We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. The LA Times editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more

Best Lip Stains That Will Last You All Day

  1. WET N WILD MegaSlicks Lip Stain
  2. New York Color Smooch Proof Lip Stain
  3. Palladio Precision Lip Stain
  4. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain
  5. L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain
  6. Kryolan Tear Stick Art Lip Stain
  7. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar
  8. Benefit Lip & Cheek Stain Travel Size Lip Stain
  9. Stila Trifecta Metallica Lip Stain
  10. Booty Parlor Kissaholic Aphrodisiac Lip Stain
  11. Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain
  12. Pixi Lip Blush
  13. Pop Beauty Stain Stay Lip
  14. Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm
  15. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain
  16. Becca Beach Tint
  17. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar
  18. Black Radiance Moisturizing Lip Stain
  19. Vincent Longo Vincent Longo Lip & Cheek Gel Stain Cupids Breath
  20. theBalm Stainiac Tinted Gel Blush
  21. Garden Botanika Cherry Lip & Cheek Stain
  22. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips & Cheeks
  23. NARS Cosmetics Lip Lacquer
  24. Buyer's Guide

Lip stains are wonderful for women who don’t like the heavy feel of lipstick or the stickiness of a lip gloss. These products leave long-lasting color with a matte finish, and they’re available in gels, brushes, markers, and compacts — and at all price points. Some products incorporate an included gloss or balm for extra moisture, and they can also be layered for a customized level of color. Best of all, lip stains can also be used on the cheeks for a natural flush that stays put.

For more information on what to look at in selecting the best lip stain in 2022, We have listed below the best lip stain available for you to help you decide what product is best to buy.

Detailing the Best Lip Stain of 2022

WET N WILD MegaSlicks Lip Stain - Best Lip Stain Overall

Wet n Wild MegaSlicks Balm Stain is the perfect balance between the saturated color you crave and the rich hydration you need. This glides on like a dream thanks to conditioning palm oil and potent antioxidant acai which keeps lips protected from damaging natural elements as well. Thanks to the inclusion of naturally conditioning active beeswax, this product will stay put on your pucker all day long, maintaining a vibrant and natural look. Choose from twelve diverse shades ranging from nude to deep berry.

New York Color Smooch Proof Lip Stain - Runner Up

One of the best things about NYC Smooch Proof 16HR Lip Stain is the results displayed on the packaging remains true to the color that will show up on your lips. The shades can be layered so you can have your choice of a light pop of color or add on another coat for a deep, bold hue. Enriched with nourishing pro-vitamin B4, this lipstain feels feather light after application and lasts up to 16 hours. Another bonus is this stain is also water-based so you’ll never have to worry about gluey, sticky lips. Shades include peach, nude, various shades of pink, and rich red/berry tones so there’s something for everyone to work with.

Palladio Precision Lip Stain - Honorable Mention

Palladio Lip stain is an amazing lipstain product from six diverse shades which can be mixed to give you a wide range of color options. This product uses a safe, lanolin-based conditioner to keep moisture locked for all-day hydration.  The waterproof formula also features a variety of effective active ingredients which help to ensure this lipstain will never cake or flake on you at the wrong time. If you’re in the mood to try/create a new color, this is the lipstain to reach for since it layers so beautifully.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain - Consider

Revlon Balm Stain is the Allure Magazine’s 2015 “Reader’s Choice” award winning lip stain product. It’s formulated with peppermint and menthol oils which gives your kiss a pop of crisp, icy freshness. There’s also the addition of a paraffin-based wax which locks in natural moisture to provide your lips with long lasting protection. The stain comes with a no-slip grip cap and the tube itself turns up from the bottom so you get the right amount of lipstain every time. If shades of pink/coral make you swoon then these lipstains are sure to be your new favorites. Keep in mind, this is a bold and rich product which wears almost like a lipstick so if you want subtle, this pick might not be for you.

L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain - Best Drugstore Lip Stain

L’Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain is a fun product to use and experiment with. You get six long lasting hours of wear from each of the twelve bright, bold shades tinted with natural mica minerals. The water and glycerin-based formula ensures the proper amount of moisture is retained deep within your pout. It also features an adorable applicator provides you with many ways to apply the shades. For example, you can draw a thin outline with the edge or slick on a quick pop of color with the fat side of the applicator; either way you are in total control of your look. This stain will be the one that gives you the highest amount of shine so if you’re aiming more for a “bitten” look, this may not be your best bet.

