Lip Stains, Lipsticks, Lip Tints – What's The Difference?
Picture, if you will, a typical walk through your favorite makeup store, particularly the section dedicated to lips. A plethora of lip products in various shapes and sizes, from tubes to pencils to balms pepper the aisle in a sea of reds, pinks, and the occasional more out-there color. Since when did our lips require so many different products whose names offer little variation or insight into what they do?
Today we’re going to explore three of the most popular types of lip products and dive into what makes each one different. We’ll be talking about lipsticks, lip stains, and lip tints so you can learn the differences and choose the right one for your personal style and needs.
Lip Stain
Lip stains are unique because unlike lipsticks and lip tints, they are absorbed into the skin rather than just sitting on top. This leads to lip stains looking more matte and also makes them last longer without needing to reapply. Sounds like a good thing, right? However it does come with the added downfall of drying out lips and damaging them (we’ll touch more on that later). Not to mention since they’re so long-lasting, lip stains can be a real pain to take off, requiring makeup removers that dry out lips even more. If dry lips are a problem for you, lip stains might need to be taken off your wishlist.
When it comes to color, lip stains are fairly opaque, holding more pigment than lip tints but less than lipstick.
Lipstick
Serving women for millennia, lipstick will forever be a classic choice. Between the three, lipsticks are the most opaque in color strength and come in a wide range of colors. Lipsticks are generally easier to remove than lip stains, but some lipsticks (such as matte ones) can be just as tough to take off. Lipsticks do tend to smear pretty easily, so you’ll want to be careful when touching your lips or eating and drinking throughout the day.
Lipsticks are also fairly versatile, coming in a range of finishes. However, consider using a lip balm before application to keep lips from drying out. Especially if your lipstick has a matte finish.
Lip Tint
Lip tints are by far the most subtle and natural in color compared to lip stains and lipsticks, giving a splash of color to the lips. This makes lip tints a great choice for everyday wear or women who prefer a more natural makeup look. If you want a really strong color payoff though, lip tints might not be what you’re looking for.
Our Henné Luxury Lip Tints provide sheer, buildable color, giving you full control of how little or how much color you want on your lips. They also help moisturize lips, which is something you won’t find in a lip stain or lipstick (or most lip tints on the market, for that matter). You won’t need to worry about finding a mirror with good lighting because they’re generally a lot more forgiving and can usually be applied without a mirror. Lip tints are also easy to remove, giving you more time to finish up your PM skincare routine without fighting the stubborn remnants of lip color.
Lip Stain
Ever envied the “popsicle” look? You know, the one where it looks like the model just finished eating a popsicle, leaving her with softly stained, red lips? Lip stains can help accomplish that effortless lived-in color.
Lipstick
For those special occasions when you need just a little more oomph, lipsticks are a great choice. Classic, chic, and bold, lipsticks will draw plenty of attention to your lips.
Lip Tint
Sometimes we just want a touch of color to elevate our natural beauty. That’s where lip tints come in. Lip tints give just the right amount of subtle color, gently enhancing your natural features without overwhelming your face. You can also add extra layers for a stronger look if desired.
Dry lips a problem? Lip tints are the most moisturizing of the three, allowing you to highlight your lips without drying them out.
Here’s a breakdown of common ingredients that are found in lip makeup:
Lip Stain
Lip stains are notorious for longevity but come at the cost of not-so-good-for-you ingredients, such as gelling agents and mineral oils. Alcohol is often used to set color, but it’s also one of the main contributors to lips drying out. Lip stain formulas are usually comprised of mostly water, which requires extra preservatives for shelf life. A big no-no if you’re looking for cleaner products.
Lipstick
Waxes, oils, and colorants make up the common lipstick. Like lip stains, lipsticks often contain preservatives, mineral oil and alcohol, which means you might have to sacrifice a bit of health for your makeup products.
Lip Tint
If you’re looking for products without extra preservatives and other unwanted ingredients, there are definitely lip tints on the market that make the grade. Be sure to check the ingredients list though, as most conventional brands still use less than desirable ingredients in their lip tints (as opposed to clean beauty brands). Lip tints also tend to contain more moisturizing ingredients. And because they're not as opaque, they contain fewer colorants, leaving more room for ingredients that are actually good for your lips. Cheers to a better-for-you formula!
What makeup breakdown would be complete without a product recommendation? If lip tints caught your eye, Henné Luxury Lip Tints were created to be the perfect blend of flattering color and moisturizing. And the short, simple ingredients list primarily contains certified organic oils and waxes, meaning you don’t need to worry about what you’re putting on your lips. Handcrafted in North Carolina, each Henné lip tint is made with care and precision to bring you lip color that enhances your natural beauty. With eight universally flattering shades, don’t be surprised if you fall in love with more than one color; we definitely have!
EXPLORE TINTS
Today we’re going to explore three of the most popular types of lip products and dive into what makes each one different. We’ll be talking about lipsticks, lip stains, and lip tints so you can learn the differences and choose the right one for your personal style and needs.
