14 Best Lip Stains for Long-Lasting, Smudge-Proof Color

Key ingredients: glycerin, squalane, sodium hyaluronate, sweet cherry oil | Shades: 8 (Note: Four additional shades, including Natural Sienna shown above, are exclusive to dior.com)

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

Why we love it: Just about everyone on TikTok has currently hopped on the Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Masque, but our editors have been fans of this peel-off tint since it won an Allure Best of Beauty Award back in 2020 (it's hard being ahead!—iykyk). It's one of our all-time favorite lip tints for its tri-phase, liquid lip-to-mask-to-tint formulation. This lip stain may look a little cooky at first with its initial blue (or, if you got your hands on the brand's currently sold-out collab with Chipotle, green) color, but, trust us, once it's ready to peel off you'll reveal an even, stunning stain. You can choose from 30 pink, red, berry, and mauve shades.

Tester feedback: "I was one of the few lucky enough to get my hands on the Lipotle set, and as my first time trying out this viral stain, I've fallen in love," says commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. "The mask dries in less than five minutes and peels off way easier than other lip tinting masks I’ve tried. A fair warning, there is a small learning curve when figuring out how much to apply and how long to leave on the mask, but once you crack the code to your desired results, it becomes second nature."

Key ingredients: glycerin, seaweed extract, squalane | Shades: 30

Best Full-Coverage Lip Stain: Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment

Why we love it: Los Angeles-based makeup artist Genevieve Garner raves about the Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment, telling Allure its lightweight texture is "dreamy" and doesn't dry out your lips. "Once it starts to wear off, which will take a while, it leaves a beautiful wash of color behind," she adds. The three-time Best of Beauty Award winner comes in 20 full-coverage shades, including Don't Stop (pictured above), and is boosted by moisturizing and hydrating ingredients.

Tester feedback: "I'll be honest, the Nars Powermatte in Thunderkiss [Editor's note: This shade isn't available anymore] was sitting in my lipstick drawer for quite some time before I decided to give it a try, and boy, am I glad I did," says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis. "This matte lipstick isn't a traditional lip stain, but its super-pigmented formula does not budge even while eating the greasiest slice of pizza." Makeup bag staple made easy.

Key ingredients: dimethicone, hyaluronic acid | Shades: 20

More Nars lip stains we love:
- For a more diffused finish: Nars Air Matte Lip Color, $28

Best K-Beauty Lip Stain: Peripera Ink Velvet Lip Tint

Why we love it: Who else remembers the days when you couldn't scroll through your social feed without Peripera's Ink Velvet Lip Tint making an appearance? Whether you apply it full-on or as a blurred lip stain look, this long-wearing formula became one of the most popular beauty products on the world wide web for its velvet-like matte finish and impressive color payoff.

Tester feedback: Han's desert island lip stain might have to go to Peripera's formulas. They're incredibly affordable (you can build a collection without feeling too guilty!) and last the entire day. "Touchups are very minimal even after heavy meals," Han attests. "The wear is super comfortable, despite how long-lasting the formulas are," she says, though she notes that she preps her (very dry) lips with a clear lip balm and wipes away the excess before applying the lip tint.

For a dewier, lip gloss finish that you'll often see on K-pop idols, Han urges you to try the Ink Mood Glowy Tints, which are spiked with glycerin and lily and witch hazel extract for added hydration.

Key ingredients: dimethicone | Shades: 27

More Peripera lip stains we love:
- For a dewy, glossy Look: Ink Mood Glowy Tint, $10
- Perfect for popsicle lips: Ink Airy Velvet Lip Tint, $10

Best Lip Oil: Kulfi Beauty Lassi Lips Staining Lip Oil

Why we love it: Though this is technically a lip oil, we consider Kulfi Beauty's Lassi Lips Staining Lip Oil more as a lip tint with a shiny, glossy (but not sticky!) finish. Multiple editors fell in love with this cushiony, light formula that provides a subtle oomph in color. Its conditioning formulation is infused with two emollients (diphenyl dimethicone and hydrogenated polyisobutene) to leave lips smooth and velvety.

