The Best Lip Stains for Transfer-Proof, Long-Lasting Color

Somewhere between a lipstick and a lip balm, the best lip stains offer sheer-to-buildable (and oftentimes moisturizing) pigment with unmatched staying power. A few of the instances when Vogue editors opt for lip stains instead of other lip products on the market are no-makeup days in the sun when we want a natural flush of color, and busy workdays when we can’t be bothered to continuously reapply our lip treatment. Ahead, take a look at our edit of the best lip stains to sport all summer long.

Vogue’s Favorite Lip Stains

• Best Overall: Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Liquid Lip + Cheek Blush Stain, $24
• Best Matte: Clarins Water Lip Stain, $31
• Best Drugstore: E.L.F. Cosmetics Glossy Lip Stain, $6
• Best Peel Off: Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Peel Off Masque, $22
• Best Lip Liner: Sacheu Lip Liner Stay-N, $12
• Best Hydrating: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain, $28
• Best for Travel: Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint, $33

In This Story

• What is a lip stain?
• How long does a lip stain last?
• How to take off lip stains
• What is the difference between a lip stain and lip tint?
• Does a lip stain actually stain your lips?
• How do you ensure your lip stain stays on?
• 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. The formula delivers a burst of pigment to the lips and cheeks with just a few drops—a little really goes a long way here, so start slow and build to your desired flush. Shade Rose is the most popular, imparting a berry flush suitable for all skin types, though the brand has since introduced three other hues worth considering.
• Finish: Skin-like
• Shades: Four
• Key Ingredients: N/A

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. And 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.
• Finish: Matte
• Shades: Four
• Key Ingredients: Sanicle, raspberry bush, african ebony, nipplewort, furcellaria, aloe vera

Best Drugstore: E.L.F. Cosmetics Glossy Lip Stain

• Why We Love It: While some love a matte lip stain, others may prefer something a bit glossier—which is where this E.L.F. Cosmetics formula comes in. Its staying power puts this in the lip stain category, but the wear is similar to that of a lip gloss. It’s quite pigmented and imparts a sheer yet satin finish. And the fact that it’s only $6 makes us eager to pick up more than one shade. We’d recommend the shade Pinkies Up for a pinkish-mauve, or Cinnamon Dreamz for a chocolate brown.
• Finish: Glossy
• Shades: Eight
• Key Ingredients: Mango seed butter

Best Peel-Off: Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Peel Off Masque

• Why We Love It: One of the many gripes we have with a lot of lip products is that they disappear the moment you eat or drink something. That is not the case with this one from Wonderskin. The brand uses a patented technology that infuses colorants and pigments (safely) into the top layer of your lips. So no matter where the day takes you, you don’t have to worry about constant reapplication.
• Finish: Matte
• Shades: 17
• Key Ingredients: Seaweed extract, glycerin, squalane, glucose

Best Lip Liner: Sacheu Lip Liner Stay-N

• Why We Love It: If TikTok led you to this viral lip liner tattoo, you’re not alone. Proving not to be the stuff of internet legend, this buzzed-about find actually works. To use, line your lips as usual and let the product sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Once dry, peel it off to reveal perfectly lined lips that won’t budge all day long. A pro tip is to exfoliate your lips beforehand for a smooth application.
• Finish: Matte
• Shades: Three
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E

Best Hydrating: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain

• Why We Love It: If you want a lip stain that commands attention, Fenty Beauty’s Poutsicle is the one for you. Powered by an oil-in-water complex with squalene, it’s designed to keep the lips soft and smooth while delivering a gloss to matte tint. Apply it lightly and wipe it off for a barely-there effect, or layer it on to amp up the pigment.
• Finish: Glossy to matte
• Shades: Six
• Key Ingredients: Squalane

Best for Travel: Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint

• Why We Love It: Not only is the Milk Water Jelly Tint tempting enough to bite into (please don’t), but the bouncy texture glides easily onto both the cheeks and the lips. You can either apply it directly or tap it onto a brush for more precision. It’s pretty sheer at first touch, but it’s a buildable formula, so you can really intensify the color if you so choose.
• Finish: Sheer
• Shades: Four
• Key Ingredients: Vegan collagen, aloe, seawater

Best Cream: Huda Beauty Lip Blush Cream Lip & Cheek Stain

• Why We Love It: The versatility of Huda Beauty’s two-in-one stain makes getting ready on the go a breeze. You can use your fingers to tap this creamy stain onto your cheeks and lips for all-day wear, or apply it directly with the applicator. Wherever you place it, you can trust that the natural matte finish won’t transfer.
• Finish: Matte
• Shades: Five
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid powder, coconut extract

Best Luxury: Dior Addict Lip Tint

• Why We Love It: All of Dior’s lip products are staples in our beauty kits, but this semi-matte lip stain definitely ranks high on the list of go-tos. Infused with cherry oil, it leaves a punch on the lips while also being incredibly hydrating. With a slew of flattering shades to choose from, you can go bright and punchy or barely-there nude, depending on the look du jour.
• Finish: Matte
• Shades: 13
• Key Ingredients: Cherry oil

Best Glossy: Etude Dear Darling Water Tint

• Why We Love It: For a perfectly stained pout on a budget, this lightweight tint from K-beauty brand Etude is the answer. Its nonsticky formula stays on for hours and keeps your lips hydrated throughout the day with a vitamin and berry fruit complex.
• Finish: Glossy
• Shades: Five
• Key Ingredients: Berry fruit complex

Best Shade Range: Peripera Ink The Velvet Lip Tint

• Why We Love It: For bold and long-lasting colors, Peripera is the way to go. Priced at under $10, we’d happily stash one in every tote bag we own for a natural, silky finish on demand. It’s designed to fill in the curves of your lips, so application with its soft doe-foot applicator brush is easy and never streaky or patchy.
• Finish: Velvet
• Shades: 10
• Key Ingredients: N/A

Best Lightweight: Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint

• Why We Love It: It’s lightweight and never sticky. You won’t even remember you’re wearing Victoria Beckham Beauty’s lip tint no matter how much you layer on. It won’t dry your lips, thanks to hydrating ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, mustard sprout extract, and squalane, and with five sleek shades to choose from, you’ll be surprised by how many people come up to you and ask how your lips look so naturally flushed.
• Finish: Sheer
• Shades: Five
• Key Ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, mustard sprout extract, squalane

Best Texture: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil Stain

• Why We Love It: Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch formula has become a crowd-favorite for delivering the color of a stain with the comfort of a traditional lip treatment. Jojoba and sunflower seed oils are whipped into a glossy jelly that’s hydrating, and never sticky or drying. Go for shade Hope for a pink-ish nude, or Delight for a fall-forward plum.
• Finish: Natural-to-glossy
• Shades: Eight
• Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, sunflower seed oil

Best Longwear: Kulfi Lassi Lips Staining Lip Oil

• Why We Love It: This is one of those lip stains I keep in my bag at all times because the shade range is superb across all skin tones, and the wear is incredible. Initially, the formula deposits a high shine, but it dries down to a more natural finish after a few hours, though the remaining stain lasts all day. Mellinger agrees, praising its longevity.
• Finish: High shine
• Shades: Six
• Key Ingredients: Mango seed oil, coconut oil, vitamin E

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

• Viktorija Bowers is a makeup artist based out of New York City.
• Katie Mellinger is a celebrity makeup artist based in both Los Angeles and New York.