Collage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brands Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story If you love the definition, color, and contour of a lip liner but want it to last all day, let us introduce you to the best lip liner stains. Combining the precision of a traditional liner with the staying power of a stain , these hybrid formulas help you shape your lips without worrying about your liner disappearing by lunchtime. Many offer comfortable, non-drying 12-hour wear time, but some of them even boast up to 24 hours—not that we’re ever awake that long, but good to know they’ve got us covered if our plans get a little crazier than intended. The shade ranges are impressive, too, ranging from natural, your-lips-but-better to bolder pigments.
So, how do you choose between a lip liner stain or a traditional lip liner? According to New York City makeup artist Natalie Dresher , there’s room for both. While a classic liner delivers the sharpest, most precise outline, a lip liner stain leaves behind long-lasting pigment that stays put all day. A lip liner stain will “last through food, drink, talking, and kissing, but it might not have that super crisp edge a lip liner would provide,” she says. In other words, if you love a defined lip but hate constant touch-ups, a lip liner stain is worth adding to your routine. Swipe a gloss, lip oil, or lipstick on top of it, and you’re set for hours. Ahead, the formulas worth outlining and contouring your lips with.
How do you apply a lip liner stain? How do lip liner stains stay so long? Are lip stains better than lip liner? Meet the experts How we test and review products Our staff and testers Best Overall: Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Summer Fridays
Allure commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann applying the Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain
Why we love it: Rather than depositing bold pigment in a single swipe, the Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain builds gradually, requiring a few passes to achieve a more dramatic payoff. So if your ideal lip stain complements your natural lip color, but leans just a little rosier, this is the one to reach for. The marker applicator also makes the stain especially forgiving and easy to customize, especially for beginners: Apply all over for a subtle, just-bitten tint—or, if the formula leans too dry, stick to using it as a liner, as our editor in chief does. This lightweight stain melts into lips with the help of aloe vera gel to support lip barrier health and panthenol to boost shine, hydration, and softness.
Hoffmann immediately after applying the Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain
Hoffmann 4 hours after applying the Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain
Allure editor in chief Jessica Cruel applying the Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain
Cruel after applying the Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain
Tester feedback from editor in chief Jessica Cruel
“When I first tried this lip marker (because that is exactly what it is), I tried it all over my lip as a stain. It had great lasting power, but it left my lips totally dried out. Now, I use it just as a lip liner, and it's top tier. The tip is the perfect size to get a precise line. The shade Mocha is just a touch darker than my natural lip so I get the definition I want. And it lasts long after the first round of lipstick has faded.” —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
Tester feedback from commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann
"My natural lip color i…