WE love a gloss, but when you need a subtle dash of colour that lasts all day, nothing beats a long-lasting lip stain.
Less intense than a classic lipstick and a bit more natural than a shiny gloss, lip stains are a great middle ground for those who love their makeup looks a little understated.
There's plenty of versatility too. The beauty of a stain is that you can wear it alone for a subtle flush of colour, or use it as a base under your lipstick for an ultra-intense shade.
Thankfully lip stains have come a long way, so you don't have to worry about formulas that really dry out lips or leave minimal coverage.
With so many options on the market, you can take your pick of versions that offer no-smudging, serious hydration and a wide array of gorgeous neutral colours to suit all complexions.
You can also boost hydration or SPF coverage with an initial layer of lip balm before applying.
Below we've picked out some of the best lip stains worth picking up right now that will leave your lips looking luscious and lickable.
Best lip stains 2022
1.WONDER BLADING Peel & Reveal Lip Stain Kit
This award-winning vegan lip stain formula from Wonderskin has some serious staying power, and is ideal for those who can't be bothered with touch ups throughout the day.
The lab perfected stain reacts with your own lips to give you the perfect hue. You just apply the stain and let it set, then mist with an activator.
A few seconds later you can peel off the top layer to reveal the unique colour that won’t budge all day. Genius.
The kit features a range of neutral and bold colour shades (we're loving XOXO, a light rose hue, and Divine, a burgundy red that has universal appeal).
- Wonder Blading Peel & Reveal Lip Stain Kit, £30 from Wonderskin – buy here
2. Benefit GoGo Tint
Looking for a popping pink that stays put all day long? You should reach for the OG favourite, Benefit GoGo Tint.
The pink-red shade is a no-fade, no-smudge stain that adds a fresh flush to your lips.
Not only that, you can also rub it into your cheeks to complete your look with a few easy swipes.
We love a hardworking product that doubles up for lips and cheeks and this shade is ideal for both.
- Benefit GoGo Tint, £25.50 from Lookfantastic – buy here
3. Dior Addict Lip Tattoo
This stain is perfect for that lightweight, no-makeup feel.
The long-lasting stain provides an intense pop of colour by working to enhance the natural tone of your lips.
Softening agents work to deliver a smooth finish that is comfortable to wear and won't rub off and leave marks on your coffee cup.
The handy doe foot applicator also helps you create a seamless and perfectly contoured finish.
- Dior Addict Lip Tattoo lip tint, £29.50 from Selfridges – buy here
4. Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain
Got dry lips? Look no further than Rihanna’s new Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain.
The unique formula uses an oil in water technology to lock in serious moisture, leaving your lips nice and juicy all day.
The conditioning formula which has already gone viral since it was released, will keep your lips soft and smooth.
Plus there are a variety of vibrant shades to choose from.
We cannot get enough off the Strawberry Sangria red shade, which can be layered up for a sheer to medium finish depending on your preference.
- Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain, £17 from Fenty Beauty – buy here
5. NARS Cosmetics Powermatte Lip Pigment
Nars is a makeup artist and beauty influencer favourite, and for good reason.
The premium beauty brand knows how to deliver great products that really work, evident in the gorgeous range of Powermatte lip pigments.
The creamy and lightweight formula glides onto lips, with the Fluid Pigment Complex offering a ‘zero gravity’ feel that means you'll forget you even have it on.
The kiss-proof stain leaves a bold wash of colour that sets comfortably for easy wearing all day.
- NARS Cosmetics Powermatte Lip Pigment, £24 from Lookfantastic – buy here
6. Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love
Fans of Charlotte Tilbury’s lipsticks will instantly fall for the charms of her Tinted Love lip stain.
The seriously hydrating formula includes Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E to keep your lips soft and supple.
The transfer proof stain is lightweight and very buildable depending on how bold you are brave enough to go.
It comes in a range of natural shades, from rose to poppy red, which can also all be worn on the cheeks too for a natural flush.
It’s a great multi-use product for anyone looking to downsize their makeup bag.
- Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love, £25 from Charlotte Tilbury – buy here
7. e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain
Budget beauty fans can sing the praises of this e.l.f stain.
Not only is it affordable, it also provides a long-lasting gloss to stain coverage.
The sheer colour won’t dry out your lips out, and it leaves a subtle sheen for the perfect pout.
There are eight shades in the range, which cover all bases, from Spicy Sienna – a deep brown, to a classic nude beige.
- e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain, £6 from Boots – buy here
8. Blush Divine Radiant Lip & Cheek Colour
If you are looking for that bitten colour finish from your stain, this Rose Inc version from none other than Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is just the ticket.
The two in one lip and cheek formula literally melts into your lips (or face) for a barely there, my-face-but-better finish.
The pigment rich formula boasts plenty of hydrating skincare ingredients (Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E and Squalane) to make this an ideal fuss-free, lightweight and long-wearing stain.
Rosie states: "I love to apply it on my lips for a monochromatic look." And we have to agreeif you want to pull off a polished but understated finish.
- Blush Divine Radiant Lip & Cheek Colour, £23 from Space NK – buy here
Read more:
- Best lip gloss
- Best lip scrubs
- Best lip plumpers
What is the most long-lasting lip stain?
If you hate having to constantly reapply your stain, there are plenty of makeup brands out there that offer long-wearing, smudge-proof lip stain formulas.
Because of the highly pigmented features of a good stain, the colour should remain intact throughout the day, meaning less touch ups.
NARS Cosmetics Powermatte Lip Pigment is ideal for those who like strong colour shades that feel lightweight.
If you suffer from dryer lips and want a hydrating formula that has staying power opting for something like the Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love is a good idea.
Adding a base layer of lip balm can also be a great trick to keeping lips conditioned and prime for a great wash of colour from a pigmented stain too.
Is lip stain better than lipstick?
There are pros and cons to choosing a lip stain over a lipstick. But it honestly depends on what you are looking for.
Lip stains tend to be highly pigmented and offer more of a natural, bitten finish.
But they can sometimes be harder to remove at the end of the day.
Previously stains were thought to be more drying, but modern formulas now contain plenty of hydrating ingredients such as vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid.
In contrast, lipsticks can come in a variety of finishes, with some offering very opaque colour.
Lipsticks tend to need more touch ups than a stain or a tint, and transfer more easily.
More beauty roundups
TAKE A BROW 
Best eyebrow kits 2022 to shape, define and fill your brows
Best teeth whitening kits – how to brighten and remove stains
The 7 best fake tans tried and tested – from Bondi Sands to St. Moriz
15 best face serums: from retinol to hyaluronic acid and vitamin C
Keep your lips smooth with these 8 best lip balms for 2022.
Beauty fans rave about the £13 PrettyLittleThing lip plumping lipstick that instantly makes your lips look fuller.
We’re all about helping you find the best products at the best prices, so check out more Sun Selects beauty recommendations.
This article and any featured products have been independently chosen by The Sun journalists. All recommendations within the article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click a link and buy a product we may earn revenue: this helps to support The Sun, and in no way affects our recommendations.
Source: Read Full Article
