There are plenty of occasions when touching up your makeup is simply not an option, nights when you're having far too much fun to check on your face.
This is where the power of a lip stain comes into play.
Unlike a lipstick, a lip stain - or tint, as they are sometimes referred - isn't simply a layer of colour. Instead it works by penetrating the skin to create a lasting pigmented effect.
MORE: The best red lipsticks: Tried, tested & reviewed
© GettyLip stains, usually water or gel-based for easy absorption, are formulated with longevity in mind, carefully designed to not transfer or smudge. A lip product with superior staying power that requires zero additional effort beyond its initial application is the low-maintenance girl's beauty saviour.
How to apply a lip stain
When applying a lip stain, it is key to remember that you will often be afforded far less 'play time' than a traditional lipstick before the formula sets in place.
Ensure you have a steady hand before beginning as mistakes will be difficult to correct. Seek out products with handy doe foot applicators (a spongy wand with a sloped edge) for your best shot at total precision.
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How we chose:
- Performance and personal testimony: The lip stains and tints chosen below are products that I (Hello! Fashion's resident beauty obsessive Orin Carlin) personally really rate.
- Staying power: The products I've highlighted are super flattering and, crucially, will last for several hours.
Best Lip Stains
Water Lip Stain
Clarins
Texture:
Water-like.
Finish:
Matte.
With a lightweight, water-like texture, Clarins has knocked it out of the park with its matte, raspberry-scented lip stains. For a comfortable, enduring hit of colour, I adore the shade 'Red Water'. When the colour eventually does begin to fade it just feels like a more subdued version of the original - still forgiving and not drying at all.
Powermatte Lip Pigment
Nars
Texture:
Liquid, thicker than water.
Finish:
Matte.
Nars never fails to deliver on shade range, and its Powermatte Lip Pigment is a prime example. The selection is diverse, plentiful and characteristically considered - I love 'Bad Guy', a pretty, cool rose. The payoff is so good, that you actually need to be very careful with application otherwise it could end up looking imprecise around the edges. (A lip liner will be worth its weight in gold here.) It takes a while to dry fully, but once it does, the staying power is decent.
Dior Addict Lip Tint
Texture:
Gel-like.
Finish:
Semi-matte.
The Dior Addict Lip Tint is just dreamy. What I personally love is how the pigment isn't super rich, more like a fresh wash of colour. It's not a punchy hit, rather a soft-focus veil, and I'm here for it. '421 Natural Tea', a lovely, brickish pink is my favourite. The inclusion of cherry oil means that it is extremely comfortable to wear, although if you're eating and drinking I'd personally top it up to retain the original shade, otherwise it just looks lovely and hazy.
Glossy Lip Stain
Texture:
Glossy, then becomes more natural.
Finish:
Gloss-to-stain.
Elf is one of the best beauty brands out there for affordable excellence, and its viral Glossy Lip Stain is no exception. The doe-foot applicator isn't especially precise, but I don't feel it really needs to be since the colour payoff is sheer and forgiving. 'Coral Cutie' is lovely for a low-key weekend errand face. It starts out with a glossy texture, and then it moves closer to natural as the hours pass. The formula is comfortable, not unlike a balm, and for six quid, I'm sold.
Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain
Fenty Beauty
Texture:
High-shine gel.
Finish:
Glossy, then fades into a stain.
"This product just hits different," says Rihanna, and I'm inclined to agree. Richly pigmented, the endurance level on Fenty Beauty's Poutsicle is no joke. I'm basically still rocking it a week later. It's glossy at first, then moves into traditional stain territory, but what I also really like is that the buildable formula gives you the freedom to alter it in line with your own tastes.
Tinted Love
Charlotte Tilbury
Texture:
Gel-like.
Finish:
Glossy.
For a comfortable, fresh look no further than Charlotte Tilbury's Tinted Love in the shade 'Petal Pink'. The long-lasting formula starts off glossy but still appears extremely natural, and if I was in a pinch, I would totally wear it on my cheeks for a polished, tonal look.
Bitten Lip Tint
Texture:
Weightless gelée.
Finish:
Sheer natural.
If you've ever been wary of a red lip, let Victoria Beckham's Bitten Lip Tint convert you. The colour is flush-like and very forgiving. 'Je T'Aime' is a pretty, muted raspberry – ideal if you're wanting a bit of brightness but without the self-consciousness that can come with a richer pigment.
Why you should trust me:
Orin Carlin is Hello! Fashion’s SEO Content Writer. Promising to leave no stone unturned in the name of fashion and beauty journalism, she is the proud creator of our ‘Try The Trend’ series. With a particular interest in formula innovation, microtrends, royal and bridal beauty, perfume, rituals, treatments, fashion history and vintage icons, she can either be found interviewing major industry names (previous subjects include Georgia May Jagger, Mary Greenwell and Sam McKnight) or scouring the internet for must-have pieces. It's not just a job; it's a personal quest to unearth noteworthy pieces that resonate with style and beauty enthusiasts.
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