The best lip stains take on more forms than you may think. There are glosses, oils, balms, and watery tints—even peel-off pigments and lip liner stains that ensure hours upon hours of wear so you can go about your day touch-up free; snack, sip, kiss, and even sweat without ever reaching for your makeup pouch.
Vogue’s Favorite Lip Stains
Featured in this article
Wear time aside, stains offer a dealer’s choice approach to color payoff. Whether you prefer vibrant pops or a natural-looking flush, there’s a formula for you. Ahead, everything you need to know about using and choosing a lip stain—plus Vogue’s favorite options to shop.
In This Story
- What is a lip stain?
- How long does a lip stain last?
- How To Apply a Lip Stain As Long-Wear Liner
- How do you ensure your lip stain stays on?
- What is the difference between a lip stain and lip tint?
- How to take off lip stains
- Does a lip stain actually stain your lips?
- How We Tested
- Meet The Experts
Best Overall: Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Liquid Lip + Cheek Blush Stain
- Why We Love It: One of the industry’s most acclaimed stains, Benetint is well-loved for good reason. “It’s glowy and stays in place all day without feeling heavy,” celebrity makeup artist Dom Della previously told Vogue. Fellow pro Alexx Mayo refers to it as “tried and true,” whereas fellow makeup artist Sean Harris previously called it “a classic for a reason.” The draw to the formula is its transfer-proof watery texture that delivers an unexpected punch of color on all skin tones—and one that will last throughout the night for smudge-free color. Even supermodel Bella Hadid considers it as a makeup routine staple.
- Editor’s Note: “This is the founding mother of lip (and cheek) stains, known to impart a subtle flush perfect for no-makeup-makeup days. I love pairing it with my favorite lip liner. The water-based formula has a thin, serum texture that can drip easily, so have your brush or finger tips at the ready to blend ASAP.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: N/A
- Finish: Skin-like
- Shades: 9
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Multi-use color for the lip and cheeks | Serum-like texture can make it difficult to deposit color with precision |
Best Lip Liner: Sacheu Lip Liner Stay-N
- Why We Love It: If TikTok led you to this viral lip liner, you’re not alone. We saw it on our FYP so many times, we had to put it to the test, and were hooked on first use. To apply, line your lips with the wand and let the product sit for 10 to 20 minutes (the longer you let it dry, the stronger the color payoff). Once dry, peel off the tint to reveal a liner stain that won’t budge all day long. “I use this lip stain when I do my daily glam and it truly last all day!,” pro makeup artist El DeBratto tells Vogue. “I love the wearing power of this product and how soft of a pigmentation it leaves on the lips. My current favorite color from this collection is ‘muah-ve’ (or try shade ‘noohde’—the hue Billie Eilish is famously known for!).”
- Editor’s Note: “I try to be precise when applying the doe foot applicator, to ensure I only ‘line’ my lips, rather than filling in my whole pout with color. Though I haven’t quite nailed the application (I find the result always looks better for me after I clean it up a bit with an actual lip liner pencil), there’s no arguing that the color lasts all day.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 10
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A celebrity-loved, viral favorite for long-wear lip liner | May need to touch or clean up up your liner with a regular lip pencil |
| A satisfying peel-off application |
Best Lightweight: Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint
- Why We Love It: VB Beauty’s lip tint is so lightweight, you might forget you’re wearing anything at all. The feel is more like a barely there lip balm that, after drying down, leaves behind a subtle flush. “The formula’s balance of hydration and pigment gives lips a healthy, romantic flush that reads beautifully on camera and in person,” says D’amelio Ventre. “It layers seamlessly without patchiness, and is packed with nourishing ingredients like squalane and hyaluronic acid, which help maintain lip comfort.” It’s arguably the most natural color payoff of the bunch, giving that Pride and Prejudice—esque, “I just stained my lips with berries” flush.
- Key Ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, mustard sprout extract, squalane
- Finish: Sheer
- Shades: 4
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Lightweight, comfortable feel | Limited shade range |
| A clean formula with natural color payoff |
Best Wipe-Off: Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Peel Off Masque
- Why We Love It: Wonderskin’s lip stain is the definition of not judging by first impressions. Surely you’ve seen a slew of videos with beauty lovers swiping on this product, leaving behind futuristic colors: bright blues, purples, orange and other galactic hues. But that’s only step one, after 30 seconds of drying, your shade of choice is revealed. “This product is a powerhouse for long-wear bridal makeup (or any special occasion)—it’s budge-proof color that holds through tears, kisses, and champagne toasts,” says D’Amelio Ventre. “The technology behind the peel-off stain allows for deep pigment saturation without layering heavy formulas, which keeps lips looking fresh and natural in flash photography.” Though, she warns lip prep is an essential first step, otherwise this product will cling to dry patches—exfoliate with a lip peel or scrub to ensure flawless wear.
