We Test-Drove the Buzziest Drugstore Lip Stains—These Are the 17 We'd Recommend to Our Friends

Pros: Highly pigmented, long-wearing and glossy finish

Con: Some customers say it's not transfer-proof

Shades: 10

Beauty and fashion editor Aniyah Morinia is a big fan of this ultra-glossy and pigmented lip stain by e.l.f. Cosmetics. It's a high-quality product at an affordable price point. If you love Fenty Beauty's Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain ($28) in Berry Banger, you should give this one a try.

Customer review: "This goes on smooth and silky, dries quick and easy, doesn't smear easily, and isn't heavy or goopy like some lipsticks that I've tried are. It also smells nice and isn't expensive, which is always a huge plus! I would definitely recommend this product."

Pros: Highly pigmented, long-wearing

Con: Some customer say it's not transfer-proof

Shades: 14

Similar to high-end lip stains, this L'Oréal option offers saturated color with a lightweight feel. With so many shades to choose from, you'll find one that fits your aesthetic. It has a matte finish, but we promise it never feels too drying.

Customer review: "This lipstick makes me want to throw all my other lipsticks away. It's that good. It blends into the lips so naturally and smoothly. The applicator is genius and unique and makes applying it a breeze."

Pros: Glossy finish, nondrying formula, natural-looking pigment payoff

Con: A bit thicker than other options

Shades: 7

"This is, hands down, one of the most hydrating lip stains I've tried," notes senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider. "I despise that dry, cracked feeling that comes with lip stains—long-lasting color be damned—but this one delivers the best of both worlds: stunning longevity and a smooth dry-down. Bonus points for the high-shine finish. I don't even need to top it off with a gloss!"

Customer review: "I'm not usually a pink lip girl, but the stain color is so subtle & gorgeous! It's so moisturizing, even after blotting!"

Pros: Layers easily, great to overline lips or use as a full lip color, extremely long-lasting

Con: Can be difficult to peel off all the pigment in one go

Shades: 7

If Billie Eilish and Sofia Richie Grainge consider this $14 lip stain a staple, then you know it's good. It's a peel-off formula, meaning it transforms into a film after a few minutes of drying time. Peel off the remaining pigment, and you'll be left with a vibrant tint that lasts hours on end. "I like to slightly overline my Cupid's bow for a rounder, fuller effect, which tends to smudge rather quickly with regular liner (especially after eating or drinking), but Sacheu's stain allowed me to keep that flirty shape all day—no exaggeration," Schneider notes about the TikTok-viral formula.

Associate beauty editor Maya Thomas also says it has intense color payoff, especially after a few layers: "I started with a single thin layer on my lips, which showed up against my deep skin tone but wasn't as pigmented as I wanted it to be. To get the look I desired, I went in with a second layer, let it dry longer, and got the stunning burnt-red shade!"

Customer review: "This is actually great!! I didn't have much hope after many 'TikTok' hypes turned out to be a flop. This one works super well for me. It's the exact same colour as my lips and I'm able to make my lips appear just a tad larger. Just what I wanted since I have a very narrow upper lip."

Pros: Transfer-proof, long-wearing

Con: Some customers say it can be drying

Shades: 6

Are you a fan of Rare Beauty's Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm ($20)? This lip stain has a similar gel-like texture that dries down to a regular stain. The water-based formula will provide your lips with all-day hydration.

Customer review: "It goes on so smoothly. My lips feel hydrated even after it absorbs! I love that you can apply multiple layers for your desired intensity. And it stays put - no traces on my coffee cup! Definitely adding to my necessity list!"

Pro: Can use on lips, cheeks, and lids for natural-looking and long-lasting makeup

Con: Not as many shade options

Shades: 3

"If you want the juiciest-looking lips imaginable, I can't recommend this jelly stain enough," says Schneider. "Just a few taps gives you that perfect Popsicle pout, especially when you use your fingertips to further blur the color. Pro tip: Bounce the product on the center of your lips, then use a brush (or your fingertips) to spread the pigment outward. As for the formula itself, it's extremely hydrating—making lips look like they're bursting with moisture—while being incredibly long-lasting. I'm talking about over six hours of wear."

Customer review: "I LOVE this product! It's exactly like the Milk jelly blush! It does dry fast though! So if you are putting it on your cheeks I recommend only doing one side at a time!"

Pros: Long-wearing, glossy finish

Con: Some customers say it's not transfer-proof

Shades: 16

Imagine a gloss that doesn't budge and doesn't need constant reapplications. Just like the aforementioned e.l.f lip stain, this strikes that magical balance. Nyx's Lip IV Hydrating Gloss Stain provides a high-shine color that actually lasts.

Customer review: "My new favorite!! My lips look so full and hydrated when I wear this, plus the stain looks gorgeous after! And the color meshes perfect with my hair and skin tone! 100 percent would buy again!"

Pros: Long-wearing, lightweight, natural-looking finish

Con: Some customers say they prefer a bolder lip stain

Shades: 6

Don't sleep on Ulta's namesake lip stains. There are six shades available, and each one has a quick-dry formula that provides sheer, lightweight, and long-lasting color.

Customer review: "Ulta, babe, we need more colors of this!!! My new favorite summer lip for no-makeup makeup days. No transfer, it's a true watery lip STAIN. I'm obsessed!"

