The best lip liner stains are the modern answer for anyone who wants defined lips without the need for constant touch-ups. Unlike traditional lip liners that fade fast, these inky, long-wearing formulas act like traditional lip stains and hold their shape for hours, so you’re not reapplying every time you sip, snack, or talk. They glide on smoothly, set down seamlessly, and keep your lip look intact from morning to night. To find which ones actually go the distance without smudging or slipping, Allure editors put the newest formulas through full-day wear tests (including a 2025 Best of Beauty winner) to uncover the lip liner stains your purse can no longer live without.
Our Top Lip Liner Stains
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Peel-Off: Sacheu Lip Liner Stay-N Peel Off Lip Stain
Why we love it: Think of Sacheu’s Lip Liner Stay-N Peel Off Lip Stain as a lip liner that refuses to quit. Once it’s on, it’s on—no touch-ups every 25 minutes—yet it still feels hydrating thanks to hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Application is simple: Trace the edges of your lips (the blue hue is temporary!), wait about eight minutes for it to dry, and then gently peel it off to reveal your-lips-but-better color payoff. In case you’re wondering: “Polyvinyl alcohol is the ingredient that gives the formula its peelable effect and lasting stain,” cosmetic chemist Laura Lam-Phaure previously told Allure. “It forms a flexible film that adheres to the lips and can be peeled away once fully dry.” Available in 14 shades, it delivers serious staying power—in our tester’s experience, the color lasted about 10 hours without fading.
“When I say this lip stain lasts, I mean it. I applied it in the morning, kissed my husband Matt goodbye as he left for work, drank my morning juice, went to the gym, ate lunch, and had a Diet Coke and a snack. Despite this, my lip line remained intact hours later—no reapplying necessary. It’s transfer-proof too, so I don’t have to worry about it rubbing off onto my Stanley straw, my face, or my Matt (bless). So when did it fade? Not until I scrubbed it off at 10 p.m.—impressive, I know.” —Angela Trakoshis, former shopping market editor
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, polyvinyl alcohol
- Shades: 10
Best Shade Range: Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Stain
Why we love it: The Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Stain Liner stands out for its wide, super-pigmented shade range (12 to be exact), including colors like Spiced Ginger, a toasty brown, Buff, a lighter nude ideal for fair skin, and Red, a classic crimson. This 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Winner for best lip liner pen also gets high marks for its unbeatable staying power, lasting through heat, drinks, and long days out and about. Its felt-tip design allows for precise definition, and the formula doesn’t add any extra texture to the lips—instead, it invisibly hydrates with maracuja oil, hyaluronic acid, and castor oil. It can be layered effortlessly with any lip product on top (sans smudging).
“I keep at least two beverages with me at all times—a matcha latte for energy and water for real hydration—which means most lip products don’t last more than just the selfie I put it on for. This tint, though, actually survives constant contact with straws. It dries down quickly, staying put once it’s set (even under layers of gloss). It does fade eventually (I noticed it was gone after a few hours and a snack), but I always keep the slim pencil with me for quick touch-ups.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
- Key ingredients: maracuja oil, superfruit complex, hyaluronic acid, castor oil, olive oil
- Shades: 12
Best for Contouring: Nyx Professional Makeup Lip Lingerie Lip Liner Stain
Why we love it: For precision that reaches the tiniest corners of your pout, Nyx Professional Makeup’s Lip Lingerie is a standout. Its ultra-skinny ballpoint tip hugs every curve of the lips, letting you contour with exacting detail. Waterproof and transfer-proof, this weightless formula stays put all day without bleeding or feathering—even under layers of lipstick or gloss.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“I’m not a lip liner expert by any means, but I’ve been experimenting recently, and I find the Nyx Lip Lingerie Lip Liner Stain quite easy to use as a beginner. I think the liquid formula lends itself well to my usual lip stains—shocker! My lips don’t need a ton of definition, imo, but I like to overline every so slightly, especially towards the outer halves of my upper lip lines, and the sturdy ballpoint applicator helps me draw super precise lines, so I only emphasize what I want to.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: glycerin
- Shades: 12
Best Blurring: Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain
Why we love it: Huda’s Lip Contour Lip Stain stands out with its dual-sided felt tip—use the sharper end to line and the chubbier side to fill. The result is a sculpted yet soft, blurred-lip effect that lends definition without the harshness of a traditional liner. However, the formula is still forgiving enough to overline just a touch if you’re aiming for a fuller pout. Once applied, the stain is practically indestructible—kiss-proof, transfer-proof, and lasting for hours, so your lips stay perfectly polished from morning coffee to evening cocktails.
“I never leave the house without lip liner, but I’m terrible at reapplying throughout the day, so Huda’s Lip Contour Stain has been a game-changer. It literally lasts from the moment I put it on until the end of the day, no touch-ups required. The shade I love, Baby Pink, isn’t overly pigmented like some of the darker hues, so it never leaves a harsh line once gloss or lipstick fades. Instead, it gives my lips just the right definition, especially on the upper lip, for a polished look.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
- Key ingredients: maracuja oil, superfruit complex, hyaluronic acid, castor oil, olive oil
- Shades: 12
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you apply a lip liner stain?
According to New York City-based makeup artist Crystal Gossman, the way you apply a lip liner stain depends on its form. “If the applicator is a felt tip pen (like Huda’s), then I draw it on and use a hydrating lip balm on top,” she says. On the contrary, if it’s a lip stain that you’re using as liner, she would use a lip brush to create the fine liner on the outer lip and then go in with her finger to pat the stain across the lips until the coverage is even and diffused.
How do lip liner stains stay so long?
Gossman explains that lip stains last longer because they’re mostly alcohol- or water-based rather than emollient-based. Cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos adds that the key is pigment concentration: The more pigment a lip color contains, the more it can actually stain the lips. That’s why lip stains typically pack a higher pigment load than traditional lipsticks.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best lip liner stains, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Finish off your lip look with these editor-approved picks:
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