The origins of lip colour date back to ancient Mesopotamia, when Queen Puabi is said to have crushed red rocks and mixed them with white lead to tint her lips ruby as a sign of her status. Today’s beauty brands are continuing that long tradition — and extending its staying power — with lip stains. As humidity remains and a standard tube of lipstick becomes more likely to melt and smudge, lip stains offer a longer-lasting alternative. Stila’s Calligraphy lip stain has a dual-sided tip: One side is pointed to line the lips with precision, and the other is marker-like to apply a full sweep of colour. Fenty Beauty’s Poutsicle hydrating lip stain, which comes in colours ranging from a silky coral to vibrant fuchsia, goes on glossy then settles into a soft, natural feel. For a matte finish, Saint Laurent’s the Inks Blurring matte liquid lip stain tints the lips in neutral shades and includes the skin-smoothing ingredient dimethicone. Clarins’s Water Lip Stain also delivers buildable matte coverage: Apply one to two coats for a sheer rose water tint or layer it for a bolder blush stain. Some lip stains incorporate a peel to lock in colour: Sacheu Beauty’s peel-off Lip Liner Stay-N is formulated with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E for nourishment, while Wonderskin’s Wonder Blading Peel & Reveal lip stain kit infuses the top layer of the lips with an ultraconcentrated pigment.