Pros: Long-wearing, lightweight, natural-finish, two-in-one lip and cheek formula

Con: Not as many shades

Shades: 3

Essence's What a Tint! Lip & Cheek Tint is so lightweight that you'll forget you're wearing anything at all. Thanks to a super-natural-looking finish, it's the perfect product to use on both your lips and cheeks for a monochromatic look.

Customer review: "I would definitely buy this again I put it all over my lips and then let it sit a minute and just take it off with a plain Q-tip and it leaves the perfect pink tint. I just wish there were other colors!"

Pros: Highly pigmented, long-wearing, hydrating formula, gloss-to-matte finish

Con: Some reviewers wish it had more of a lasting tint

Shades: 6

Our beauty editors wear Milani lip products more often than those from high-end and luxe brands. Seriously—they're that good, and this lip stain is no exception. It delivers a buildable, glossy color that dries down to a semi-matte stain. We love all the shades, but this brick red called That's Fire is a favorite.

Customer review: "I got Bitten Berry and the shade is so beautiful on. Stain lasts for a long time and doesn't crack or settle."

Pros: Long-wearing, lightweight, precise pen-like applicator

Con: Some customers say the color can be patchy, especially on dry lips

Shades: 14

Covergirl's Outlast Lipstain is an iconic drugstore product. It has a precise applicator, buildable color, and the most featherlight feel. No wonder the brand brought it back after it was originally discontinued!

Customer review: "I used to be a huge fan of Outlast Lip Stains and was so sad when they were discontinued. I'm so happy they are back and even better! I got the shade 'Jazzberry' which is described as "purple", but on me, it looks a bit more of a reddish-purple/maroon. These are quite pigmented and transparent, so be aware that your natural lip/skin color will affect the shade of the stain. I adore them because they stay put all day, are easy to use (literally like coloring your lips in with a marker), and work well with glosses or lip oils."

Pros: Highly pigmented, long-wearing

Con: Some customers say the topcoat can run out before the lip color

Shades: 20

Rimmel's lip stain is a two-step product: First, apply the lip color, making sure to avoid pressing your lips together for 60 seconds. Then, apply the topcoat, which will seal the color and moisturize your lips in a single swipe. Afterward, you can enjoy up to 16 hours of wear time.

Customer review: "This is the best lipstick I have ever found, and I hope they never stop making it! The colors are beautiful and rich, and the staying power is terrific. I literally do not use my old lipsticks anymore!"

Pros: Highly pigmented, long-wearing and smooth finish

Con: Some customers say you need to reapply it more often than other lip stains.

Shades: 33

This popular Amazon product provides highly pigmented, super-smooth color. It has a lightweight, silky finish, and it lasts all day long. It reminds us of Kaja's Love Swipe Lightweight Cushiony Lip Mousse ($21).

Customer review: "Got this on a whim and was so pleasantly surprised! This formula is so lightweight and has the perfect satiny application. It smells like strawberries too. It doubles as a successful stain by simply letting it sit and then wiping off excess product. I need all the colors!"

Pros: Long-wearing, hydrating formula, natural-looking finish

Con: Some customers say the pen can dry out faster than other lip stains.

Shades: 6

Another popular Amazon product, this lip stain has a matte finish, but it's not drying. Thanks to panthenol, also known as vitamin B5, it's actually quite hydrating.

Customer review: "It's the perfect long-lasting stain that doesn't dry and crack my lips. I let it soak in for a few minutes, then dab some balm on top, and I'm good to go. This is the first stain I've used that isn't drying."

Pros: Long-wearing, nourishing formula, natural-looking finish

Con: Some customers say it can look uneven on dry lips

Shades: 3

This product reminds us of Benefit Cosmetics' Benetint Lip & Cheek Stain($35). The water-based formula absorbs quickly into the lips and lasts all day. It's enriched with pomegranate and grapefruit extracts to keep your lips soft, smooth, and plump.

Customer review: "The color is beautiful. I apply it before ChapStick, and it looks so cute. Some tints get smelly or chap my lips but not this one. I'm so happy there's so much product inside. It's going to last me a long time. Will definitely buy again."

Pros: Long-wearing, lightweight, precise pen-like applicator

Con: Some customer says it can be drying

Shades: 8

Just like Stila's Calligraphy Lip Pen ($25), Kiko's water-based lip stain leaves a natural-looking flush of color. It has a pen-like applicator to help you define your lips easily and precisely. No messy, imperfect lines here!

Customer review: "I will definitely buy other shades [because] this marker is a spectacular discovery for me. Weightless on lips and not sticky. Acts as a lip pencil itself, which is fantastic. Intensity can be adjusted by applying an extra layer. Lasts all day [when] drinking and eating. Love it."

Pros: Highly pigmented, long-wearing

Con: Some customers say it can be difficult to remove

Shades: 36

Although this is technically a liquid lipstick, we think it's similar to a lip stain because of its splash of budge-proof, saturated color. It goes on super smoothly and lasts for 16 hours. As such, it reminds us of KVD's Everlasting Hyperlight Vegan Transfer-Proof Liquid Lipstick ($23).

Customer review: "This lipstick literally lasts all day long through eating, drinking, kissing, everything. That means that I never have to reapply, and I never have to be without color on my lips throughout the day. This stuff doesn't budge until I scrub it off at the end of my day."