Choosing A Lip Stain

Hey everyone!

Since the weather is getting warmer, I thought it would be the perfect time to introduce you to the magic of lip stain! However, there are many different kinds of lip stains one can use. Here, I will break down my collection. Mine are mostly drugstore brands, so they run under $10 each.

From Top to bottom: ELF lip stain in "first date", "birthday suit", "lucky lady", Hard Candy Lip Tattoo in "petal", Covergirl Outlast Lipstain in "400", Revlon Just Bitten in "crave", NYC Smoochproof 16h Lipstain in"champagne stain", Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain in "in the buff. Right - Tokidoki Lip Gelato in "pink martini".



So let's get started.
This is the Tokidoki lip gelato from Sephora. It runs around $9, and is very much like a tinted lip balm, except that the color is vivid and lasts..and lasts. Seriously, this lasts around five hours on my lips. It doesn't dry out my lips because of the balmy, smooth texture. The color outlasts the texture however, so I find myself reapplying just to feel the softness. It also comes in clear, coral, and a purple - I haven't tried those though! Get Yours Here!

tell the truth- the packaging is adorable enough to justify the purchase

even looks like a chapstick!

 Next up is Hard Candy's Lip Tattoo. This stain is very glossy, comes with a doe foot applicator, and comes with a minty, clear gloss.  Sold exclusively at Wal Mart, it runs around $6. Pick Yours Here! I love how natural this color is.

Next up are ELF's lip stains, $3 online or at select Target stores.

I like these fine, but I don't love them. They're more like creamy, long-wearing lipsticks to me, and that's not what I look for in a stain. Regardless, the colors are nice and summer-y. However, one of my biggest gripes about them concerns the lip gloss that comes with. No matter how long the stain has been on my lips, the color still rubs off into the clear gloss.

lucky lady

lucky lady

birthday suit

birthday suit

first date - see how clumpy it looks? very inconsistent

first date

Finally, it's time for my favorite - the marker-tipped stains!
These literally apply like a magic marker, and the color truly "stains" the lips - just like it's supposed to do!

 

The Revlon Just Bitten brand gets an A+ in my book, for pigmentation but also for the genius little BALM on the other end. It helps keep your lips looking hydrated and supple, but you only need to have one product! Both ends are also unscented, which I love.

My second favorite is the NYC one, especially because of the tip. Let's compare to the Just Bitten.

Look how much pointier the NYC one is. This makes it a cinch to have nice, clean lines. The color is also still very HOT pink. It is not as sheer as I would have assumed from the packaging and name.

Finally, it's  the Maybelline Color Sensationnal lip stain. This is my most "everyday" color - it's not super dramatic or bright, and it's beautifully pigmented.

 There ya have it! Since they're all pretty cheap, you can play around until you find a formula and color that suits you! Happy hunting!