Tester feedback: As soon as Allure content director Kara McGrath got her hands on Lassi Lips—a full month ahead of its launch—it "immediately became the most-used lip product in my arsenal," she vouched in our multi-editor review. "The shade Rose is almost an exact match for my natural lip color, so it works just as well for a minimal makeup day as it does for a more dolled-up night out when I want my eye makeup to hold most of the focus. I also love how hydrating it is; my lips seem to absorb most oils pretty quickly, but this formula keeps them soft even after the shine has worn off."

Key ingredients: diphenyl dimethicone and hydrogenated polyisobutene (emollients) | Shades: 6

TikTok-Viral Lip Stain: Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint

Why it's worth it: Milk Makeup's Cooling Water Jelly Tint looks good enough to eat (please don't), but there's more to this bouncy tint than its gelatinous form. It delivers a surprising amount of pigment and can be used as a blush or cheek tint in a pinch. This solid lip stain is non-drying, thanks to ingredients like vegan collagen and aloe vera.

Tester feedback: "Each swipe feels cool to the touch and leaves behind a pigmented wash of buildable color that's guaranteed to never budge, fade, or smear," says Hussein. "If you want to blend it out or use it as a blush, you better work fast, because once its formula sets in place, it's not going anywhere."

Key Ingredients: aloe, vegan collagen, seawater | Shades: 4

Never Goes Out of Style: Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain

Why we love it: A list of lip stains wouldn't be complete without this classic. These days, K-pop stars are helping Benefit Cosmetics's Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain make a comeback, tapping this on the center of their lips before hitting the stage to make their lips look more luscious. Plus, it won't wear away no matter how strenuous the choreography is. While the original Benetint is the most popular shade, several others are available, such as Gogotint (a bright cherry red) and Playtint (a cheery hot pink).

Tester feedback: Trakoshis has a fun alternate use for this ultra-popular pick. "For years, I have seen Benetint everywhere but it wasn't until recently that I decided to take TikTok's advice and add it to my routine—but not in its traditional way," she says. "Instead of applying this stain all over my lips, I use it as lip liner and it literally creates the most beautiful flush of color that lasts all day with zero transfer.”

Shades: 6

More lip stains we love:

Best Lip Stain for Dry Lips: Kylie Cosmetics Transformative Lip Tint

Why we love it: Dry, chapped lips are usually a recipe for an uneven result, but the glossy Kylie Cosmetics Transformative Lip Tint leaves behind an even wash of color no matter how thirsty your lips may be. This glazed-finish formula is enriched with a moisture-replenishing mix of coconut-based esters and squalane to smooth any dry spots of skin. Both shades settle into a natural pink tint for a true your-lips-but-better look.

Editor's tip: This nourishing lip stain is great for dry, chapped lips, but for the best results, we recommend priming your lips with an exfoliating lip scrub, like Kylie Cosmetics' Sugar Lip Scrub.

Key ingredients: squalane, coconut-based ester complex, shea butter | Shades: 2

Best Sheer Finish Lip Stain: Clarins Water Lip Stain

Why we love it: Toronto-based makeup artist Andrea Claire loves the Clarins Water Lip Stain's transfer-proof formula comprised of 77% water and its slightly sheer finish. Key ingredients in the Best of Beauty winner include soothing aloe vera, moisturizing glycerin, and antioxidant-rich camellia sinensis leaf extract (a.k.a. green tea). Red Water (a candy-colored red seen here) is one of three fun shades.

Editor's tip: Top off this tint with another Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, the Clarins Lip Comfort Oil, for an ultra-glossy finish.

Key ingredients: aloe vera, glycerin, green tea extract | Shades: 3

Most Barely-There Feel: Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Lip Stain

Why we love it: We already expect nothing but the best formulations from Fenty Beauty but the Poutsicle Lip Stain is so good that we just had to give it an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2022. It has a soft, doe-foot applicator that seamlessly delivers an even layer of color. On that note, Poutsicle has a lightweight, barely-there feel and pigmented wash of color that you expect from a tint with the added benefits of moisturizing, lip-softening squalane.

Editor's tip: Swipe a layer of the Gloss Bomb Ice Cooling Lip Luminizer (a 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, no less) on top for a plumping effect, if you're into that.

