You love lip color, but, it just doesn’t cut the mustard to use a regular ‘ole lipstick when you need it to last, and we’re talking about long lasting, not just a few hours. We’re talking about making it through breakfast, lunch, and dinner, marathon meetings, and even the gym – all with a flawless pout.

The answer? A lip stain. This long-wearing product is all about keeping your lip looking fresh from sun up till sundown without needing to reapply.

But what’s the deal with these products? And which one is right for your budget and needs? We’re going to cover all of that in this post so you can get straight to a flawless, maintenance-free pout we know you’re after.

Peel Off Lip Stains

Usually, any kind of peeling is frowned upon in the makeup world. From pilling foundation to clumpy mascara, we typically aren’t seeking something out that applies, only to peel off. That is unless you’re in the market for a peel-off lip stain.

Peel-off lip stains are a product that is designed to leave your lips with a lasting stain, even beyond that of a regular lip stain. While individual products vary, most peel-off lip stains are designed to be applied in a thick, almost gloopy layer. This feels a bit like a gelatinous lip mask, especially as it dries.

Once the lip product is dry, you can use either your fingers or the end of a makeup brush to peel the now-dried layer off the top. What’s left behind is a natural wash of color all over your lips. Like a temporary tattoo, this can last anywhere from a few hours or days, depending on how much you apply, how you apply it, as well as what you eat or drink.

A few other things to consider when you’re using peel-off lip stains:

• Not all brands are created equally. Be sure to check the ingredients on products and read reviews from real users before buying to avoid irritating your lips.
• Work quickly. When you have a goopy, thick product like a peel-off lip stain, you need to work with it quickly to ensure an even application, as it will begin to dry quickly, and you will not be able to smooth it over your lips for long.
• Prepare your lips. Exfoliate with a lip scrub and follow it with lip care, like a balm or hydrating treatment. Just be sure to let the balm or treatment absorb into your lips to avoid your peel-off lip stain from sliding around or bleeding during application.

Long Lasting Lip Stain

Long-lasting lip stains are popular because they look great, make your lips look fuller, and last all day long. This means that you don’t have to worry about touching them up throughout the day. The only problem with long-lasting lip stains is that they can be messy and hard to apply properly.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try a long-lasting lip stain. The table below outlines the pros and cons of long lasting lip stains so you can decide whether or not this is a product you’d want to add to your beauty arsenal.

Pros	Cons
Doesn’t need to be reapplied Gives a natural tint to your lips Can be paired with a gloss or worn on its own	Can be drying May apply unevenly Can wear off unevenly, leading to patchiness

With those in mind, there are some things you can do to ensure you get the best results from your long-lasting lip stain.

Follow these simple steps for a flawless long lasting lip stain application:

1. Make sure your lips are thoroughly exfoliated before applying any product.
2. Apply a minimal amount of balm, letting it absorb into your lips for several minutes before moving on to the next step. This will prevent smudging and other problems with adhesion.
3. Starting from the inside of your lips, work quickly, and apply the long-lasting lip stain in even strokes across your lips, finishing with the outsides of your lips.
4. Before the stain dries, take a small, tapered makeup brush or a cotton swab and trace the edges of your lips to remove any overlining or mistakes.
5. Let the lip stain dry fully before topping it with lip gloss or other lip products for the best results.

Red Lip Stain

Red is a classic color for lip stains. It’s a popular choice for special occasions and jazzing up everyday looks, and there’s one for every skin tone. There are so many shades of red lipstick and lip stain available that you can easily find one that works with your look. You don’t have to worry about matching your outfit or makeup because the color will do all the talking!

Some of the most popular red lip stain shade variations include:

• Cherry red
• Natural red
• Brick red
• Orange red
• Vampy red
• Classic red

So no matter what look you’re going for or how you want to spice things up with a red lip stain, there’s an option for you!

Here are some more tips for wearing red lip stains:

Tip	How To
Choose a shade that suits your skin tone	For warm undertones, look for reds with orange or yellow bases. For cool undertones, look for blue or pink-toned reds.
Red is versatile	It pairs well with a variety of eye looks
Don’t forget to prep	Don’t neglect exfoliation, hydration, and moisturizing balms. All these things help ensure smooth application and prevent flaking or cracking in the long run.
Don’t forget to use a lip liner	In order to achieve precise application every time! That way, there won’t be any bleeding outside the lines.
Go minimal and classic on the rest of your makeup	Let the red lip stain shine as the star of your look. It always pairs well with minimal eye makeup, a sleek cat eye, and monochromatic outfits.

7 Best Lip Stains

So what’s the best of the best? Which lip stains are really going to work and go the extra mile for your pout? We’ve got a roundup of our favorite lip stains for you here, so you can find the right one for your look and level up your look – minus all the touch-ups!

Wonderskin Lip Stain

Looking for a versatile lip stain that lasts all day? Check out this option from Wonderskin. This lip stain comes in 13 shades and gives you the option to get a fresh tint (a light flush of natural color) or full color (a brighter, less natural shade), depending on the shade you choose.

This product also allows you to apply in two different ways:

1. Apply a swipe of the product. Wait for it to set for 10 – 30 seconds, then wipe it away with a damp cloth or tissue for a low-maintenance long-wear lip stain.
2. Use it like a peel-off lip stain by applying the accompanying activator mist to seal in color. Then just peel off and reveal a long-lasting stain!