Kryolan Tear Stick Art Lip Stain - Best Brush-On Lip Stain

If you want a matte color that will last forever, then look further than Kryolan Lip Stain, one of the most popular lip stain brands used by those who need to look their best on stage. This formula contains a high quantity of beeswax which is great for keeping the product in place while nourishing and moisturizing lips at the same time. This product is also formulated with Dimethicone, a safe and active ingredient used to smooth wrinkles and help reduce inflammation by preventing chapped lips.

Ideal for those who demand high quality and lasting performance for an everyday look, this product is available in twelve diverse shades so you’re sure to find a color to suite your mood and attitude. As a nice bonus, this lip stain shields against the damage of harmful UV with active octyl-ideal, a great alternative for those who hate the heavy feel of SPF compounds.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar - Best Brush-On Lip Stain

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss is hands down one of my favorite beauty products ever. The first thing you’ll notice is the fact a very tiny bit goes a very long way (so consider yourself warned) making this a secret weapon in your beauty arsenal when traveling. Once applied, this lip stain looks like a lip stick as it soaks into the lips instead of just sitting on the surface awaiting continual reapplication.

Available in seven flattering colors, this lip stain is formulated with natural castor and hemp oils which keep lips smooth and protected while vitamin E ensures lips stay moisturized. The lightweight feel and the option to layer this on for a custom look will compliment any look or style. This product needs to be applied with a brush included with your purchase, but a good quality lip brush will also do the job. Feel free to blot before it dries and voila, the perfect pout all day and into the night.

Benefit Lip & Cheek Stain Travel Size Lip Stain - Best Brush-On Lip Stain

If you crave color and want to go with a feminine look, then Benefit Lollitint Cheek & Lip Stain is perfect for all day and night. Lollitint is a vibrant pink shade with a touch of cool making it ideal for skin with bluish undertones. It’s also a great pick for individuals who gravitate toward a cooler fashion/makeup pallet such as silver, blue, black, and jewel tones. The gentle, water-based formula is formulated to last all day as it soaks in deep into lips and cheeks with a gentle flush of mineral-based iron and titanium oxide color. This stay-put product promises to be kiss proof and won’t rub off on clothing either.

Stila Trifecta Metallica Lip Stain - Best Brush-On Lip Stain

The lovely thing about the Stila Passion Fruit Lip & Cheek Stain is it’s truly a double duty product. Cut down on your travel beauty stash and leave your blush at home as this good-for-your-skin product feeds both lips as well as the cheeks. This travel ready stain will pretty your pout and protect your lips/cheeks with the inclusion of nourishing vitamins E and C. These vitamins pair up to deliver rich moisturizing benefits and protection from aging free radicals. The added passion fruit extract adds a triple beauty bonus by offering a pop of color, intoxicating scent, and an indulgent sweet taste.

Booty Parlor Kissaholic Aphrodisiac Lip Stain - Best Brush-On Lip Stain

Booty Parlor Kissaholic Aphrodisiac Lip Stain is a long lasting, water-based formula which strikes the perfect balance between rich bold color and lightweight wear. The ingredients are almost all natural and contain exotic plant extracts like turnera diffusa leaf, liriosma ovate wood, and ginger root extracts. These ingredients are intended spark desire. With this in mind, this fun-to-wear lip stain is ideal for your next date night. Available in three shades that can be applied lightly for a day time look or layered on for a bolder pop of color, making this product a lot of fun to experiment with.

Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain - Best Marker Lip Stain

Josie Maran is known for natural cosmetics (and more) infused with good-for-your-skin argan oil, and this lip stain marker delivers long-lasting color with the benefits of antioxidants. This product avoids the potential for dryness with a tinted plumping balm opposite the marker. The universal shade gives lips a just-bitten look, and you can use the stain all over the lips for all-day color (and layer for more intensity), or just as a liner (topped off with the balm) for a lighter look.

Pixi Lip Blush - Best Marker Lip Stain

If you’re looking for a true matte lip stain (and a budget-friendly price point), look no further than this magic marker. Designed to stay put for up to 8 hours (and it really does), this water-based stain feels weightless on the lips. The color is sheer yet definitely noticeable, and extra layers yield a darker result. For the best outcome, be sure to moisturize lips before applying.

Pop Beauty Stain Stay Lip - Best Marker Lip Stain

Super-lightweight but packed with color, this lip stain marker offers smudge-free color that lasts and lasts. With this lip stain, there’s no chance of color bleeding, but make sure the cap is on tightly so the marker doesn’t dry out. It doesn’t dry out the lips like many other stains, and with a little balm on top, you can enjoy smooth, soft lips that have a healthy flush all day long.