Key Differences You Need to Know
On the surface lip stains, lipsticks, and lip tints sound fairly similar. They all add color to your lips, right? Well, yes and no. Some are easier to apply, some are more moisturizing, some last longer, the list goes on. Here’s a quick snapshot of these differences.Lip Stain
Lip stains are unique because unlike lipsticks and lip tints, they are absorbed into the skin rather than just sitting on top. This leads to lip stains looking more matte and also makes them last longer without needing to reapply. Sounds like a good thing, right? However it does come with the added downfall of drying out lips and damaging them (we’ll touch more on that later). Not to mention since they’re so long-lasting, lip stains can be a real pain to take off, requiring makeup removers that dry out lips even more. If dry lips are a problem for you, lip stains might need to be taken off your wishlist.
When it comes to color, lip stains are fairly opaque, holding more pigment than lip tints but less than lipstick.
Lipstick
Serving women for millennia, lipstick will forever be a classic choice. Between the three, lipsticks are the most opaque in color strength and come in a wide range of colors. Lipsticks are generally easier to remove than lip stains, but some lipsticks (such as matte ones) can be just as tough to take off. Lipsticks do tend to smear pretty easily, so you’ll want to be careful when touching your lips or eating and drinking throughout the day.
Lipsticks are also fairly versatile, coming in a range of finishes. However, consider using a lip balm before application to keep lips from drying out. Especially if your lipstick has a matte finish.
Lip Tint
Lip tints are by far the most subtle and natural in color compared to lip stains and lipsticks, giving a splash of color to the lips. This makes lip tints a great choice for everyday wear or women who prefer a more natural makeup look. If you want a really strong color payoff though, lip tints might not be what you’re looking for.
Our Henné Luxury Lip Tints provide sheer, buildable color, giving you full control of how little or how much color you want on your lips. They also help moisturize lips, which is something you won’t find in a lip stain or lipstick (or most lip tints on the market, for that matter). You won’t need to worry about finding a mirror with good lighting because they’re generally a lot more forgiving and can usually be applied without a mirror. Lip tints are also easy to remove, giving you more time to finish up your PM skincare routine without fighting the stubborn remnants of lip color.
Oh, the Styles You’ll Find
Now that we know the basics between lip stains, lipsticks, and lip tints, how do we apply this new knowledge when it comes to developing our personal makeup style? Whether you have a flair for the dramatic colors or prefer a MLBB (my lips but better) lippie, here are the styles you can create with the right lip color:Lip Stain
Ever envied the “popsicle” look? You know, the one where it looks like the model just finished eating a popsicle, leaving her with softly stained, red lips? Lip stains can help accomplish that effortless lived-in color.
Lipstick
For those special occasions when you need just a little more oomph, lipsticks are a great choice. Classic, chic, and bold, lipsticks will draw plenty of attention to your lips.
Lip Tint
Sometimes we just want a touch of color to elevate our natural beauty. That’s where lip tints come in. Lip tints give just the right amount of subtle color, gently enhancing your natural features without overwhelming your face. You can also add extra layers for a stronger look if desired.
Dry lips a problem? Lip tints are the most moisturizing of the three, allowing you to highlight your lips without drying them out.
Style Isn’t Everything: Ingredients Can Make or Break a Product
While style is certainly important when choosing a lip color, ingredients shouldn’t be ignored, especially if you have any sensitivities or are prone to skin conditions.Here’s a breakdown of common ingredients that are found in lip makeup:
Lip Stain
Lip stains are notorious for longevity but come at the cost of not-so-good-for-you ingredients, such as gelling agents and mineral oils. Alcohol is often used to set color, but it’s also one of the main contributors to lips drying out. Lip stain formulas are usually comprised of mostly water, which requires extra preservatives for shelf life. A big no-no if you’re looking for cleaner products.
Lipstick
Waxes, oils, and colorants make up the common lipstick. Like lip stains, lipsticks often contain preservatives, mineral oil and alcohol, which means you might have to sacrifice a bit of health for your makeup products.
Lip Tint
If you’re looking for products without extra preservatives and other unwanted ingredients, there are definitely lip tints on the market that make the grade. Be sure to check the ingredients list though, as most conventional brands still use less than desirable ingredients in their lip tints (as opposed to clean beauty brands). Lip tints also tend to contain more moisturizing ingredients. And because they're not as opaque, they contain fewer colorants, leaving more room for ingredients that are actually good for your lips. Cheers to a better-for-you formula!
Henné Luxury Lip Tints
What makeup breakdown would be complete without a product recommendation? If lip tints caught your eye, Henné Luxury Lip Tints were created to be the perfect blend of flattering color and moisturizing. And the short, simple ingredients list primarily contains certified organic oils and waxes, meaning you don’t need to worry about what you’re putting on your lips. Handcrafted in North Carolina, each Henné lip tint is made with care and precision to bring you lip color that enhances your natural beauty. With eight universally flattering shades, don’t be surprised if you fall in love with more than one color; we definitely have!
EXPLORE TINTS