This product has gone viral, sold out on Amazon, and led to a frenzy of similar products being released. And for a good reason! The lip stain lasts for literally hours, and even upwards of 24 hours, and is comfortable and not drying to wear. One caution from reviewers? Do not skip exfoliating your lips; otherwise, your lips will end up looking a little patchier than you’d probably like.

Zohna Rating: 9/10

Clarins Water Lip Stain

Clarins, lauded for its high-quality skincare and makeup products, hits the mark again with its Water Lip Stain. It claims to last up to 300 kisses (though we can’t confirm the science behind that particular claim) and is formulated with Clarins’ anti-pollution complex to protect your lips, and hydrating ingredients to keep lips soft.

Reviewers praise it for its transfer-proof qualities and even application but do mention it has a berry-type fragrance that most find appealing but may not be for everyone.

Zohna Rating: 8/10

Colourpop Lip Stain

Colourpop is a brand that is no stranger to going viral – and for a good reason! Their products are the epitome of affordable and high quality. Their popular lip stain comes in 12 shades and is unique in that this hydrating water-based formula delivers medium to buildable coverage with a non-drying, glossy finish for irresistibly juicy lips.

Reviews mention how easy it is to apply, touch up and how nice it feels on your lips compared to other lip stains. One thing to note – some of the reviewers mentioned having to re-apply at a more frequent interval than other lip stains due to its more hydrating finish.

Zohna Rating: 8.5/10

Sephora Lip Stain

Sephora is known for bringing you all your favorite brands in one place, but don’t sleep on their own in-house brand, the Sephora Collection. And their own lip stain is a great gem in the collection. It seems to be the perfect mix of creamy and matte – and it stays on for hours. With a jaw-dropping 74 shades, including your typical pinks and reds as well as funky forest green and carbon black, you have a ton of options to choose from.

For the price, the reviewers tout the comfortable wear and colorful pigmentation as being top-notch. One thing we saw from the reviewers is that, as punchy as this can be, it does tend to need touch-ups for evenness after eating a meal.

Zohna Rating: 7.5/10

Lip Stain Ulta

While many products and brands are available at Ulta, their own Ulta Beauty Collection is definitely delivering on value and quality. And Ulta’s Weightless Water Lip Stain is a budget-friendly buildable, lightweight lip stain that applies smoothly and does not smudge or transfer.

While there are only a few shades available, making it a more limited option, it is an affordable, long-lasting, and comfortable product worth trying.

Zohna Rating: 9/10

Benefit Lip Stain

Did you know that Benetint was one of Benefit’s first best sellers? This brand has been offering cult-level faves for more than three decades, and Benetint is just one of them. The tint was created for an exotic dancer in the 1970s and inspired a line of other tints for lips and cheeks! Easy to blend and kiss-proof, these lip stains and tints last for hours.

Options include:

• Benetint
• Lovetint
• Chachatint
• Posietint

Zohna Rating: 9.5/10

Buxom Lip Stain

Buxom is a brand known for a wide range of popular, viral lip products, and their Serial Kisser Lip Stain is just one option we love. With the inclusion of hyaluronic acid, the formula is comfortable and moisturizing, which makes it less drying for your lips.

Reviewers mentioned it was so effective as a stain and left such a nice natural flush. It can also work well as a cheek stain. Just beware, once it’s dry, it will stain, so keep that in mind during application.

Zohna Rating: 8/10

5 Best Drugstore Lip Stains

There’s no shortage of great options at the drugstore, but we’ve put together a list of our personal favorites. Each product has its own pros and cons, but they all lead off with one important characteristic – they’re all super affordable!

ELF Lip Stain

For just a few bucks, you can get this lip stain from ELF that offers sheer color and shine in one step. We like the long-wearing formula, and it’s easy to build for more coverage if needed!

Just keep in mind it is a subtle pop of color and is described as having more pigment than a lip balm but less bold than lipstick.

Zohna Rating: 8/10

Revlon Lip Stain

Revlon is known for its wide range of affordable makeup and its quality lip products. This balm-like lip stain offers the look of a stain but with moisture like that found in a traditional lip gloss. Reviewers love it for its comfortable feel that lasts longer than a gloss, all at an affordable price point.

Zohna Rating: 8/10

L’Oreal Lip Stain

This product wears like a stain – it is opaque and pigmented like a matte lipstick, but does not dry out your lips. The applicator gives you control and excellent definition.

Reviewers did note, however, that some shades were not as pigmented as others and needed more layers than one to get it right.

Zohna Rating: 7/10

Maybelline Lip Stain

Looking for a lip stain from the drugstore that will literally last until the next day? This is it! Maybelline has a ton of affordable products, and this one is yet another great find that has the quality to back it up. This long-lasting nude lipstick (up to 16 hours!) features a unique applicator that makes lip application precise and easy.

Zohna Rating: 9.5/10

Wet N’ Wild Lip Stain

Who doesn’t want long-lasting lip color? This innovative formula combines the comfort and shine of a gloss with a stain’s lasting power, using polymers to deliver intense, vibrant color that won’t transfer. Reviewers note the flexibility of the product and how pretty the colors are.

Zohna Rating: 9.5/10

Leave Your Mark with Lip Stains

In the end, what is the best lip stain for you depends on your budget and taste. However, we hope that this article has helped you identify which brands and products are the creams of the crop and which ones you should avoid. That way, you can really leave your mark!