As a beauty journalist with a soft spot for lipstick, it caught me by surprise when I recently realised that I don’t remember the last time I applied one. And that’s no mean feat, coming from someone who used to think of lipstick as an extension of my personality. Satin for an effortless everyday look or matte for all-out glam, each bullet served its own purpose and called for a different occasion. Yet, over the past few months, I found myself ditching any kind of lipstick altogether in favour of my latest obsession – lip stains.
Now, lip stains aren’t exactly new to a seasoned beauty lover, yet in the past few years, the recent resurgence of K-beauty trends has put these hero products back on the map, and deservedly so. Unlike the dated lip stains that would only ever turn your lips red or pink, what I love most about the newer, more innovative formulas is their ability to offer flexible shades to fit a variety of skin tones, from neutral nude-like iterations and mauve-y shades to punchier berry hues. And it doesn’t end there: today’s lip stains come in all shapes and forms too, be it a gloss or a matte liquid. It’s clear that we’re practically spoiled with choice.
The reason why I made the switch also had a lot to do with longevity. Sadly, most lipsticks aren’t formulated for prolonged wear and those that are (i.e. matte liquid lipsticks) end up concealing my natural lips all too much, proving less fitting for an everyday look. My favourite part about lip stains is that they offer pigment while still managing to leave my lips looking like… Well, like my own lips – texture, blurred lines and all. They also eliminate the need for re-application since most of the best-performing formulas stay on the whole day. Above all, they don’t even feel like I’m wearing makeup in the first place, since there’s no stickiness or a heavy cake-y finish whatsoever. Enter: my foolproof lip stain edit that includes my tried-and-true favourites.
Dior Addict…
