I am someone who has learned that lip stains are the only way a lipstick is going to stay on my lips. I would try to do a lip liner and lipstick and hope it would stay put. Nope, it ended up in places on my face I didn’t even realize from my hair swiping through my lipstick, or drinking out of a glass and not being careful enough.
It was just never pretty, and I never felt my best in lipstick because of it. Then I discovered lip stains. And when applied correctly, and you find formulas you love, you can wear a lip stain with confidence for 12 hours. I now find myself almost exclusively reaching for lip stains over lipsticks when I want color that stays put on my lips. Here is how to use lip stain so you can rock your favorite shade all day long.
How To Use Lip Stain: Tutorial
Some people may have more detailed techniques on how to apply a lip stain and allow for longer wear or less dryness. Your technique may change based on the weather too. More dry weather may cause your lips to be cracked which we don’t want when applying a lip stain.
What Is A Lip Stain
A lip stain is different from a lipstick in that it is a liquid product, that goes onto the lips sort of like a gloss. Yet it’s super pigmented and stains your lips and then dries over. Most lip stains are going to be more of a matte finish.
I have yet to find a glossy lip stain finish that actually stays put for hours on end. And I find if you add a gloss over the lip stain it sort of turns the whole thing into a gloss as it adds moisture into the color. And then you no longer have a stay put formula.
Lip stains come in so many colors too. You can find bright summer lip colors, to rich hues for fall and winte. Plus, they are usually more intense color options that you know will really be pigmeneted and saturated! These are some of my favorite and best non-smudge lipsticks and many are lip stains that will survive a 12 hour day.
How To Use A Lip Stain
Step One – Smooth Lips
Start with smooth lips so that your stain goes on smoothly. If your lips aren’t already smooth, you may want to do a gentle lip exfoliation with a lip scrub. Be gentle here as your lips can easily crack and break if you go crazy. Try the a good lip exfoliator to remove dry skin.
Step Two – Optional Lip Liner
I find this step to be totally optional and personally, I skip it. But if you want to avoid bleeding and also to have more of a defined line, you can line your lips before heading to step three.
Step Three – Applying Your Lip Stain
Apply your lip stain with the applicator. Since lip stains are usually fairly thin and liquidy, you’ll want to be careful applying your lip stain to not over do it with the liquid as it can quickly become messy. I make sure to also have crisp edges here and to leave my lips open a bit as the stain dries. It can take a few seconds to a minute for the stain to fully dry.
I would recommend typically just one layer of product to get your desired level of pigmentation. If you have applied too much and it is not drying to your liking, you may want to blot with a tissue to absord the excess liquid.
Step Four – Check Your Teeth!
Check your teeth! I find that a lip stain can easily get on your teeth before it is fully dried. This is why I try to keep my lips a bit ajar while applying and letting it dry for a few seconds. Once it is dried, I find that you don’t have any real transfer issues.
Step Five – Reapply
I truly find that the lip stains I use and love don’t usually need to be reapplied. However, depending on how much you’re eating and drinking, you may need to at some point if you’re going on a 12+ hour day. I like to still always pack my lip stain with me just in case!
Plus, I find that if my lips start to feel a bit dried out from lip stain (which does happen on occasion), I can apply a chapstick, balm or gloss over my lips. And then it sort of turns the lip stain into a tinted balm and helps to rehydrate my lips. Sure, this won’t last forever. But it’s sort of the final stage of lip stain when you’re really going ALL day long in it.
Step Six – Remove Your Lip Stain
Remove your lip stain. I don’t think I’ve ever not had to manually remove my lip stain, which is why I love using these products. At the end of the day, I like to use an oil cleanser to remove my makeup and this usually helps to break up the lip stain and remove it. I use a wash cloth to gently remove my makeup and lip product.
And if you have dry lips, this is also when I’d do your lip exfoliator again, and then do a hydrating lip balm and then layer on Vaseline or Aquaphor to hold in that moisture over night.
Frequently Asked Questions On Lip Stains
Anytime I share that I love my lip stains, I always get a few of the same questions. If you’re not someone who has ever tried it, it can feel intimidating to wear something that feels so permanent. Here’s what you need to know.
How Long Do You Leave Lip Stain On?
If we’re talking about the lip stains where you peel off, you only need to leave these on for about 30 to 60 seconds, before you peel them off. But for a lip stain lipstick that stays on, you can leave these on for 12+ hours.
How Long Do Lip Stains Last?
This right here is why lip stain users are such devoted fans. Lip stains can stay on for hours, and last through eating and drinking too. Depending on the formulas, these can last from 6 to 12 hours.
Lip stains have become my holy grail products that I can’t live without. From everyday nudes and pinks, to bold reds for a night out, I am rarely reaching for classic lipsticks and instead, I rely on my lip stains to make me look and feel my best for the entire day even through eating and drinking.
How To Remove Lip Stain From Lips?
You’re back home and not sure how to get this stubborn lip stain off your lips, don’t fret. It’s designed to be challenging to get off, but there are several tips to know for a more comfortable removal. Something I like to try to do is a two step process of dissolving the formula first, then wiping it off.
Micellar Water Or Oil Based Cleanser
First, use a micellar water or an oil based cleanser (my preference). If using micellar water, dampen a cotton pad and press it onto the lip stain for 10-15 seconds. Then you can begin rubbing it off.
If you’re not an oil based cleanser type of person, you can use natural oils. Try something in your kitchen like olive or coconut oil to help break up the formula. To remove any stubborn last bits, you can use a gentle exfoliant or scrub to remove whatever is left.
Lip stains, whether they’re the lip liner style, or a full blown lipstick that you can wear all day, are a great option for long-wear makeup. They’re great for days you need to look your best for hours and there are so many different brands and colors to choose from.
