Let’s be real – we at beautyheaven are not ones to discourage a statement lip. In fact, we’d consider ourselves superfans of anything of the lipstick, gloss or liquid lippie varieties – but we also know a luscious low-maintenance lip finish when we see one, and this season we’re loving stains silly.
With more moisturising benefits and far fewer touchups required, stains are amazing on the days when you need to set and forget – they deliver just the right amount of tint to pass as natural, but polish your look at the same time. They’re also so damn comfortable, you won’t even notice they’re there.
So if you’re after more than a lip balm but less than a lipstick, it’s time to add a lip colour compromise to your kit – here are the very best lip stains in the game.
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Clarins
With a formula made up of over 77% water, it’s the kind of formula you’ll forget you’re wearing until the compliments roll in.
Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent Vernis A Levres Vinyl Cream Lip Stain ($59, mecca.com.au)
After something a little bolder but equally low-maintenance? This stain option has the comfort of a cream, shine of a gloss, pigment of a lipstick and staying power of a stain. Phew.
DB Cosmetics
DB Cosmetics Lip Lock Longwear Lip Stain
Lightweight but longwearing, it’s formulated with vitamin E and aloe vera to provide colour and care in one go.
jane iredale
jane iredale Lip Fixation Lip Stain/Gloss
This option pulls double duty with a long-lasting stain on one end, and a high-shine lip-conditioning gloss on the other. Use the stain solo or team the two together.
Benefit
Benefit BeneTint Cheek & Lip Stain
The stain that started it all – if ‘your lips but better’ is your brief, this rose-tinted lip and cheek stain is the one you need in your lineup.
Burberry Beauty
Burberry Beauty Lip Velvet Crush Sheer-Matte Stain ($52, sephora.com.au)
As buildable as it is beautiful, this cream-to-powder stain can go from subtle to striking with a few extra swipes.
The Body Shop
The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain
This hydrating stain is as natural-looking as makeup gets – it’s super buildable, but the no-makeup-makeup aesthetic of a single swipe is hard to beat.
Smith & Cult
The Tainted Lip Stained Flatte in Demon Dazed ($42, sephora.com.au)
A moisturising formula and matte finish in one? Consider our lips interested (and saturated with the perfect amount of colour).
New brand for me Smith and Cult. The Burberry looks to die for. Love a powdery lip finish, they don't transfer and wear off to a beautiful stain.
Very pretty and subtle – me likey!
I just adore lip stains and Clarins is perfect for that soft look.
The DB one is fantastic, I absolutely love it.
But nothing comes close to how utterly incredible the YSL Cream lip stain is! It remains the best lip product I have ever used.
I have only used the Benetint by Benefit which stains your lips a vibrant pink/red colour.
Some incredible options here. My faves are Clarins and The Body Shop.
Great idea, I will checking some of those out
My preferred way to wear lip product is as a stain. Have a few that go from full to stain effect.
I love lip stains and now I have more gorgeous products to try.
I have used some stains in the past but haven't for a while – this might be the answer for a daily wear at work
The Body Shop Lip Stain looks like a nice colour for a stain. I'd love to try that one.
Ive only tried the one from Benefit which is good.
The Benetint is a classic cult fave!
Benefit Benetint gets my vote! It’s fabulous. Gives your lips a lovely glow, and even better, you can also use it on your cheeks! My little bottle ran out ages ago, but it pretty much lived in my handbag. I think I might replace it ASAP.
Korean lip tints are also good
I quite like lip tints, stay all day without feeling too uncomfortable
Haven't tried one before, the body shop one looks good.
The lip oil sounds intriguing
I haven't used a lip stain before, probably prefer creamy lipsticks
I like the effects of a lip stain but hopefully achieve a similar look by doing the apply and blot method without adding to my overflowing lip product stash.
I love anything for the lips, will have to try some of these
Looks so pretty and subtle…
Good idea!!! I have done this too and the results seem the same.
I love the Clarins lip tint, have to try the others.
Some really pretty ones here!
More than a lip balm but less than a lipstick – sounds like just the type of lip colour I want! Must check these out.
The only problem is that these are moisturising enough
Lip stains can be lovely to wear and easy to apply. I have used the Benefit Cheek & Lip Stain, a wonderful product.
The Benefit and Body Shop ones look good 🙂
I like the idea of lip stains as I'm always rubbing/licking off lippy. I guess you can also put lipbalm over the top as needed without losing in the colour.
I would love to try this.
I generally avoid stains, I find them sticky and they don't last long.
That Clarins lip stain is great! I'm sure it wasn't Bh listed when I first got it.
Look nice and subtle too, very pretty
These look sooo pretty. The burberry one looks really classy because of the packaging as well. Would love to try the clarins one bit pricey tho
I got one from Koyo and I LOVE it – it's not drying at all! and I can control the vibrancy of the colour so I feel like I've got a range of shades from one product.
There are some tempting products in the product gallery above.
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I disagree – lip stains/tints can totally provide a "statement" look. The old Revlon Just Bitten (sadly not available in Australia any more) were super bright & bold!