, beauty gurus, and pro makeup artists alike, thanks to its super strong color payoff.

We loved how it amplified the look of our natural lips, giving them a punch of pigment that works for everyday wear and fuller glam moments. It is buildable, but we didn’t need more than a swipe or two to achieve the color payoff we wanted. The formula itself is relatively lightweight (but never watery). It creates a wash of color that sticks onto the lips with minimal transfer, rather than a glossy topper or creamy lipstick that needs to be reapplied. It is easy to apply too much, though, so take it slow. You may even want to blot the color in with your fingers for more control.

Finish: Natural | Size: 0.3 oz | Shades: 5

Take one look at the Dear Darling Lip Tint, and you’ll be transported to your childhood days of slurping down fruit juice with a slight tint of grape or raspberry left on your lips. While the formula is slightly more viscous—and, obviously, inedible—it has the same effect.It has a runny consistency—the texture looks and feels like colored water. But, once it dried down, it instantly altered our lips' color effortlessly, without any stickiness or feathering. Take your pick between five juice-inspired pigments; just be aware that the color in the bottle isn’t the color that shows up on your lips. We tried the Orange Ade shade, which appeared more nude-orange in the flesh.

Finish: Natural | Size: 0.17 oz | Shades: 8

Reach for this pick from Dior if you want a lip stain that’ll stay in place for 10 hours while looking natural and feeling weightless. The tinted ink adds a healthy (but still tasteful) dose of color that lasts through drinking, sweating, and kissing without budging an inch. Upon application, the tint has a mild minty scent and goes on fairly watery (not goopy or runny, though!) but settles into the lips nicely without irritation or stickiness.

"I’m a big fan of the Dior Addict Lip Tint, as it feels like a very sheer lip gloss but stays on for hours,” says Shahzada. We are, too. The gorgeous fresh and natural shades—including beige, raspberry, vibrant coral, and intense plum—are all wonderfully pigmented and designed to complement all skin tones.

Finish: Balmy | Size: 0.06 oz | Shades: 13

Though it has a thin consistency, this creamy lip tint is the perfect cross between a hydrating lip balm and a tinted stain. When we swatched it, we were surprised at how thin it was and how little color initially came off, but once we got more acquainted with the formula, we fell in love with its sheer-buildable wash of color. (You’ll have to swipe a few times to achieve a noticeable color difference.) Also nice: Its texture is smooth and doesn’t clump.

Finish: Glossy, natural | Size: 0.20 oz | Shades: 4

If you want a lip stain that stands in for a lip gloss, you’ll adore this one from Clarins. It’s undoubtedly a fantastic alternative, especially since it has a glossy finish sans stickiness or color fading. We loved how comfortable this formula felt on the lips, even after a few hours. It’s a great choice for those who don’t love the feeling of lip gloss or don’t like having to reapply lipstick continuously. It can get melty in hotter temperatures, so that’s something to remember if you live in a warmer climate.

Finish: Semi-matte | Size: 0.19 oz | Shades: 3

A smoothing and plumping matte lip tint sounds like it could never exist, but this one from Victoria Beckham Beauty proves it’s (somehow) possible. With a natural, highly pigmented color, all you need is one swipe—and maybe a slight touch-up after lunch—to get you through the workday and onto happy hour. It’s unlike anything else we’ve tried, and we owe it to the product’s plumping, blurring, and smoothing capabilities. It can feel tacky on the lips, so that’s something to keep in mind if you don't love lip products that can feel sticky.

Finish: Glossy | Size: 0.16 oz | Shades:6

This pick has a formula that applies like a gloss and stays put like a stain, aka, the best of both worlds. Its water-based formula, lightweight gel texture, and long-lasting tint are packed with moisturizing ingredients that feel soft on the lips (never sticky). It builds nicely, so you can layer on as many coats as you want to achieve your desired result. The cherry on top: It comes in six shades—in pink and red variations—that look fabulous on all skin tones and natural lip shades. Note: It takes a few minutes to set, so you must practice patience here.

Finish: Glossy, Natural | Size: 0.17 oz | Shades: 5

With names like Cherry Spritz and Berry Colada, you might not think this stain would look the most natural—but you’d be wrong. It’s the product’s smooth, slick formulation that captured our hearts. Like most of the other products on this list, it goes on wet and dries down to a jelly-like consistency that enhances your lip's natural color. Depending on the color you choose, the lip stain can be built up to a more vibrant color payoff, but it’s natural enough for daily wear, too. Our only complaint: It can be somewhat tacky, but this wasn’t a deal-breaker for us.

Finish: Matte | Size: 0.14 oz | Shades: 27

Paint your lips into works of art with this super-pigmented lip stain from Peripera. The adhesive formula fills in the curves of your lips with a smooth, silky finish and insane color payoff. The thick, viscous texture is like paint (aka doesn’t feel like a lightweight lip gloss) and dries down for a weightless, mattified finish. It’s not drying, though; in fact, it’s velvety and creamy. The formula comes in 27 shades—the most expansive shade range on this list—and each vibrant stain will last despite drinking water, coffee, or tea.

It’s important to note that one swipe is all you’ll need. It’s not a bad thing (we love a one-and-done application), but it’s worth mentioning because those with shakier hands or unsteady grips might have a harder time achieving clean, straight lines.

Finish: Matte | Size: 0.20 oz. | Shades: 5

Matte and transfer-proof, the Huda Beauty Creamy Lip and Cheek Tint formula is as long-wearing as it gets. Each stain contains hyaluronic acid and coconut extract to provide lots of moisture, which is key for nourishing skin throughout the day. Warning: the pigment is very strong when first applied, but you can definitely layer more for a darker finish. We only had to use minimal product to achieve the tint we wanted, so we can honestly say that one tube will last a while. Similar to the Peripera option, it sets quickly, so it’s great for a swipe on the go. But, you’ll want to work fast.

FAQ

• How do you apply lip stains?

  Shahzada says there are no rules for applying a lip stain, although she typically applies it from the applicator or her fingertips.

• How long do lip stains last?

  How long the lip stain will last on your lips depends on the brand of the lip tint and each person’s individual lips (and lip biting/licking habits). It’s worth noting that hydrating formulas tend to last longer than matte options.

• What is the difference between a lip stain and lipstick?

  According to Shahzada, lip stains and lip tints are a cross between a gel and a cream and are meant to have longer wear than traditional lipsticks. “I usually consider them to be a hybrid of both a lipstick and a gloss but with more longevity,” she explains.

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