The $6 lip stain that TikTokers rave about completely deserves the hype. Here's why.
- I'm a big fan of the e.l.f. Cosmetics Glossy Lip Stain, which TikTokers can't get enough of.
- The $6 product feels like a gloss at first but later dries down and lightly stains your lips.
Though I've experimented with countless beauty brands over the years, my drugstore go-to has always been e.l.f. Cosmetics.
The brand's inexpensive makeup was some of the first I tried as a teenager, and I've continued to use its products ever since. Today, items like the Holy Hydration Face Cream and Hydrating Camo concealer are some of my all-time favorites, and I recommend them every chance I get.
So when a new lip product — the brand's Glossy Lip Stain — started trending on TikTok last summer, I had to see what the buzz was about.
I loved the product when I first tried it — and can confirm that it's still entirely deserving of the hype (videos about the product have more than 974 million views combined today). Here's why.
The e.l.f. Cosmetics Glossy Lip Stain costs $6 and can be found at most drugstores
I picked mine up at Target and could tell how popular the product was while in the store. Out of eight shades sold by e.l.f. Cosmetics, only two colors were still on the shelf.
Luckily, the one I wanted, Pinkies Up, was available. The shade is the lightest of the bunch and can be described as a neutral pink.
When I opened the product, I was first shocked by how small it seemed. I'd compare it to sample lipsticks you often receive at makeup stores and with online orders.
But after a closer look, I realized the small tube contains a pretty average amount of product: .1 fluid ounces.
The lip stain feels great on the lips and stays on all day
The product first applies as a gloss that doesn't feel sticky or syrupy, in my experience. Instead, it feels soft and hydrating, partially thanks to its soft, doe-foot applicator. Most lip stains feature dry pens instead, which can make for an uncomfortable application.
Pinkies Up is a light color, so I applied two coats for a more opaque sheen. It took about 30 minutes for most of the gloss to disappear, leaving behind a pink stain that was slightly darker than my natural lip shade.
Even after the product dried, it still felt comfortable on my lips. The color remained after talking on the phone and wearing a mask, and I never felt like I needed to wipe it off — like I usually experience when I wear lip stains.
I did notice that the color disappeared a bit from the middle of my lips after eating, but I didn't really mind. Even after fading, the color looked natural, and I left it alone for most of the day. In fact, I only applied more because I liked the product so much and wanted to use it again.
There are a lot of lip products on the market, so it would be easy to overlook this small, simple-looking stain. But after trying it myself, I can vouch for the TikTok reviews — it's deserving of all the hype, and maybe more.
And because they cost only $6 each, I'll be personally be picking up more shades to add to my collection.