Lip Stains: We Tested 11 Formulas That Resist Food, Drinks, and Kisses

Best Overall

Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Lip & Cheek Tint

View On Sephora $24 View On Ulta $24 View On Target $24

Honestly, no list of lip stains would be complete without the lip stain: Benefit’s Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain. The formula’s six hues are game-changing, to say the least, delivering a smudge-proof flush of color (and subtle glow) to the lips and cheeks that will look like you were born wearing it. It’s a favorite of editors, beauty gurus, and pro makeup artists alike, thanks to its super strong color payoff.

During testing, we loved how it amplified the look of our natural lips, giving them a punch of pigment that works for everyday wear as well as fuller glam moments. It is buildable, but we found that we didn’t need more than a swipe or two to achieve the color payoff we wanted. The formula itself is relatively lightweight (but never watery) and serves as a wash of color that sticks onto the lips with minimal transfer, rather than a glossy topper or creamy lipstick that needs to be reapplied. During testing, we found that it was easy to apply too much, so take it slow. You may even want to blot the color in with your fingers for more control. 

Finish: Natural | Size: 0.20 fl oz | Shades: 6

Best Budget

Etude House Dear Darling Water Tint

View On Amazon $6 View On Walmart $9 View On Etudehouse.com

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. 

When we tested it in the lab, 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. 

Finish: Natural | Size: 0.3 fl oz | Shades: 5

Best Splurge

Dior Addict Lip Tint

View On Sephora $40 View On Nordstrom $34 View On Dior.com

For a lip stain that’ll stay in place for 10 hours while looking natural and feeling weightless, you’ll want to reach for this pick from Dior. The tinted ink lightly adds a healthy dose of color and lasts through drinking, sweating, and kissing without budging an inch. Wear it alone for a neutral-looking hue, or use it as a primer underneath your favorite gloss. “I’m a big fan of the Dior Addict Lip Tint, as it feels like a very sheer lip gloss but stays on for hours,” says Shahzada. We are, too. The gorgeous palette of fresh and natural shades— including beige, raspberry, vibrant coral, and intense plum—are all wonderfully pigmented and designed to complement all skin tones.  

Upon application, we noticed that the tint has a mild minty scent and goes on fairly watery (not goopy or runny, though!) but settles into the lips nicely without irritation or stickiness. In fact, it feels like there’s nothing on the lips once it’s dried down fully. 

Finish: Natural | Size: 0.17 fl. oz | Shades: 8

Best Hydrating

Jones Road The Lip Tint

View On Jonesroadbeauty.com $26 View On Libertylondon.com

Though it has a thin consistency, this creamy lip tint is the perfect cross between a hydrating lip balm and a tinted stain. When we swatched it, we were surprised at how thin it was and how little color initially came off, but once we got more acquainted with the formula, we fell in love with its sheer-buildable wash of color. (You’ll have to swipe a few times to achieve a noticeable color difference.) Also nice: It’s texture is smooth and doesn’t clump. There are 13 different colorways to choose from—including a fiery Valencia Orange and a subtler Just Peachy coral—so there’s something for everyone. 

Finish: Balmy | Size: 0.06 oz | Shades: 13

Best for Everyday

Clarins Water Lip Stain

View On Amazon $31 View On Ulta $31 View On Clarinsusa.com

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. We found it to be more glossy-looking than other lip stains, so we recommend keeping it on hand as a less-sticky alternative to lip gloss. 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.

Finish: Glossy, natural | Size: 0.20 fl oz | Shades: 4

Best Long-lasting

Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love

View On Nordstrom $34 View On Charlottetilbury.com $34 View On Revolve $34

While all lip stains are considered long-lasting, this pick from Charlotte Tilbury outlasts a number of options on this list. What’s more, it’s buildable and applies like a gloss on both the lips and cheeks, leaving behind an effortlessly flushed finish. During testing, we fell in love with its doe-foot applicator that deposits product perfectly onto hard-to-reach areas of the lips, giving every inch a gorgeous satin finish. Another plus: It contains vitamin E and hyaluronic acid for added hydration. 

Finish: Satin | Size: 0.33 fl oz | Shades: 5

Best Matte

Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint

View On Victoriabeckhambeauty.com $36 View On Violet Grey View On Net-a-Porter

A smoothing and plumping matte lip tint sounds like it could never exist, but this one from Victoria Beckham Beauty proves it’s (somehow) possible. With a natural, highly pigmented color, all you need is one swipe—and maybe a slight touch-up after lunch—to get you through the workday and onto happy hour. It’s unlike anything else we’ve tried, and we owe it to the product’s plumping, blurring, and smoothing capabilities. It can feel tacky on the lips, so that’s something to keep in mind before buying if you’re not a fan of lip products that feel sticky.

Finish: Semi-matte | Size: 0.19 fl oz | Shades: 3

Best Buildable

Flower Beauty Bitten Lip Stain

View On Amazon $12 View On Ulta $12 View On Walmart $16

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). In the lab, 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.

Finish: Glossy | Size: 0.16 fl oz | Shades: 6

Best Natural

Kaja Jelly Charm Glazed Lip Stain & Blush

View On Amazon $25 View On Sephora $25 View On Kajabeauty.com

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. 

Finish: Glossy, Natural | Size: 0.17 oz | Shades: 5

Best Color Payoff

Peripera Ink the Velvet Liquid Lip Tint

View On Amazon $10 View On Target $10 View On IHerb

Paint your lips into works of art with this super-pigmented lip stain from Peripera. The adhesive formula fills in the curves of your lips with a smooth, silky finish and insane color payoff. The thick, viscous texture is just like paint (aka doesn’t feel like a lightweight lip gloss), and it dries down for a weightless, mattified finish. It’s not drying, though; in fact, it’s velvety and creamy. The formula comes in 27 shades—the most expansive shade range on this list—and each really packs a punch. If you’re looking for a vibrant stain that will last despite drinking water, coffee, tea, etc., this is the one for you. 

It’s important to note that one swipe is all you’ll need. It’s not a bad thing (we love a one-and-done application), but it’s worth mentioning because those with shakier hands or unsteady grips might have a harder time achieving clean, straight lines before the formula dries down and takes hold. 

Finish: Matte | Size:  0.14 fl oz | Shades: 27