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm - Best Marker Lip Stain

This super-pigmented marker leaves an intense wash of color that’s instantly absorbed — which means it stays put. To prevent the lips from looking and feeling dry, it has a clear balm on the other end (which can also be used on its own). After you apply, you don’t even know it’s there - and the color lasts for hours. It also works well as a base for similarly colored lipstick. The pointed tip makes it easy to apply precisely.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain - Best Marker Lip Stain

This is a great lip stain for those who are looking for more subtle color. The marker makes it easy to apply, and once the color dries, you can’t tell you're wearing anything. This lip stain is best for accentuating your natural lip color, as it doesn’t appear dramatic. It also has a fresh berry scent. However, this isn’t as long-lasting as some other lip stains, so you may have to reapply more often.

Becca Beach Tint - Best Gel Lip Stain

This award-winning lip stain has a cult following for good reason: the creamy, supremely blendable formula offers a long-lasting, water-resistant wash of color. Each one is named after a tropical fruit, and has a delicious corresponding flavor; you’ll have trouble choosing from one of the eight. A little goes a long way for color that lasts - just be sure to shake before squeezing out a dollop of product since it has the potential to separate. Even more, it might become your favorite blush, too.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar - Best Brush-On Lip Stain

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss is hands down one of my favorite beauty products ever. The first thing you’ll notice is the fact a very tiny bit goes a very long way (so consider yourself warned) making this a secret weapon in your beauty arsenal when traveling. Once applied, this lip stain looks like a lip stick as it soaks into the lips instead of just sitting on the surface awaiting continual reapplication.

Available in seven flattering colors, this lip stain is formulated with natural castor and hemp oils which keep lips smooth and protected while vitamin E ensures lips stay moisturized. The lightweight feel and the option to layer this on for a custom look will compliment any look or style. This product needs to be applied with a brush included with your purchase, but a good quality lip brush will also do the job. Feel free to blot before it dries and voila, the perfect pout all day and into the night.

Black Radiance Moisturizing Lip Stain - Best Gel Lip Stain

Offering the longevity of a lip stain with the shine of a gloss, this gel delivers intense color in an easy-to-apply slanted-tip tube. It has the power to last for hours on its own, but the addition of lip liner helps it stay put even longer. The price can’t be beat, and it’s jam-packed with hydrating ingredients that help it go on smooth without feeling heavy or sticky. While the color doesn’t last as long as other stains, the extra moisture makes it worth applying more often.

Vincent Longo Vincent Longo Lip & Cheek Gel Stain Cupids Breath - Best Gel Lip Stain

This waterproof, kiss-proof, extremely long-wearing lip stain is great because it comes in a small tube that’s easy to take on the go. The gel formula makes it easy to dot on before you start to blend. You can use one layer for a natural “just-bitten” look, or multiple layers for more intensity. A great stain for cheeks as well, it comes in three shades to suit every skin tone. Tip: Apply to lips, allow to dry, then apply balm or gloss.

theBalm Stainiac Tinted Gel Blush - Best Gel Lip Stain

This product was designed with ease of application in mind, and the water-based formula gives you more time to blend than most others. The formula is non-drying, but topping it off with balm or gloss keeps lips looking and feeling supple. With three natural shades, there’s a hue for every skin tone, and it’s a little stickier than other stains (but that’s due to the non-drying formula). The result is definitely more natural than drastic, but that’s a good thing for those looking for just a sheer wash of color.

Garden Botanika Cherry Lip & Cheek Stain - Best Pot Lip Stain

Small enough to tuck in your pants pocket, this is a true lip (and cheek) stain albeit with a lot better blendability than other stains on the market. It comes in one shade to give lips a just-bitten look; although it goes on sheer, it can be layered for extra color. It dries to a non-greasy finish, and the color lasts for hours and offers the most natural “no makeup” look.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips & Cheeks - Best Pot Lip Stain

Offering more color options than any other range of lip stains, this multipurpose color is available in hues to suit every complexion and preference. Designed to be blotted on the lips for a light wash of color, it may not last as long as others but it has won many magazine awards. We suggest applying a little balm first to prevent a dry appearance, and the included mirror for on-the-go touch-ups is an added plus. It’s amazing for cheeks as well.

NARS Cosmetics Lip Lacquer - Best Pot Lip Stain

Though technically called a lip gloss, the darker shades of this product leave long-lasting color that can be considered a stain. The “Eros” and “Hot Wired” shades leave the most stain-like finish, and the gloss formulation keeps lips soft and hydrated. Applying with a finger creates a more natural look, and lining with a coordinating pencil and using a brush to fill in has a more made-up, polished result.