- Editor’s note: “I won’t lie, the initial color of the product threw me off, but I absolutely loved the result. My favorite shade, Whimsical, is a pinky mauve that starts out as electric blue. It’s worth noting that this isn’t a peel off, but rather a wipe off—a wet paper towel and gentle rub does the trick.”—Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Seaweed extract, glycerin, squalane, glucose
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 17
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A viral lip stain, with unbeatable longevity | Like most lip peels, this can get caught on dry patches or lip creases without proper pre-exfoliation |
| Expansive shade range |
Best Matte: Clarins Water Lip Stain
- Why We Love It: You know the feeling of biting into a strawberry and noticing your lips have been dyed the perfect shade of pink? That’s what this lip stain does for you—no fruit required. “I absolutely love this lip stain, because it’s super lightweight and comfy, giving a natural tint that lasts all day while keeping your lips hydrated,” says pro makeup artist Brielle Polara. Despite its matte finish, each of the four available shades are notably moisturizing thanks to ingredients like sanicle, raspberry bush, African ebony, and aloe vera.
- Key Ingredients: Sanicle, raspberry bush, African ebony, nipplewort, furcellaria, aloe vera
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 4
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Buildable and natural color | Not the most long-wearing |
Best K-Beauty: Etude Dear Darling Water Tint
- Why We Love It: For a perfectly stained pout on a budget, this lightweight tint from K-beauty favorite Etude delivers every time. Garnering nearly ten thousand glowing reviews on Amazon, the formula strikes that ideal balance. The hydrating formula starts as a liquid consistency, then dries down as as if you’re wearing nothing at all. Infused with a vitamin and berry fruit complex, it keeps lips soft and supple while maintaining a natural wash of color that lasts for hours. Think of it as the effortless way to achieve that just-bitten, blushed-lip look—fresh, polished, and endlessly wearable.
- Key Ingredients: Berry fruit complex
- Finish: Glossy
- Shades: 5
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Vibrant and long-lasting color payoff | If you’re not careful with application, some users report this pick staining their teeth. |
| Affordable price point |
Best Gloss Finish: Kulfi Lassi Lips Staining Lip Oil
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- Why We Love It: For a glossy lip with color that lasts, look no further than Kulfi’s Lassi Lips. One swipe imparts opaque color with a high shine finish, drying down to a more natural matte after a few hours. While the gloss may fade through wear and tear, the color lasts all day. Mellinger praises its longevity. “Our community loved the lightweight hydration of a lip oil but wanted longer-lasting color,” Kulfi Beauty founder Priyanka Ganjoo previously told Vogue. “Many stains on the market are long wearing but drying, so I imagined a product that could do both—deliver hydration and stain in one.”
- Editor’s Note: “Call it a symptom of growing up with a Bratz doll obsession, but I love a full juicy lip—just without the stickiness of a gloss. Fortunately, this lip oil is non-sticky, comfortalbe, and when the shine fades away, a subtle stain is left behind.”—Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Mango seed oil, coconut oil, vitamin E
- Finish: High shine
- Shades: 6
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Like a lip gloss but better—juicy, glossy finish that leaves behind color | Some report slightly uneven staining—so apply with care |
| Hydrating formula that feels comfortable on lips |
Best Vibrant Color: Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain
- Why We Love It: Say you’re not the subtle type—Fenty Beauty’s Poutsicle is made with you in mind. Rihanna’s take delivers long-lasting, ultra-smooth, and never patchy color (no lipsticks required). Poutsicle is Pollara’s go-to pick for a juicy, high-shine gloss that feels hydrating and plush, then melts into a vivid stain that clings to your lips. But don’t get scared at the word cling—dimethicone, glycerin, and squalene keep the formula hydrating. Even as glossiness fades, color that lasts through coffee runs, cocktails, and everything in between. Just pick your punchy, mood-boosting shade.
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, squalane, glycerin
- Finish: Glossy
- Shades: 6
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| The most vibrant color payoff of the bunch | Not for those who prefer a more natural, or subtle finish |
| Hydrating formula with a glossy finish |
Best Lip Marker: Huda Beauty Lip Contour Stain
- Why We Love It: Huda Beauty’s viral lip stain marker is a staple for long-lasting beauty routines. “This one’s perfect for long days,” says Pollara. "It lasts up to 12 hours and feels smooth with nourishing argan oil as a main ingredient.” DeBratto is a fan too, noting that marker-tip lip stains have incredible ease of application. Just can draw close to your natural lip line or overline for the illusion of a plumper pout. Best of all, it’s totally transfer-proof, so even a big smooch won’t wear away your look.
