Lip stains are the lip-wear heroes of the pandemic. Stains last for hours and won’t smear off on your mask, and they’re low maintenance compared to lipsticks that need reapplication throughout the day. Lip stains dry down to a matte finish, but some go on like a balm and pack some serious moisturizing ingredients. Plus, they have a starring role in the blurred lip look that makeup artists are favoring these days.
Here are a few of the best lip stains to get you started.
Dior Dior Addict Lip Tattoo ($30, click here)
Wear this stain alone for a subtle wash of color, or use it as a base layer to make your lipstick or gloss last longer. This tint stains lips and stays put for 10 hours with kiss-proof color.
Revlon Balm Stain ($4.34-$8.81, click here)
This stick goes on like a balm but stays put and reveals a perfect velvety flush of color.
Revlon Kiss Cushion Lip Tint ($6.99, click here)
This tint’s velvety sponge applicator dispenses balm that dries to a blotted lip look. It pairs the staying power of a stain with the comforting feel of a moisturizer—and comes in 10 juicy shades.
ColourPop Ultra Matte Blotted Lip ($7, click here)
The long-wearing matte finish of this stain creates the softly diffused look you want for a just-blotted lip.
Tonymoly Liptone Get It Tint S ($9, click here)
Tonymoly is a Korean creator producing some of the best formulas for long-lasting color. This lightweight stain debuted with an endorsement from the K-pop group Monsta X. The super-pigmented formula dries to a sheer matte finish that won’t budge all day.
If you’re looking for a little more color than a typical stain, opt for one of these liquid lipsticks.
Maybelline New York SuperStay Matte Ink Lip Color, ($9.49, click here)
This stiff and precise arrow applicator delivers a matte stain that lasts for 16 hours. A range of super-saturated shades is available at a price you’ll love.
Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Magnet Liquid Lipstick, ($38, click here)
This gloss dries down to a bright, pigmented semi-matte lipstick with a silky-smooth texture. The cushion applicator makes it easy to achieve the highly sought-after blurred lip look.