The 9 Best Lip Stains of 2021

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Do you ever find yourself in that frustrating situation when you crave more than a lip balm (because pigment) and less than a lipstick (because maintenance)? Same. Call us demanding, but we firmly believe there's a time and place for our go-to balm, while there are certain occasions when nothing short of a creamy, long-wearing lipstick will do.

Luckily, there's a wonderfully handy solve: the lip stain, a pout-perfecting antidote to that aforementioned gray area and a sweet middle ground for those times when you're feeling a tad indecisive. To keep stress to the minimum (and your lips to the maximum), we've rounded up a list of the very best lips stains. Not only will you look like you just ate a popsicle, but your lips will also stay plump and hydrated. Which is really the name of the game, yes?

Pucker up, and keep scrolling: These are the best lip stains on the market.

Yves Saint Laurent Vinyl Cream Lip Stain

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For a heavy hit of color, hydration, and staying powder (10 hours, to be exact), this glossy cult favorite is the ultimate wingwoman. For a lip stain, it boasts impressive coverage, so if you're looking for something sheerer, tread carefully. The slanted tip and short, soft bristles of the applicator make for flawless precision every time. Plus, the impressive shade range spans everything from soft nudes to brights like fuchsia.

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There are lip stains about 20 times the price of this one, but this affordable pick really deserves its time in the spotlight. It's a weightless gel tint that gives off sheer color with a cooling and hydrating effect. The formula comes in three sultry shades and helps the lips appear hydrated and plump.

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If you’re searching for a lip tint with the perfect matte finish, you can stop looking: Tarte’s Lippie Lingerie Matte Lip Tint is it. It comes in six neutral nude shades that deliver that "my lips but better" look. It smooths right onto your pucker—just like a balm—for buildable, full-coverage color. It contains a blend of mango seed, cupuacu, and murumuru butter and helps keep your pout moisturized and protected.

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As one of the original lip stains to hit the market, it's telling that Revlon's iconic formula is still a beauty-editor favorite. Yes, the price is delectable, but so is the punch of lasting lightweight color that's surprisingly fun to apply (and reapply, though you won't have to do that often). The gel formula is lightweight and deeply moisturizing, and it comes in five pretty shades. Plus, the chubby crayon is retractable, so you never have to worry about finding a sharpener.

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No list of lip stains would be complete without the OG of the category, Benefit’s Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain. The game-changing rose-tinted stain delivers a smudge-proof, sexy flush with a glow. Also nice: The formula doubles as a cheek color.

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Confession: Rituel de Fille's lush line of cosmetics has created pandemonium within the Byrdie offices. And this sheer, semi-matte lip stain from the brand is right at the forefront. It is hands down the best one of our editors has ever tried. Given that the formula is 99% natural and packed with botanicals, your lips are sure to thank you.

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Remember the juicy, fruit-scented glosses and balms you worshiped back in middle school? Consider this shiny lip stain the 2.0 version. It contains a luxe mix of oils (peach kernel, sweet almond, apricot, cranberry, and muscat rose) and keeps your pout looking full and healthy—never chapped or flaked. The finish is sheer; it easily transitions from day to night.

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Key Ingredients

Vitamin E is an antioxidant vitamin and oil often found in anti-oxidant blend topicals or moisturizers. It also helps soothe the skin and protects the lipid barrier.

A "long-wearing gloss" sounds like an oxymoron, but this oil-infused lip stain proves it can be done. In short, the shades are gorgeous, the rollerball applicator makes us feel 10 years younger, and the nutrient-rich formula (thanks, vitamin E!) delivers a rush of hydration.

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Nothing is more satisfying than a two-for-one product that actually delivers on both fronts. There are nine mineral-based shades to choose from (for each day of the week and then some), and they look equally pretty from cheek to lip. Truth be told, this best-of lip stain will help your pout live its best life.

What to Look For in a Lip Stain

Finish

The first thing Urban Decay Global Makeup Artist Steve Kassajikian recommends looking for when shopping for a lip stain is the 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 stains with a gloss finish will eventually wear off (much like a regular lip gloss), and the actual stain they leave behind will be matte.

Hydrating Ingredients

Like full-coverage liquid lipsticks, lip stains also have the potential to leave the lips feeling dry. Kassajikian recommends seeking out formulas that contain hydrating ingredients in order to avoid this issue. Alternatively, another great way to avoid dryness and also help lock the color in? Apply a thin layer of balm once the stain dries down.

Waterproof Formula

The whole point of wearing a lip stain is to, well, stain your lips, providing you with long-lasting color that doesn’t need to be constantly reapplied. While most formulas tend to have longer wear than traditional lipsticks and glosses, Kassajikian recommends reaching for a waterproof formula to ensure your color will last through just about anything.

Meet the Expert

Steve Kassajikian is Urban Decay’s Global Makeup Artist.

Behold: The 17 Best Lipsticks of All Time

The Best Lip Stains That Give You That Popsicle Finish

Best Overall: Yves Saint Laurent Vinyl Cream Lip Stain

Best Budget: e.l.f. Cosmetics Radiant Gel Lip Stain

Best Matte: Tarte Lippie Lingerie Matte Tint

Best Drugstore: Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain

Best Classic: Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain

Best Natural: Rituel de Fille Enchanted Lip Sheer

Best Hydrating: Lancôme Juicy Shaker Pigment Infused Bi-Phased Lip Oil

Best Rollerball: Milk Makeup Glow Oil

Best Double-Duty: RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek

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