TL;DR
Our best overall lip stain pick is the Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Lip and Cheek Tint. It gives off a vibrant wash of color as a lip stain or a blush. For a more affordable pick, consider the Etude House Dear Darling Lip Tint, which stacks up well in comparison to its pricier counterparts.
We love lipstick and lip gloss, but there are certain instances where a swipe of either won’t cut it. When you really want your lip color to stay put, reach for a lip stain. What makes lip tints and stains different from other lip coloring products is the lightweight texture, according to celebrity makeup artist Misha Shahzada. “Lip stains often come in gel and cream forms, which offers longer wear, less application, and doesn’t transfer as easily as lipstick or lip gloss,” she explains.
We conducted hours of research on the best lip tints and stains, considering dozens of formulas. Then, we tested them, taking finish, shade range, and feel into consideration, and tapped an expert makeup artist for her favorites before ranking the best-performing formulas for this list.
Delivers lots of pigment
Doubles as a blush
Buildable
Easy to apply too much
Finish: Natural | Size: 0.20 oz | Shades: 6
Honestly, no list of lip stains would be complete without the lip stain: Benefit’s Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain. The formula’s six hues are game-changing, to say the least, delivering a smudge-proof flush of color (and subtle glow) to the lips and cheeks that will look like you were born wearing it. It’s a favorite of editors, beauty gurus, and pro makeup artists alike, thanks to its super strong color payoff.
During testing, we loved how it amplified the look of our natural lips, giving them a punch of pigment that works for everyday wear as well as fuller glam moments. It is buildable, but we found that we didn’t need more than a swipe or two to achieve the color payoff we wanted. The formula itself is relatively lightweight (but never watery) and serves as a wash of color that sticks onto the lips with minimal transfer, rather than a glossy topper or creamy lipstick that needs to be reapplied. We found that it was easy to apply too much, so take it slow. You may even want to blot the color in with your fingers for more control.Â
Juicy color payoff
Apply it and forget it’s there
Sets nicely
Very runny while applying
Color looks different on the skin
Finish: Natural | Size: 0.3 oz | Shades: 5
Take one look at the Dear Darling Lip Tint, and chances are you’ll be transported to your childhood days of slurping down fruit juice with a slight tint of grape or raspberry left on your lips. While the formula is slightly more viscous—and, obviously, inedible—it has the same effect. We noticed that it had a runny consistency—the texture looked and felt like colored water. But, once it dried down, it altered the color of our lips effortlessly, without any stickiness or feathering. Take your pick between five juice-inspired pigments; just be aware that the color in the bottle isn’t the color that’s deposited onto your lips. We tried the Orange Ade shade, and it appeared more nude-orange in the flesh.Â
Long-lasting formula
Leaves lips super smooth
Super pigmented shades
Harder to remove
Finish: Natural | Size: 0.17 oz | Shades: 8
For a lip stain that’ll stay in place for 10 hours while looking natural and feeling weightless, you’ll want to reach for this pick from Dior. The tinted ink lightly adds a healthy dose of color and lasts through drinking, sweating, and kissing without budging an inch. Upon application, we noticed that the tint has a mild minty scent and goes on fairly watery (not goopy or runny, though!) but settles into the lips nicely without irritation or stickiness. “I’m a big fan of the Dior Addict Lip Tint, as it feels like a very sheer lip gloss but stays on for hours,” says Shahzada. We are, too. The gorgeous palette of fresh and natural shades—including beige, raspberry, vibrant coral, and intense plum—are all wonderfully pigmented and designed to complement all skin tones.
Feels like a nourishing lip balm
Plenty of pretty color options
Creamy and smooth
Multiple swipes needed for noticeable color payoff
Finish: Balmy | Size: 0.06 oz | Shades: 13
Though it has a thin consistency, this creamy lip tint is the perfect cross between a hydrating lip balm and a tinted stain. When we swatched it, we were surprised at how thin it was and how little color initially came off, but once we got more acquainted with the formula, we fell in love with its sheer-buildable wash of color. (You’ll have to swipe a few times to achieve a noticeable color difference.) Also nice: It’s texture is smooth and doesn’t clump.
Great alternative to lip gloss
Not tacky on lips
Lightweight, long-lasting formula
Can be a bit watery
Not ideal in hotter climates
Finish: Glossy, natural | Size: 0.20 oz | Shades: 4
If you’re aiming to find a lip stain that stands in for a lip gloss, you’ll adore this one from Clarins. It’s undoubtedly a fantastic alternative, especially since it has a glossy finish sans stickiness or color fading. During testing, we loved how comfortable this formula felt on the lips, even after a few hours. It’s a great choice for those who don’t love the feeling of lip gloss or don’t like having to continuously reapply lipstick. It can get melty in hotter temperatures, so that’s something to keep in mind if you live in a warmer climate.
Buildable, natural finish
Hydrating
Doubles as a blush
Requires a lot of product for strong color payoff
Finish: Satin | Size: 0.33 oz | Shades: 5
While all lip stains are considered long-lasting, this pick from Charlotte Tilbury outlasts a number of options on this list. What’s more, it’s buildable and applies like a gloss on both the lips and cheeks, leaving behind an effortlessly flushed finish. During testing, we fell in love with its doe-foot applicator that deposits product perfectly onto hard-to-reach areas of the lips, giving every inch a gorgeous satin finish. Another plus: It contains vitamin E and hyaluronic acid for added hydration.
