Elf has launched a £5 main stain lip marker to rival Wonderskin's viral lip stain, offering a transfer-proof formula that requires no wiping or peeling. The budget beauty brand's makeup stains are already gaining traction on TikTok, with beauty buffs praising its precise pen applicator and long-lasting wear.
The rise of lip stains
Lip stains have become the defining beauty trend of summer 2026, as heavy coverage makes way for sheer skin tints and lived-in lips complete the look. Wonderskin's viral lip stain has been near-impossible to escape on social media, with endless videos of makeup fans applying the distinctive blue formula before wiping or peeling off to reveal just-bitten lips.
The lip stain concept is nothing new. Its origins can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, but contemporary innovation came thanks to Benefit in the 1970s. The California beauty brand created Benetint as a rosy nipple and cheek tint for San Francisco's exotic dancers. Today's formulas are more hydrating, nourishing and easy to apply.
Elf's main stain lip marker
Unlike other lip stains, Elf's main stain lip marker doesn't require wiping or peeling off. Designed to offer the same precision as a lip liner, the applicator boasts a pointed side for lining lips and a flat side for filling them in. There are eight colours available to mimic natural lip complexions for a no-makeup makeup look, from a dusty mauve to a rich warm brown and baby pink.
The beauty brand claims that the formula is transfer-resistant with no touch-ups required. TikTok testimony concurs, with makeup lovers lauding the lip stain for lasting up to eight hours, through eating and drinking. Quick and easy to apply with no wait time for the stain to develop, it's an affordable and faff-free alternative to trending peel-off lip stains.
Elf's sheer for it blush tint
While Benefit's lip and cheek stain, Benetint, will set you back nearly £25, Elf's budget alternative costs just £6. Available in nine shades – including black cherry, light pink, orange, and red – the makeup staple boasts a hydrating, lightweight texture for a sheer finish. Created for long-lasting wear, its transfer-free formula has become a summer hero in warm temperatures: expertly flushed cheeks stay put, while lips benefit from hyaluronic acid to stay smooth.