Buyer's Guide

Lip stains are products used by women on their lips. Their texture is similar to gel or water. In some products, there are natural plant oils or mineral oil. In addition to this, synthetic dyes or natural ingredients like henna are also present. The long-lasting and smudge-proof effect is the key difference that separates lip stain from lipsticks.

Once you go to the market, you will see lip stains in different forms due to their less viscous formula. Some of the forms are roll-on, marker-like tubes, and gel with a sponge-tip applicator. Planning to buy a lip stain for your use? Below is a guide that will help you out in picking the right product:

What Are Different Types of Lip Stains?

When it comes to lip stains, if you are new to them, you might get confused after watching their wide variety in the market. You will get different shades and products that will make your selection really difficult. Some of the popular types of lip stains are:

Liquid Lip Stains

This is one of the popular types from the list. It is very easy to apply. You just have to swipe along the inner edges of the lip and press the lips a few times to diffuse the color. For a soft and diffused look, you should apply the stain more on your lips and press your lips together a few times.

Stain Sticks

As you can guess by the name, stain sticks are very much convenient to use. They are similar to markers. The texture is creamy and lightweight and has more moisturizing ingredients. This will make your dry lips soft and will last all day long.

Matte Stains

The matte lip trend is very much popular nowadays. You can use matter stains as an alternative for your liquid matte lipsticks. This stain has an incredible light texture, and you will feel that you have applied nothing to your lips. You will not feel your lips as dry, so there is no creasing or cracking. They provide you smooth color and full coverage with a great velvet finish.

What Are The Key Considerations When Buying Stains?

The purchasing decision about the stains can be difficult due to the huge variety available in the market. But with the help of some key considerations in your mind, you can buy the best product:

Shelf Life of Stains

Once you are going to any makeup product, be it lip stains or anything else, you should be aware of their shelf life. If you are mistakenly using the expired product, then this can damage your skin, lips, or another area of the face where you are going to apply the makeup.

Try Them Before Buying

Women get really excited when they see the cosmetics they like the most! However, if you are going to buy lip stains or any other product, you should always check it properly and try it to check the shade or look before you finally buy it.

Select the Right Shade

Not everyone’s face and skin color are the same. You have to be very selective and careful when it comes to shade selection for your lip stains. You should not copy anyone. It is best to get advice from the experts or ask a salesperson to recommend some of the shades that will look good on you.

How To Apply Lip Stain?

To apply the lip stain and to make it last longer, you have to do the following:

Preparation

First, you have to apply lip scrub. Exfoliate your lips with the scrub. Wipe the scrub with a damp towel. You should buff your lips using a soft toothbrush. Gently pat your lips with the help of a soft towel. Lastly, apply a thin coat of lip balm.

Applying the lip stain

Pick the desired lip stain you want to apply. Apply the stain on your bottom lip. After that, you have to pull your lips inward and then pop them. Finally, apply the stain at the top of your lip. Take tissue paper and place it between your lips to get rid of excess lip stain.

Adding shimmer and depth

Pick a light and darker shade of lip stain. Outline the inside of your lips with a bright shade of lip stain. You also need to blend the lip stain shade using a lipstick brush. Moving on, apply the darker shade to the central part of your lip using the lipstick brush. Lastly, add a dab of shimmer on the center of your bottom lip.

What Is the Price For Lip Stains?

Lip stains come with different price tags. It totally depends on the brand you are buying from! To buy lip stains from brands like Sephora, Maybelline, and more, you will have to pay a little extra to get quality lip stains that will provide you the best results. When it comes to the price range, you can buy a lip stain within a price range of $5 to $36 or even more, depending on the brand you are going to buy.

Best Lip Stains FAQs

Do lip stains really work?

Yes, lip stains really work! They get on the outer layer of your skin. They will provide you long-lasting color properties. The reason behind this is that the water inside the stain gets absorbed by the skin and the dyes present in the lip stains provide the color and tint to lips.

For how long a lip stain will last?

A lip stain lasts for 8 to 12 hours. However, if you do a lot of drinking and eating, then you might notice some fading.

Is lip stain better than lipstick?

Lip stains are sheer and provide you better appeal. It acts as a temporary dye for your lip. If you don’t want to get the dense and bold look of liquid lipstick, then lip stain is a great alternative for you to use on a daily basis.

bestcovery team.jpg
Our research team searches out the best of everything so that you can confidently pick the perfect products and services for your needs.
RELATED CONTENT
Go to top