THE BEST LIP STAINS TO SURVIVE EVERYTHING FROM COFFEE TO KISSES
Whether your partial to a no-make up make up look, mascara and lip gloss or want something that lasts... chances are the best lip stains are currently taking over your social media feed.
Ideal for a quick swipe and go or as part of your ultimate lip combo routine, the best lip stains ensure your pout looks perfect no matter how many cups of coffee (or kisses) you have. But how do you pick the right one for you? AKA, which formulas slip into your repertoire seamlessly and really do last all day? Well, here at Cult Beauty we’re going to get to grips with the 7 best lip stains... so you don't have to.
But before we delve into the best lip stains, let’s understand what they are and how they work.
In This Article
WHAT ARE LIP STAINS
Crafted with either a water or alcohol base, the best lip stains work by depositing specifically formulated pigment directly onto your pout. As the skin on your lips is thinner and more permeable, the pigment penetrates the top layer of your lips instead of sitting on top like a traditional lipstick or gloss. Once absorbed, the stain ‘evaporates’ leaving behind colour which adheres to the dry skin on your lips. Et voila – a finish that is more resistant to eating, drinking and kissing.
HOW TO USE LIP STAINS
Although easy to use, the following steps ensure your lip stain stays in place long after you’ve applied.
1. PREP
Begin by using a lip exfoliator to gently remove the dead skin cells from the surface of your pout. 2.Next, apply a hydrating lip balm and leave it on for a few minutes before blotting away. Lip stains cling onto dry skin and can make your finish look patchy if you don’t properly prep your pout.
10
15.70€
2
22.60€
16
51.98€
3
10.16€
120
15.82€
2. APPLICATION
- Choose your preferred formula- liquid, gel or stick and apply a thin layer of product across your pout. Start at the centre and work outwards. If you want a more natural finish, use your fingers to dab and blend the lip stain.
- Do not eat, drink or apply a gloss for at least 60 seconds to ensure the stain has set.
49
24.86€
86
23.73€
14
42.94€
337
19.70€
3. CUSTOMISE YOUR FINISH
- If you want a deeper sign off, simply reapply another layer of your favourite lip stain until you achieve the finish you want. Remember to let the stain dry down after every application.
Want to have some fun? Why not try a gradient ombre look by applying more pigment in the centre of your pout and then blending and buffing outwards? Or why not try lip contouring with a lip stain instead of a traditional lip liner?
THE BEST LIP STAINS
86
23.73€
Powered by skin-nourishing ingredients such as hydrating hyaluronic acid powder and coconut extract, Huda Beauty’s Creamy Lip Stain offers your pout a natural, radiant finish that looks like your lips... but better. Lightweight, comfortable and non-drying, it offers a soft, satin-matte finish that's totally transfer-proof.
49
24.86€
Line and define your pout without worrying about reapplication with Huda Beauty’s Lip Contour Stain. Cleverly crafted with a dual-ended brush, this innovative formula means you can plump and overline your pout effortlessly without worrying about bleeding, transferring or smudging your perfectly defined kisses. Infused with vitamin E, glycerine, argan and sunflower seed oils, this make up bag must-have ensures a natural, matte sign off without compromising on comfort.
1
15.00€
Lather lips in a pigmented potion with PIXI’s TintFix. A 3-in-1 product you can use on your lips, lids and cheeks, this rosehip, jojoba and raspberry leaf concoction delivers an ever-so-subtle focus that adds a little je ne sais quoi to your face. Ideal for a gentle hint of tint or layered for something less subtle, this ultra-lightweight formula only needs a few dabs and a blend to revive your complexion.
337
19.70€
A list of the best lip stains that doesn’t include the iconic benefit Benetint Rose Tinted Lip & Cheek Stain isn’t a list complete . Adored by MUAs, beauty beginners and seasoned editors alike, this clever combo was first created in 1976 and has seriously stood the test of time. Gliding on skin and drying down instantly, it grants lips and cheeks a healthy-looking sign off that lasts . Oh, and did we mention it’s also infused with botanical fragrance notes like geraniol, linalool and citronellol that emit a gentle rose scent too?
31.64€
Bursting with nourishing blue agave nectar, antioxidant-rich beetroot extract and radiance-boosting rosehip oil, Ere Perez’s Beetroot Cheek & Lip Tint is a hydrating, multi-tasking essential. This lightweight yet long-lasting formula delivers a burst of natural pigment that glides effortlessly onto lips and cheeks, providing a fresh, dewy tint that lasts all day—no need for touch-ups. Moisturising and buildable, it creates a soft, sheer glow that can be layered for a bold, dramatic look within seconds. Designed to care for your skin while enhancing your natural radiance, it’s your go-to for easy, on-the-go beauty.
3
23.73€
Looking for innovation, colour payoff and a feather and bleed-resistant formula? Meet Fenty Beauty’s Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain. Packed with moisture-locking ingredients and a cutting-edge oil-in-water formula, this sheer stain is flooded with hydrating squalene to keep your kisses feeling comfortably soft and conditioned.
3
21.47€
Make your complexion your canvas with 19/99 Beauty’s Water Colour Tints. Crafted with a water-based formula, this fuss-free stain melts into your lips for an opaque, au natural finish that can be layered easily to create editorial looks to rival any Vogue cover shot. Offering a satin finish powered by clever blends of vitamins A, C and E, this MUA-approved formula can be used with your fingers, brushes or even a beauty blender to effortlessly create artistic make up masterpieces.
THE BEST LIP STAINS FAQS
Do lip stains really work?
Yes, some of the best lip stains we’ve discussed really do work because of the way that they are formulated. Unlike traditional lipsticks, lip stains are specifically crafted to adhere to the thinner skin on your lips and deposit pigment that can last anywhere between 4 and 12 hours.
Does a lip stain stay on better than a lipstick?
Yes, lip stains stay on better than lipsticks because they are formulated differently. Lipsticks are emollient and enriched with ingredients like waxes and oils that stay on top of your pout while a stain sinks into the upper most layers of skin – dying them in your chosen hue.
How to make lip stains last all day?
The best way to ensure the best lip stains last all day lays in the prep and the set phases of application. Stains tend to stick to the dry patches on your lips causing the colour to look uneven, so ensuring they’re soft and smooth is ideal. Once you’ve applied your favourite formula, a trick to ensuring the colour stays in place longer is to blot away excess pigment and then lightly dust translucent powder on top.
And there you have it, whether you're powering through your third iced latte or sneaking a kiss mid-brunch, the best lip stains shouldn’t flake, fade, or ghost you by noon. They’re the low-maintenance love affairs your lips deserve. So, grab your favourite mug, swipe on your ideal shade and kiss touch-ups goodbye.
Rina is Cult Beauty’s Midweight SEO Copywriter and has always had a passion for beauty and skin care (rich moisturisers are her obsession). What started as a love for The Body Shop and their famed Born Lippy lip balms (in ‘Watermelon’ of course!), she is now more interested in finding products with proven effectiveness instead of broken promises. A loud and proud VIEVE fan, Rina owns nearly every item of the range and recommends the brand to anyone who will listen... When she’s not intently reading ingredient lists, you can find her either immersed in multiple true crime podcasts or a fantasy romance novel, with an *extra* hot cappuccino in hand.
