The 13 best lip stains for long-lasting color, according to makeup artists

As much as we love trying out the new multi-step eyebrow routine or strategically blended cream contour look, effortless and minimal are in — and you won’t catch us complaining. So it’s no surprise that people have been turning to a lip product that epitomizes ease and efficiency: lip stains.

So what is a lip stain exactly? At the most basic level, they’re generally “pigments that really stay on your lips and have longer staying power,” explains celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli. “Other products like glosses and lipsticks can easily transfer and move around,” he adds, “whereas lip stains are really meant to be transfer-proof.”

The texture of a lip stain is also different from that of other lip products, explains celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty. “The texture mimics one’s own lips after applied,” she explains. Whereas lipsticks may have a cream or satin finish, and glosses and lip oils have a shiny finish, that of a lip stain is more subtle. The pigment in a lip stain tints your lips without adding a new texture or layer of product. What you’re left with is “a hint of long-lasting color,” shares Bhatty. Fenty Beauty global makeup artist Priscilla Ono echoes this, adding that because “lip stains typically go on wet and dry down quickly with a more matte finish,” that can “feel very lightweight compared to a gloss or bona fide lipstick.”

As for coverage, lip stains “can be more sheer and buildable like the Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain, or full coverage from the start like Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color — which is like a liquid lipstick-lip stain hybrid,” explains Ono. “It all comes down to a matter of preference in regard to pigment opacity, finish, staying power and application type.”

While lip stains have traditionally had the reputation of being drying, “brands these days are including a range of benefits in their stains so they can also be hydrating and contain skin-savvy ingredients,” shares Scibelli. These moisturizing benefits can make lip stains similar to a lip gloss or lip oil, explains celebrity makeup artist Jose Corella, making them “a really great option for all-day comfort and as a tool to keep your lips hydrated throughout the day.”

What are the benefits of lip stains?

Lip stains are long-wearing and generally transfer-proof, so you don’t need to worry about reapplying constantly throughout the day. “When you apply a lip stain, you can feel confident that it will last you through meals, through drinks, through long convos, a day at the beach — you name it,” shares Ono. “It’s a great option for a busy person who may not want or doesn’t have the time to touch up,” she adds. And once it’s on, “you should be good to go for many hours,” adds Scibelli, who also uses lip stains as a primer for other lip products. That way, even if those other products like glosses fade or transfer, you still have that trusty base layer of color.

When compared to a lipstick or gloss, lip stains are more likely to blend in with your natural lip color, explains Corella, creating a sort of custom shade. This oftentimes subtle wash of color can also allow you to be more adventurous, shares celebrity makeup artist Molly R. Stern. Interested in a hot pink or bold coral shade, but don’t want to commit to a lipstick? Lip stains are a great way to test different shades out, since you can layer the product up to your desired pigmentation.

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