I Tried Three Retro Lip Stains, Including the TikTok Product of the Moment

FIND lipstick that requires a lot of maintenance for daily use?

Try lip color. Retro paints have come a long way since the 80s and are now lighter and longer lasting than ever. I put three to the test.

BUDGET

Elf Glossy lip stain, £6 for 3ml, elfcosmetics.co.uk: Elf Cosmetics is at the top of the market and I don’t remember any launch that the company didn’t like.

These lip stains are no different. There are eight colors and they all deliver a very intense pigment.

The formula is brighter than the others at first, so you immediately get a Cool shine that leaves the tone behind.

It lasts the longest of the three, so you don’t need to reapply often – but the packaging is small and sleek if you want to take it out.

This is my favorite, and not just because it’s the cheapest!

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MIDDLE RANGE

Milk To invent Cooling Water Jelly Tint, £22 for 5g, Sephora.co.uk: This is the product of the moment – ​​my TikTok feed is full of people trying it, and every time it’s restocked it sells out within seconds.

I was worried it might be overdone and I really struggled to use the blush version of this, but I’m obsessed with it as a lip tint.

The jelly formula is cool and refreshing, and the color payoff is much greater than I expected.

I love the stick formula, although it is quite thick, which makes it difficult to trace the lip line.

It’s a really fun product, but not the most effective.

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LUX

Dior Addict lip tint, £32 for 5ml, Boots: There are 12 shades of this shade, which is a great selection and much more than the other two products.

When applied, it glides on easily and has a minty flavor that’s refreshing but not tingly like you might find in filler formulas.

Of the three, it is the most hydrating and left my lips hydrated for longer.

But the slightly thicker formula means it can look patchy and build up in cracked patches.

Although the stain lasts a few hours, it cannot resist eating or drinking, so it needs to be reapplied after meals.

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Pick of the week

TRADING Alert! M&S has launched its Summer Beauty Bag this week that costs £35 when you spend £30 in store on clothes, home and beauty.

The kit contains over £170 worth of products ideal for warmer weather, such as the full-size This Works Perfect Legs Body Butter, Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner and L’Occitane

Verbena shower gel. Shop at brandsandspencer.com.