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My first makeup memory just might be dabbing a cherry popsicle on my lips to create a bright, lipstick-like tint. And 20 years later, I’m still chasing that same just-bitten flush. Only now I reach for a long-lasting lip stain instead of a frozen dessert. Lip stains give you that effortless color with just one product—and little to no makeup skills are required to perfect them.
“The pigments in lip stains sink into the skin instead of just sitting on top like a lipstick,” says the makeup artist Dani Kimiko Vincent. That means they won’t smudge or transfer, and they can even double as a lip liner for precise and defined edges.
Below, the Cosmo team tested dozens of lip stains and found the very best ones that will last throughout everything from meals to make-outs. There’s a formula for everyone, whether you want the viral and satisfying experience of peeling a liner off your lips or need a glossy product that’ll last from day to night. Consider yourself covered.
Keep reading for the full breakdown of the best lip stains, plus pro tips on how to choose the perfect formula, and what to look for before you buy.
Lip Stain Masque
One Cosmo editor says: “Wonderskin’s lip stain is basically lip blushing without the needle. Just apply, wait 30 seconds, then wipe it off with a damp cloth to reveal a long-lasting, transfer-proof tint. You can wear it alone or layer it with your favorite gloss, balm, or oil for extra shine and moisture. I was skeptical when I first saw the bright green formula on TikTok, but after one try, I was hooked—it goes on like any regular lip product, and the quick 30-second wait makes it perfect for on-the-go touchups.”—JH
Lip Contour Lip Stain for 12-Hour Wear
One Cosmo editor says: “These lip stains are so damn easy to use, they really have it all: a watery formula that gives a quick, natural stain, a felt tip for precise application, lightweight pigment you can build up for more color, and serious staying power. It’s especially great for a long-lasting lip liner. I just trace my lips like a regular liner, and the color lasts for hours with no peeling or wiping. I keep one in my bag at all times.”—BG
STAY-N Lip Liner
One Cosmo editor says: “This lip stain is completely worthy of its viral status. The tip is precise yet flat, so you can either use it as a true lip liner or a full lip tint. Simply draw it on before you start your makeup, and by the time you’re ready for your lip gloss, just peel it off and you’ll have a long-lasting lip stain. After three meals and countless snacks, my lip color looks just as good as it did 12 hours prior when I use this stain. Since it’s a tint, there’s zero smudging, smearing, or feathering either.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Benetint Liquid Lip Blush & Cheek Tint
One Cosmo editor says: You weren’t cool at my high school unless you had a Benetint in your pencil case. But honestly, we were onto something, because this lip stain still holds up nearly a decade after graduation. I just dab the OG Benetint shade onto my lips with the brush-tip applicator and top it with a gloss—it gives that natural, just-bitten tint that somehow makes my lips look a little warmer and fuller when I overline. One quick swipe and finger blend gives me the perfect sunkissed flush in seconds. Plus, it doubles as a cheek stain, dries down fast, and feels totally weightless, which is a lifesaver for hot days or sweaty nights.”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
LIP NECTAR
One Cosmo editor says: “People always ask me: How do you know you love something as a beauty editor, if you’re testing so much stuff? I recently realized it’s if I start rambling to people IRL how obsessed I am with a product I’ve tested—and that happened this month with these lip stains. They’re my new favorite thing rn. One swipe gives a medium level of opacity, and I love the sheen it leaves on my lips, even as it dries. Best of all, it’s loaded with hydrating ingredients like squalane, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, to keep your lips from chapping as you wear it.”—BG
elf Glossy Lip Stain Berry Queen 0.1 fl oz
One Cosmo editor says: “While typical lip stains just impart a color on the lips, elf did the seemingly impossible and created a hydrating lip stain that also boasts a glassy finish. It goes on just like a typical lip gloss filled with hydration and shine, except the color lasts even longer than the sheen. I don’t need to wear a hydrating lip product on top. I can just apply this and be good for hours! It’s also infused with mango seed butter so it’ll nourish the lips as you wear it.”—JH
Lingerie Lip Liner Stain
One Cosmo editor says: “At first glance, these seem fantastic for creating super precise lines. And they are! But, actually, what I love so much about them is that they’re blendable. I have a few seconds after I draw it on to smudge it onto my lips to create a more cohesive look. It reminds me of an actual lip liner in that way, just longer-lasting with a matte finish. Also, the collection of shades is fantastic. I’ve been testing them all, and there are so many nudes and pinks to choose from for all skin tones.”—BG
Fruity Glass Tint
One Cosmo editor says: “Let’s call a spade a spade: Korean beauty brands invented the lip liner as we know it now. They’ve innovated and redesigned the idea of what lip stains can be—from this matte, watercolor lip look to a long-lasting glossy finish that makes your lips truly look like you were sucking on a popsicle. And Colorgram stands out for me. These are extremely easy to use, affordable, and stay on all day long. The sheen might only last for a few hours, but what’s left behind is also gorgeous and soft.”—BG
Is a lip stain good for your lips?
Lip stains aren’t necessarily good or bad for your lips. Generally, they can be a little bit drying, because the formula is meant to dry down to a matte, natural finish. But most of the lip stains on this list are filled with moisturizers like squalane and hyaluronic acid to help offset some of the dryness to keep your lips soft and smooth. And the glossy stains from elf and NYX are both as hydrating as a typical lip gloss. And if you notice that your lip stain dries out your lips a bit, just top it off with a moisturizer lip balm.
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How to choose the best lip stain:
Consider the shade.
First off, don’t be alarmed if the application of your lip stain is a bit darker or a completely different color than the advertised shade. Sacheu and Wonderskin’s dark stains peel off to deposit a your-lips-but-better tint. And make sure to pick a lip stain color you really like and that’s easy to wear—especially because once it’s on, it’s on. This is where elements like yours skin undertones come into play, and virtual try-ons so you can get an idea of what it will look like IRL. Still not sure? Take a look at your favorite lipsticks, too, and choose similar shades, which brings me to:
Plan your look.
If you want the opaque pigment of a lipstick with the low-maintenance factor of a lip stain, makeup artist Dani Kimiko Vincent suggests pairing your lipstick and stain together. “Sometimes I’ll stain the lip in a similar shade underneath the lipstick, that way you still have some color left when the lipstick wears off,” says Vincent. If that sounds like the perfect middle-ground for you, look for lip stains that most closely resemble your favorite lipsticks, so you can easily layer them for a long-wearing look.
Look at the ingredients.
If you live in a particularly dry climate, dry lips are inevitable, and letting go of your hydrating lip balms even for a day might be unnerving. So keep an eye out for moisturizing ingredients like squalane, coconut oil, etc jojoba oil. And if the one that you absolutely Loven still lacks in moisture, top it with a lip balm or gloss after the top layer of the stain has faded to prevent dryness.
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Meet the experts:
Dani Kimiko Vincent is a celebrity makeup artist and eyebrow technician in Los Angeles, CA, who has worked with celebrities like Sandra Oh. Vincent is also the founder of Kimiko Beautya beauty line specializing in brow products, face makeup, and makeup tools.
Manuel Espinoza is a makeup artist in Los Angeles, CA, who has worked backstage at New York Fashion Week and with brands like Bobbi Brown and spades.
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Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan where she tests all the best makeup products. For this story, she tested dozens of lip stains along with beauty editor Beth Gillette to find the most long-lasting formulas.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has been writing about makeup for more than six years. She tested dozens of lip stains on her own lips, then chatted with experts about their favorite formulas.
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