FIND lipstick too high-maintenance for everyday wear?
Try a lip stain. The retro inks have come a long way since the 80s, and now they are more weightless and longer lasting than ever. I put three to the test.
E.l.f. Glossy lip stain, £6 for 3ml, elfcosmetics.co.uk: E.l.f. Cosmetics is up there with the best of the high street and I can’t remember a new launch I have not liked from the company.
These lip stains are no different. There are eight colours and all deliver a pretty intense pigment.
The formula is more glossy than the others at first, so you immediately get a nice shine which leaves the tint behind.
It lasts the longest of the three so you don’t need to reapply often – but the packaging is small and sleek if you do want to take it out.
This is my favourite, and not just because it’s the cheapest!
Milk Make-up Cooling Water jelly tint, £22 for 5g, sephora.co.uk: This is the product of the moment – my TikTok feed is plastered with people trying it out, and every time it’s restocked, it sells out in seconds.
I was worried it might be overhyped, and I really struggled to use the blush version of this, but I am obsessed with it as a lip tint.
The jelly formula feels cool and refreshing, and the colour pay-off is much greater than I expected.
I love the stick formula, although it is quite chubby which makes it hard to trace the lip line.
It is a great fun product, but not the most effective.
Dior Addict lip tint, £32 for 5ml, Boots: There are 12 shades of this tint, which is a great selection and far more than the other two products.
When applied, it glides on easily and has a minty flavour that is cooling, but not tingly like you might find in plumping formulas.
Of the three, it is the most hydrating and left my lips feeling moisturised the longest.
But the slightly thicker formula means it can look patchy and collect in chapped parts.
While the stain lasts for a good few hours, it doesn’t stand up to eating or drinking so needs reapplying after meals.
BARGAIN alert! M&S launched its Summer Beauty Bag this week which costs £35 when you spend £30 in store across clothing, home and beauty.
The kit contains more than £170-worth of products ideal for the warmer weather, such as the full-sized This Works Perfect Legs body butter, Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA tonic and L’Occitane
Verbena shower gel. Shop at marksandspencer.com.
