Lip stains are 2026's answer to the millennial obsession with winged liner. Favoured by celebrities like Billie Eilish and Hailey Bieber, they offer advantages over traditional lipstick. Unlike lipstick and gloss, the best lip stains leave a residual colour on the lips that can withstand food, drink, and hours of wear.
The make-up must-haves come in various consistencies, from gloss-like finishes to felt-tip styles. The best ones allow you to forget about your lips entirely, leaving a weightless flush of colour. Achieving this without dryness or patchiness is challenging, but I've tested a range of formulas to find out which lip stains live up to the hype.
I applied each stain to moisturised lips, left it for three to five minutes, then wiped off residual product with tissue. I evaluated hydration, smoothness, ease of application, and staying power. Nyx's IV gloss stain is an affordable option packed with vitamins E and B12. The pigment lasts from dawn until dusk, and lips feel moisturised even after wiping away the top layer. It can be worn as a liquid lipstick or a stain.
This budget-friendly stain offers hydration and nourishment in seven earthy reds, neutrals, pinks, and a berry tone. However, it doesn't lend itself to being wiped away; without its glossy finish, the stain lasts less than an hour. Stila's lip stain features a flexible, flat-edged applicator for easy application. It leaves lips feeling a bit taut, so a subsequent balm or gloss is needed, but it's perfect for layering under lipstick.
Dior's luxury lip tint comes in a signature tube with a texture between liquid lipstick and gloss. It leaves an opaque, moisturising finish, and the tint remains after the top layer wears off. Colour lasts around four hours before fading neatly around the centre of the mouth. Fenty's lip products are also renowned, though specific results for their stain were not detailed in the test.
