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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.
Etude House Dear Darling Water Tint – Best Budget
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.
Best Glossy Finish – Clarins Water Lip Stain
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.
Best Buildable – Flower Beauty Bitten Lip Stain
Finish: Glossy | Size: 0.16 oz | Shades: 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.
Best Multiuse – Kaja Jelly Charm Glazed Lip Stain & Blush
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.