Lipstain vs. Lipstick vs. Lipgloss – A Comparative Guide to the Best Lip-Pampering Choices

When it comes to pampering our lips with those bold and bright lip coloring products available in the market, the first name that comes to our mind is ‘lipstick’. But lipstain and lipgloss are other two products that have been giving tough competition to it since last few years. Today, I’ll be talking about these three and giving you a brief idea about them through this comparative guide so that you can make the best choice for yourself:

Lipstain

1. What Is It?

A lip stain is a certain type of dye that is used to stain the lips for long time. It is mainly a water-based lip product, which comes in different forms (gel, marker, liquid, etc.) as well as packaging (bottle, tube, roll-on, jar, etc.) with built-in applicators (most of the time). It can also contain alcohol or other similar ingredients for fast drying.

2. Factors to Consider

Lasts as long as 24 hours (known to be the ‘longest-lasting’ lip product) with no touch-up needed.
Being water-based color, it does not smudge at all.
Does not create a feathery line surrounding the lips.
Does not stain other things that get in touch with your lips.
The drying agents present in it can make your pout totally dry and chapped after a few minutes of application.
Gives a matte effect without a lip-color like feel.
Defines the lips perfectly.
Needs very precise and careful application due to its fast-drying nature.
Makeup remover is required for its removal as it does not come off easily.
Choices are limited to natural shades only.

Lipstick

1. What Is It?

A lipstick is the most common and traditional way to color lips. It contains waxes, oils, pigments and certain emollients, which help in keeping the lips soft and moisturized along with giving them a bright hue. It usually comes as solid (a bit waxy in texture) color sticks or blocks, which can be used directly onto the lips or even with the help of a brush.

2. Factors to Consider

Being highly pigmented, it gives
Fades away with time as the lasting power is not that good.
Needs several applications to make it last all through the day. However, reapplication is an easy procedure.
Stains almost anything and everything that gets in touch with your lips.
Some of these sticks can smudge badly.
The waxy base gives a moisturizing effect to the lips and that too for many hours.
A literally huge variety of finishes (matte, gloss, satin, glaze, sheer, metallic, creamy, etc.) and shades are available.
Anyone can wear it as application is easier than the previous one.
Can be combined to recreate new shades.
Can be wiped off easily with a wet tissue.
Helps you to get a sexy and kissable pout.

Lipgloss

1. What Is It?

A lip gloss is known to be the easiest way to pamper our lips and add a splash of color to it at the same time. It is nothing but a gel-like substance, which is a bit sticky in nature. It either comes in a bottle containing an applicator or a simple squeezable tube.

2. Factors to Consider

Does not last long. Hence, frequent reapplications are required.
Keeps the lips moisturized always, which makes it a good choice for women with drylips.
Being a less intense lip product (contains medium to very low pigments), it does not stain other things that get in touch with your lips.
Extremely easy to apply.
Gives a natural yet bright and feminine look. Those, which come with glitter, can be used to get more lustrous lips.
Makes the pout appear very much shiny and sometimes even a bit plumper.
Can be removed very easily.
A wide variety (you can get them in sheer, glitter, full-color, with SPF, etc.) of colors and flavors (yes, you read it right!) are available.
Much more inexpensive than other two alternatives.