The Best Lip Stains That Won’t Dry Out Your Lips

I’ll be honest, I used to think lip stains were not for me. I liked what it looked like when other people had nicely painted lips, but I didn’t think done up lips was something I could pull off. So I just did the chapstick & lip gloss thing.

When I think back, there’s two reasons for that. 1) I probably wasn’t picking the right colors for me & 2) the lip stains I was trying were looking really dry and crackly on my lips. I wasn’t trying lip stains that helped to hydrate my lips at the same time as prettying up my pout. In fact, they were doing the opposite and totally drying out my lips. Not attractive lol.

I’m happy I didn’t give up on the idea though, because I finally found some really good lip stains that provide great, lasting pigment & hydrate at the same time. Here’s my four favorites, and I’ve tried A LOT over the years so know that these are well researched lol!

These Stila lip stains were the first ones I found that I loved. They come in a ton of great, bold colors as well as some more toned down ones. These two colors I love for summer, but they have tons of others. These are Fiore & Venezia. My friends always want to borrow these when I wear them because they look so great! They also have a line of shimmer shades if you want an even more fun look.

These Lancome Matte Shakers are my favorite of all time {I also wrote about them in my long wear makeup post here in case you missed it!} This stain is mixed with oil so it goes on feeling super moisturizing. It also has a cone-shaped spongey applicator that really helps with a smooth & accurate application while still looking soft and natural. Shake it up to mix the stain & the oil and then apply. Right after you apply it, you can work it around your lips a little bit, but then after maybe 30 seconds, it dries in place and doesn’t budge! I love these two colors because they are a little more natural, but they still brighten up my look a tad. 🙂 I have this stain in Nudevotion, Energy Peach, Pink A Boo, and Sea, Sand & Sun. They have so many shades!

These Tarteist lip paints are also super moisturizing and come in so many nice color options. They take a little longer to “dry” to their finish than the two above, but they have a really nice matte finish that isn’t dry and crinkly. This full-size one is in shade Bounce, and the mini is called Birthday Suit. The mini was a free sample and it’s pretty light so I only wear it when I’m tanner or I mix it with other colors to make them a little less bright. If you have darker skin than mine though it might be a great shade for you.

Last but not least, this NARS stain I just discovered recently. If you follow me on instagram @sunseekinginstyle, you may have seen my story when I first tried out a sample of this in the color above, American Woman. If you didn’t catch it, it’s highlighted in my stories under Beauty so you can check it out & see the finish and shade! I really love the feel of this on my lips, so soft & moist while staying put, and this color is perfect for work or play!

Hope you give these a try & find one that makes you feel fabulous & keeps your lips nice and hydrated! Let me know in the comments if you do & which color you tried!

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