- Editor’s Note: “I wear some variation of my two favorite neutral shades (Toasty Brown or Soft Nude) almost daily. Make sure you have a Q-tip on deck to blend out as soon as you line your lips because the formula sets fast. Otherwise, the color payoff truly lasts all day—through meals, drinks, and even a beach day. Keep in mind that you have to store the markers upside down so they don’t dry out.”—Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Aloe leaf juice, argan oil, glycerin, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil
- Finish: Soft matte
- Shades: 8
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A transfer proof and fade-proof lip liner that lasts all day | If you forget to store your marker upside down, the product will dry out |
| Precise, marker tip application |
Everything You Need To Know
What is a lip stain?
According to makeup artist Viktorija Bowers, a lip stain is a cosmetic product that absorbs into the skin and temporarily stains your lips—unlike traditional lipstick, which sits on the surface. “It also creates a look that is more blurred and soft, resembling a bitten lip,” she explains.
How long does a lip stain last?
Bowers says that the amount of time a lip stain lasts depends on the brand and product, but some lip stains can last up to eight hours or more. Your chosen shade’s saturation is also a factor. For example, red lip stains tend to last longer, while muted pinks and oranges may fade sooner.
How To Apply a Lip Stain As Long-Wear Liner
DeBratto’s favorite method for lip stains, much like Billie Eilish, is repurposing them as long-wearing lip liner—they walk us through how to nail the perfect application, mess-free.
“When applying a lip stain like a liner, always opt for either a marker (like Palladio’s viral pen) or a peel off stain (like Sacheu or Wonderskin) as opposed to the oil satin counterparts” for a mess-free application. “You can apply lip stains as liner where you would usually apply your lip liner, following the highest points of volume on the lip, from the cupids bow to the base of your bottom lip. Don’t stress about perfect precision either of these stain options, especially with peel off, because they leave a very soft stain behind,” says DeBratto. “For extra longevity and perfecting any spots, you can go over the stain with a lip liner of your choice to really pack that color on more. As the pencil liner fades throughout the day from eating, talking and drinking, the stain underneath will remain intact.”
Say you want even more subtle of an impact on color pay off. In that case, DeBratto recommends putting on your favorite moisturizing lip balm or gloss as a topper on your lip stay, for a further diffused finish.
How do you ensure your lip stain stays on?
The key to a long-lasting lip stain is to ensure your lips are hydrated and well-exfoliated. “I like to use a lip scrub before applying a lip stain," Mellinger says. "Next, I apply a lip treatment while I prep the rest of the makeup. Before applying the stain, I wipe off any remaining lip treatment with a tissue, making sure the lips aren’t too glossy.” For added intensity, you can build the color in layers, dabbing your lips with a tissue between applications to increase the depth of the stain.
What is the difference between a lip stain and lip tint?
According to celebrity makeup artist Kelly Mellinger, a lip tint provides a wash of color that wipes off easily. “Think of a tinted lip balm as emollient—it doesn’t stain your lips and requires reapplication to maintain the color,” she explains. Tints are much lighter than lipsticks. On the other hand, lip stains have more pigment and, while still lightweight, are designed to leave lasting color that isn’t easily wiped off. “You can’t simply remove it with a tissue; you’ll likely need a makeup remover or oil cleanser,” Mellinger adds.
How to Take Off Lip Stains
To remove a lip stain, Bowers suggests using something emollient, like a cleansing balm, but you can use Vaseline in a pinch. She advises: “For extra stubborn stains, you can exfoliate your lips a little,” perhaps with a lip scrub of sorts, “then generously moisturize them” to lock in hydration.
Does a lip stain actually stain your lips?
While you might wish a lip stain lasted forever, that’s the realm of permanent makeup. Mellinger clarifies, “The stain on your lips from a lip stain is temporary and can be easily removed with a makeup remover or oil cleanser.”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—professional makeup artists, many of whom have celebrity clientele— to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to lip stains, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, finish, how long-wearing the formulas are, and color payoff. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula (wearing the lip stains for a full day) with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet The Experts
- Viktorija Bowers is a makeup artist based out of New York City.
- Lauren D’Amelio Ventre is a celebrity makeup artist, beauty educator, and founder of The Art of Enhancement, D’Amelio Cosmetics, and La Ve Da Beauty.
- El DeBratto is a non-binary New York-based editorial makeup artist whose clients include Coco Rocha, Flower Beauty, Kristin Ess, and Glamour Magazine.
- Katie Mellinger is a celebrity makeup artist based in both Los Angeles and New York.
- Brielle Pollara is a professional makeup artist and licensed esthetician based between New York and New Jersey.
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