12 Best Lip Stains, Balms, and Oils That Last All Freaking Day

Literally giving away all my other lip products right now.

Fun fact about lipsticks: They’re kind of high maintenance. And this is coming from me, a girl who wears red lipstick at least 80 percent of my life. But among the meticulous applications, the touch-ups for when you inevitably eat yet another snack (why are there so many snacks in the world?!), and that moment when your lips devolve into a dry, prune-like mess...they can get annoying. And that is why I have recently become the proud president of the lip stain club—the gift from the beauty heavens.

Before your brain conjures images of the low-key sh*tty stains of your junior high days, which dried out your lips like an actual Sharpie, please know that today’s formulas are legit awesome. With color-changing formulas, oil-stain hybrids, and cheek-and-lip combos, you can find truly the perfect formula and shade for your lips—and very high standards—without having to settle on another lipstick that somehow gets all over your teeth, fingers, and keyboard. And to get you started, I picked the 12 best lip stains (yup, I’ve really tried all 12—what fan club president would I be if I hadn’t?!), below. Get swiping.

1 BEST CREAMY LIP STAIN

Too Cool for School Milk Tint

$12 AT ULTA BEAUTY

Okay, so a “milk tint” doesn’t exactly sound appetizing, but don’t let the name deter you. This long-wear lip stain (which comes in both orange and lavender pink) is formulated with hydrating squalene and—here it is—nonfat dry milk to give your lips a slightly creamy, hella-pigmented finish that won’t dry you out.

2 BEST LIP STAIN IN STICK FORM

Milk Makeup Glow Oil Lip + Cheek

$20 AT SEPHORA

This little lip stain is a multitasking superhero. It’s got the bright pigment of a stain, the shine powers of a face oil, and the hydrating longevity of a balm. And thanks to its lightweight formula, it can be used on both your cheeks as a gel-like blush and your lips as a moisturizing stain.

3 BEST PLUMPING LIP STAIN

Buxom Serial Kisser Plumping Lip Stain

$22 AT SEPHORA

If you’ve ever used a plumping gloss, you know how sticky and gloopy it can feel. Why can’t we just have full lips without the feels?! Is that too much to ask?! Apparently, it’s not, because Buxom created this plumping lip stain just for us thin-lipped folk, filling it with hyaluronic acid to gently plump up lips without the sting or stick.

4 BEST LIP STAIN SHADE RANGE

Holika Holika Holi Pop Jelly Tint

$7 AT ULTA BEAUTY

This lightweight, jelly-textured lip stain is filled with hydrating fruit extracts and also comes in six bright colors, from candy-apple red to a deep cherry, so you can live out your wildest stain fantasies (...as long as they’re on the spectrum of, um, red).

5 BEST MOISTURIZING LIP STAIN

Lipstick Queen Lipstick in Frog Prince

NOW 27% OFF

$15 AT AMAZON

If you know me, you know I legit won’t shut up about this freaking “lipstick.” Holy hell, it is so good. The color-changing formula shifts from sheer green to a bright (yet still sheer) berry, with absolutely zero fragrance, taste, or stickiness. And when the balm wears off, it leaves behind a pigmented stain that lasts until the end of the day. Truly magical.

6 BEST GEL LIP STAIN

E.L.F. Cosmetics Aqua Beauty Radiant Gel Lip Tint

$100 AT ULTA BEAUTY

This gel-like lip tint feels like pure water (Kool-Aid?) when you smooth it on yet still leaves a layer of hydration behind, thanks to its base of jojoba oil, glycerin, and castor oil. If this red-pink shade isn’t your vibe, try the deep burgundy or cocoa neutral—they’re all equally pretty.

7 BEST LONG-LASTING LIP STAIN

Dior Addict Lip Tattoo

$30 AT SEPHORA

I mean, if I’m covering my lips in a stain, I basically want it to be a tattoo, you know? Enter this ultra-pigmented lip tint that applies like a gloss yet dries down into a semi-shiny, ultra-bright stain. But unlike other stains that can feel drying, this one has glycerin and squalane to keep lips hydrated.

8 BEST CHEEK-AND-LIP STAIN COMBO

Benefit Cosmetics Lovetint Lip & Cheek Stain

$18 AT SEPHORA

Another lip-and-cheek combo, this water-light formula packs major, major stain powers. It’s similar to the classic—dare I even say iconic—Benetint you probably used in high school, except way more vibrant with a definitively pink hue. Swipe it on your nude lips and top with a clear gloss or keep layering for more impact.

9 BEST SEMI-MATTE LIP STAIN

Revlon Kiss Cushion Lip Tint

SHOP AT ULTA BEAUTY

Unlike most stains, which are, quite literally, a stain on your lips (i.e., not at all hydrating), this stain has a dose of coconut oil in it to give it a hydrating, balm-like finish. Just twist the bottom, wait for the pigment to fill the squishy tip, and swipe it over your lips. After a few minutes, it’ll dry down to a semi-matte finish that lasts through one coffee...or three.

10 BEST SHEER LIP STAIN

Clarins Water Lip Stain

SHOP AT NORDSTROM

This is, pure and simple, a straight-up stain. It’s a thin, water-like liquid (it’s 77 percent water, in fact) mixed with a range of four pigments to give your lips a wash of long-lasting color. Brush it on over your bare lips, then layer with a lip balm for more moisture.