Offers a natural, semi-matte finish
Smoothing and plumping
Outstanding color payoff
Can feel tacky
Finish: Semi-matte | Size: 0.19 oz | Shades: 3
A smoothing and plumping matte lip tint sounds like it could never exist, but this one from Victoria Beckham Beauty proves it’s (somehow) possible. With a natural, highly pigmented color, all you need is one swipe—and maybe a slight touch-up after lunch—to get you through the workday and onto happy hour. It’s unlike anything else we’ve tried, and we owe it to the product’s plumping, blurring, and smoothing capabilities. It can feel tacky on the lips, so that’s something to keep in mind before buying if you’re not a fan of lip products that feel sticky.
Glides on smoothly
Soft on the lips
Comes in colors that flatter all skin tones
Takes a while to set
Finish: Glossy | Size: 0.16 oz | Shades:Â 6
With a formula that applies like a gloss and stays put like a stain, there isn’t much left to be desired from this Flower Beauty pick. Its water-based formula, lightweight gel texture, and long-lasting tint are packed with moisturizing ingredients that feel soft on the lips (never sticky). We found that it builds nicely, so you can layer on as many coats as you’d like to achieve your desired result. The cherry on top: It comes in six shades—in pink and red variations—that look fabulous on all skin tones and natural lip shades. Note: It takes a few minutes to set, so you’ll have to practice patience here.
Versatile and buildable
Enhances the look of natural lip color
Juicy and jelly-like formula
Can be slightly tacky
Finish: Glossy, Natural | Size: 0.17 oz | Shades: 5
With names like Cherry Spritz and Berry Colada, you might not think this stain would look the most natural—but you’d be wrong. It’s the product’s smooth, slick formulation that captured our hearts. It goes on wet—like most of the other products on this list—then dries down to a jelly-like consistency that enhances your lip's natural color. Depending on the color you choose, the lip stain can actually be built up to a more vibrant color payoff, but it’s natural enough for daily wear, too. Our only complaint: It can be somewhat tacky, but this wasn’t a dealbreaker for us.Â
27 shades available
Creamy but weightless
Like pigmented paint, but for lips
Not buildable
Not much room for error
Finish: Matte | Size:Â 0.14 oz | Shades: 27
Paint your lips into works of art with this super-pigmented lip stain from Peripera. The adhesive formula fills in the curves of your lips with a smooth, silky finish and insane color payoff. The thick, viscous texture is just like paint (aka doesn’t feel like a lightweight lip gloss), and it dries down for a weightless, mattified finish. It’s not drying, though; in fact, it’s velvety and creamy. The formula comes in 27 shades—the most expansive shade range on this list—and each really packs a punch. If you’re looking for a vibrant stain that will last despite drinking water, coffee, tea, etc., this is the one for you.Â
It’s important to note that one swipe is all you’ll need. It’s not a bad thing (we love a one-and-done application), but it’s worth mentioning because those with shakier hands or unsteady grips might have a harder time achieving clean, straight lines.
Can be used on lips and cheeks
Matte and transfer-proof
A little goes a long way
Can set too quickly
Finish: Matte | Size: 0.20 oz. | Shades: 5
Matte and transfer-proof, the Huda Beauty Creamy Lip and Cheek Tint formula is as long-wearing as it gets. Each stain contains hyaluronic acid and coconut extract to provide lots of moisture, which is key for nourishing skin throughout the day. Warning: the pigment is very strong when first applied, but you could definitely layer more for a darker finish if you wanted to. We only had to use minimal amounts of product to achieve the tint we wanted, so we can honestly say that one tube will last a while. Similar to the Peripera option, it sets quickly, so it’s great for a swipe on the go. Just beware, since it can set quickly, you’ll want to work fast. Â
Watch Us Test the Best Lip Stains
What to Look for in a Lip Stain
- Finish: While you don’t have as many choices as you would with traditional bullet lipsticks, most stains either have a matte or glossy finish. However, it’s worth noting that the latter will eventually wear off, and the stain left behind will be matte.
- Hydrating ingredients: Like full-coverage liquid lipsticks, lip stains also have the potential to leave the lips feeling dry. Shahzada recommends looking for formulas that have added moisture. “I always suggest a lip tint that contains hyaluronic acid, which helps keep the lips hydrated for longer,” she explains. Alternatively, another great way to avoid dryness and help lock in color is to apply a thin layer of lip balm once the stain dries down.
- Waterproof formula: The whole point of wearing a lip stain is to provide long-lasting color that doesn’t need to be constantly reapplied. While most formulas tend to have longer wear than traditional lipsticks and glosses, we recommend reaching for a waterproof formula to ensure your color will last through just about anything.
Why Trust Byrdie
Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she covers all things beauty and style. She gathered insights and testimonials from our experienced team of editors and in-house lab testers to curate this list of lip stains that grace the lips with beautiful color and last all day (or all night). She also interviewed an expert for her insight on all things lip stains.
- Misha Shahzada, a celebrity makeup artist, based in New York City.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough lip stains from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.