How To Apply a Lip Stain

The appeal is simple: unlike lipstick that may transfer, smudge or fade, a great lip stain deposits color that absorbs into the skin, rather than just sits on top — lasting through meals, workouts, and long beach days without a single touch-up necessary. 

By now, there are many different application methods to choose from. Follow Desorbo’s routine with a masque that sets, dries, then peels off. Or, if you’re in a hurry, use a precise felt-tip marker that draws on and stays put for hours. 

Some use lip stains as a lip liner, lining just the edges for a fuller look, while others apply lip stains to the lips entirely for a natural effect that lasts all day.

Whatever your method may be, these 12 lip stains below are the best-reviewed, most talked-about options on the market right now, according to some of our favorite celebrities.