Battle of the Lip Stains

September 12, 2016

Battle of the Lip Stains

I must have been hiding under a rock or something this past year or two because I don’t know why I haven’t jumped on the lip stain trend before. I have a few lip products that I love and stick to on a regular basis, such as Revlon’s Lip Butters. But other than that, I almost always just reach for something quick and easy like a tinted lip balm. I’m also not someone who usually reapplies lip products throughout the day. I just don’t like taking those extra couple of seconds to touch up lipstick and don’t always want the feeling of something heavy on my lips the entire day. So needless to say, I consider lip stains quite the blessing.

After trying a few different ones out, I decided to look through my collection and see how each one compares to one another, which one lasts the longest, etc. So the first one I have to share is from City Color and it is their Creamy Lip Stain in the shade Flirtini. It has a typical doe foot applicator and although the packaging is one of the smaller ones, it is also a little bulky so isn’t the best for travel. The color is a beautiful medium pink and the consistency is lightweight and mousse-like. While it does feel very nice on the lips, I notice almost zero staining effect from it and it’s not something I reach for when I need the color to last all day.

The second one is a lighter pink that can look very natural if applied in a thin layer or can also provide a fun bright pink if applied as a typical layer of gloss. This one is Revlon’s Lip Stain in LA Exclusive. Just like Flirtini, it has a doe foot applicator, but is a little more wide and at a slight angle to allow for easier application. This one is more of a usual gloss, but isn’t sticky and dries down after a while.

When testing for the staining effect and trying to wipe it away, the only thing that came off on a napkin was almost like a clear gloss with a hint of pink, leaving behind most of the pink pigment stained onto the lips. So while this one does stain, it takes some time and only lasts for about four hours max. It’s a gorgeous shade and a nice product, but not something that could get you through a full day with one application.

This next one is by Wet n Wild and is their MegaSlicks Balm Stain in the shade Rico Mauve. Wet n Wild always has some of the best color names! It’s darker than the other two since we’re out of the pinks and into the mauve category, but also has the slightest bit of berry tones as well. It feels just like a typical lip crayon as far as consistency is concerned. However, I have noticed the tiniest amount of a tingly sensation, almost like that of a very mild lip plumper.

Doing the wear test, more pigment comes off on the napkin than what did with LA Exclusive. However, a good amount of pigment was also left on the lips and provided color a little bit longer than the other two. I noticed it wearing off and almost back to normal after around six hours. It does take a little while to stain, which could be good or bad. But I like that it allows some time to switch colors if you change your mind.

The last one is from Elf Cosmetics and is part of their Professional line. The shade I have is Nude Nectar, which looked more like a natural mauve with some red undertones in the store. But when I got it home it was the opposite, leaning more on the red side with slight mauve undertones. Either way, I really like the color. This one is the most different in that it is basically like a marker for your lips. It has a very liquidy consistency when applying it, then becomes slightly tacky before completely feeling like nothing. This one lasts the longest at around a full eight hours and is the one I always reach for when I really need the color to last without worrying about touching up at all.

Because it’s so intense, you do have to be a little careful when applying it or any mistakes can be easily detected. It can also cling on to any imperfections on the lips, so I like to have lip balm moisturizing my lips while I apply my makeup. When I’m ready, I’ll wipe the lip balm off and apply the stain, let it sit for about 2 minutes to really soak in (even though it stains immediately) and then rinse it off. I rinse it off because the initial color is a little darker than what I would prefer and the color still lasts all day. Since it stains the lips and doesn’t leave any product behind, you can also add a clear gloss or balm to keep the lips moisturized throughout the day.

I am so happy I have finally made my way into the lip stain world. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoy having a stained color to my lips without any product resting on top. It’s wonderful! The Elf one is definitely my favorite and I plan on purchasing other shades of it. Since it’s so different, it can take some time to get used to, but I hope I provided enough tips to make it better.

If you have any other questions, please leave them for me in the comments. Also, let me know what your favorite lip stain is. I’m definitely looking forward to trying more!

~Mani Monday~

I wanted a nail polish that was going to be a bit more bold this week since I went with such a soft pastel last week. In honor of the 15 year 9/11 remembrance yesterday, I chose to go with a classic red nail. I’m wearing Ulta’s polish in the shade Let the Flames Begin with a small white sticker that I found in my collection. This is slightly more of a thin polish, so you will need a full two coats. It doesn’t have any orange undertones and is one of my favorite red polishes to wear.