As somebody who religiously carries a lipstick to tint my paler lips, the surge in the love for lip tints felt like a gate to heaven opening. What do you mean I don’t have to reapply every couple of hours, and instead the colour will cling to my lips all day without any chance of removal? It almost seemed too good to be true. So when I got my hands on the Wonderskin lip stain, I knew this small tube had the potential to change my daily getting-ready routine for the foreseeable future.

“I did not fancy turning up looking like Damodar from Dungeons and Dragons”

When picking a lip colour that you’re (supposed to be) unable to remove for the day, it’s important that the colour is one that you like, or one that suits you. Feeling slightly sceptical, I opted for a classic pinky-red, which felt like a safe option, but was also one I would turn to on the daily. Although I felt secure in my colour choice, opening the tube and seeing that the tint was vibrantly blue and slightly glittery did scare me. At this point, I was feeling even more dubious, especially because I had plans for lunch and did not fancy turning up looking like Damodar from Dungeons and Dragons. But I proceeded to apply the blue stain, which was easily applied with a gloss-like brush.

I was shocked at the speed in which the stain dried, making it difficult for me to ensure all my lips had received an even coating. What was even more difficult, however, was honing the skill of ‘staying in the (lip) lines’ (clearly primary school taught me nothing). When you’re applying something blue to your face, it seems to draw attention to every smidge of unevenness that you have placed on your lips, and mine ended up looking immensely lop-sided. Luckily with a wet cotton bud I managed to neaten the lines up, but this removal didn’t seem to bode well for the longevity of the tint. Patiently I waited two minutes – or as long as was necessary until all of my lips were dry – and then it was time for the grand reveal.

The stain was removed with a wet cotton bud, and it came off easily, with a couple of simple swipes. The colour that was left over was exactly as the colour described on the tube: a bright pink-red. I was impressed with how smooth the removal was, with my fear of blue lips quickly being eradicated. This colour became my base, with the simple addition of a clear gloss on top.

Now the real test was the permanence of the tint. Within the hour I noticed the colour had faded slightly, but still retained some of its prominence below the gloss. However, as lunchtime approached and meals had been eaten, the colour had dwindled to the point of disappearance, leaving a patchy appearance on my lips. The reapplication of gloss did manage to even out the colour slightly, but by 5pm my lips were back to their pale state.

“By 5pm my lips were back to their pale state”

So, are lip stains something that will be integrated into my routine? I think they definitely have the potential to be. On the daily, the stain provides a casual, non-committal colour that can speed up getting ready through the ability to stick the tint on, carry on with other makeup, and then return to the lips when the time has passed. As long as you’re not bothered about having pristine lips throughout the day and are happy to top up with some Vaseline or gloss, the stain could be the move for improved efficiency in the morning. However, for occasions and going-out, I think I’ll stick to my trusty lipstick. Lip stains might not be the holy grail – but they’re definitely worthy of a spot in the makeup bag.