7 Lip Stains To Try for Long-Lasting Color
November 13, 2024
When it comes to long-lasting lip products, it’s hard to compete with a lip stain. Unlike lip glosses and lipsticks—which often have to be reapplied throughout the day to maintain their vibrancy—lip stains are designed to stay put for hours on end. Most formulas literally stain your lips with color (hence the name), delivering durable wear without the risk of smudging, fading, transferring, or feathering. The best long-lasting lip stains can even hold up throughout eating and drinking.
Whether you’re tired of rushing to the bathroom to reapply your favorite lippie or are simply on the hunt for a low-maintenance lip product to round out your minimalist makeup routine, a lip stain can be a great option to consider. Below, shop through seven of our favorite lip stains and learn tips on how to incorporate this stay-put product into your routine.
YSL Beauty Vinyl Cream Lip Stain
If you’re looking for a lip stain that offers high-impact color, impressive staying power, and comfort, YSL Beauty has you covered. This unique lip stain boasts a creamy, full-coverage formula that provides intense color and up to 10 hours of wear, making it one of the longest-lasting lip stains from L'Oréal's portfolio of brands. Plus, the stain’s diamond-shaped applicator allows for seamless lip contouring and one-stroke coverage.
Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Maestro Satin Long-Lasting Lipstick
While this is technically categorized as a lipstick, it wears like a stain, providing up to eight hours of comfortable, hydrating wear. For a stained lip look, apply one to two dots of the high-pigment formula to the center of your lips and blend it out with your fingertips. If you’d prefer a more pigmented finish, use the pointed end of the doe foot applicator to line your lips, then fill them in with the flat end for vibrant, long-lasting color.
Caliray Socal Superbloom Lip and Cheek Tint
Featuring hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vegan squalane, this hydrating lip stain is a great pick for those with dry lips. Per the brand, the non-sticky formula nourishes and conditions while adding a natural, glowy flush of color. And it can be used on the cheeks, too. Choose from four colors, including a versatile brown lip stain for a glowy, bronzed look.
Kulfi Lassi Lips Staining Lip Oil
If you love the look of colorful lip gloss but aren’t prepared for frequent touch-ups to maintain your statement lip, give this lip stain a try. The long-lasting product goes on shiny; as the glossy finish wears, you’ll be left with a pigmented matte stain that lasts all day long, per the brand. The hydrating formula feels comfortable on the lips and comes in a diverse range of shades, from classic pink lip stains to deeper reds, berries, and browns.
L.A. Girl Glossy Tint Lip Stain
This under-$10 lip stain is among our favorite drugstore picks for a long-lasting lip look. According to the brand, the non-drying formula applies like a gloss, fading to a natural-looking stain as the day goes on. If you’re not someone who likes a glossy lip, you can blot it immediately to remove the shiny finish.
Huda Beauty Lip Blush Creamy Lip & Cheek Stain
If you prefer a soft hint of color rather than bold pigment, we suggest giving this lip and cheek stain a try. According to the brand, the lightweight, coconut extract-infused formula is buildable, so you can make your lip look as subtle (or as vibrant) as you choose. It boasts a blurred, satiny matte finish and comes in five versatile shades, including soft nudes, baby pinks, and rich berries.
Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Masque
Whether you’re on the hunt for your perfect red lip stain or want a natural-looking nude you can wear every day, there’s an option for you in this TikTok-loved lineup. The viral lip stain comes in 17 shades, each of which, per the brand, wears for up to 10 hours without transferring. Applying it is a bit different than your traditional lip stain. As the brand explains, you’ll want to swipe on the cobalt-colored masque, let it dry for between 10 and 30 seconds, then wipe the pigment away with a damp towel. You’ll be left with a pretty, pigmented stain—and the longer you let it dry, the more intense the color will be.
How Long Does Lip Stain Last on Lips?
Most lip stains offer long-lasting wear and are designed to stay put for anywhere between eight and 12 hours without fading, smudging, or transferring. In general, red lip stains and other pigmented hues tend to last the longest, while lighter shades will fade more quickly. Ultimately, however, longevity depends upon the product you’ve chosen and how well you’ve prepped your lips (more on that in a moment).
How To Make Lip Stain Last Longer
Although lip stains are known for their staying power, there are some makeup techniques that can help them last even longer. First is proper prep. If you have dry or chapped lips, your lip stain may cling to those dry patches and result in an a patchy color that wears unevenly. To help prevent this, exfoliate your lips with a lip scrub (or a damp washcloth) and apply a nourishing lip balm the night before you plan to use your lip stain. This will help ensure the pigment has a smooth, even canvas to stick to.
Lining your lips can also help extend the wear time of lip makeup. For intense color payoff and longevity, we suggest doing so with a waterproof liner, like the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Lip Liner, which comes in 24 creamy shades that never feel dry or cakey.
Finally, try to avoid applying any lip oils or balms on top of your lip stain unless you’re willing to reapply your stain, as doing so could cause the pigment to fade faster.
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