Key ingredients: squalane, glycerin, dimethicone | Shades: 6

Best Glossy Lip Stain: YSL Vinyl Cream Lip Stain

Why we love it: While many lip stains offer translucent or watery finishes, the YSL Vinyl Cream Lip Stain is highly pigmented, resembling a weightless liquid lipstick. The ultra-shiny formula (hence the name Vinyl) is easy to apply. Once it wears off, your lips will still have a subtle, natural tint.

Editor's tip: Since this is a more opaque lip stain than other options on the list, perfect your pout by creating a dramatic cupid's bow by pressing the pointy part of the applicator on each side of the bow to create an over-emphasized shape. Then, use the flat side of the applicator to glide the gloss from one corner of your mouth to the other.

Key ingredients: dimethicone, synthetic wax | Shades: 4

Mess-Free Applicator: Stila Calligraphy Lip Stain

Why we love it: Doe-foot applicators are lovely, but they aren't the most precise liners. Enter Stila's Calligraphy Lip Stain, an innovative lip tint with a felt pen applicator that traces the outline of your lips flawlessly. Each stroke of this lip stain leaves behind a soft, buildable color that dries down fast and doesn't move once it's set—for up to eight hours, according to Stila.

Editor's tip: You can use this pen as an all-over lip color or a liner paired with another lip product (like a gloss or traditional lipstick) for a long-lasting, no-budge ombré lip.

Key ingredients: glycerin | Shades: 10

Best Range of Reds: Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint

Why we love it: Etude House's Dear Darling Water Gel Tint could withstand a zombie apocalypse if you ask Allure contributor Sable Yong. And you'll have plenty of product to hold you over because a little bit of the pigmented, gel-like formula goes a long way. It's budget-friendly enough that you might as well drop all 10 gorgeous red hues—because universal reds are a bit of a stretch—into your cart.

Editor's tip: The pigment is super long-lasting, so Yong likes to blend it into her lips with a cotton swab to prevent the formula from staining her fingers.

Key ingredients: soapberry extract | Shades: 10

More Etude House lip stains we love:
- Glossy Finish: Glow Fixing Tint, $14
- For Matte Lovers: Fixing Tint, $14
- Ultra-Light Formula: Dear Darling Water Tint, $7

Most Shades, Period, to Choose From: Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick

Why we love it: New York City-based makeup artist Brittany Lo is a "huge fan" of the Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipsticks, which provide 10-hour wear with each swipe. Its non-sticky, transfer-proof formula is enriched with avocado oil, which adds moisture to your lips, thus preventing them from drying out. The inky lip color is available in a whopping 50 (!) shades, including matte nudes, reds, and even a jet-black shade, so whether you're someone who goes for a more natural lip look, or you're partial to dramatic pigments, you'll find something here.

Editor's tip: Though it's a lip stain, this formula has an opacity that's similar to full-coverage liquid lipsticks.

Key ingredients: avocado oil | Shades: 50

Frequently Asked Questions

According to multiple cosmetic chemists we chatted with, there is no difference between a stain or tint—it all comes down to marketing, according to Amanda Lam, a cosmetic chemist based in Warwick, Rhode Island. "The formulas for both are usually the same and give the same effect of long-wear staining without being opaque and are water-based with water-soluble pigments," Lam explains.

Cincinnati, Ohio-based cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos adds that, depending on composition, just about any lip product can act as a stain or tint. "The color additives are the primary determinant of whether a color actually stains the lips," she says. "It's really about the chemistry of the color additives that contribute to staining, so balms, glosses, and lipsticks can all be lip stains."

Before you apply lip stain, keep these tips in mind. Especially if you have dry lips, "A lip mask or light, clear lip balm will help even out your lips' hydration levels, prepping them for a more even application," Claire says. She also recommends using a lip liner as a base, which helps extend the stain's wear time.

Once you're ready to apply your lip stain of choice, Claire recommends drawing a "V" at the bow and outer corners of your lips and a "U" towards the bottom. Then, connect the dots, fill in the lips, and voíla. For a natural-looking finish, Garner advises tapping the product directly onto your lips using your fingers. For a more saturated look, Claire recommends applying the stain straight from the tube.

• Genevieve Garner, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist
• Andrea Claire, a Toronto-based makeup artist
• Brittany Lo, a New York City-based makeup artist
• Amanda Lam, the cosmetic formulation chemist at DeWolf Chemical based in Warwick, Rhode Island
• Kelly Dobos, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based cosmetic chemist

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?