Lip stains are everywhere right now. Whether you’ve spotted one on your TikTok For You Page or advertised on the side of a bus, there’s good reason we’re all on the lip stain hype: they’re the answer to natural-looking, effortless makeup with seriously impressive staying power. Yep, the kind of colour that’ll survive a bottomless brunch, multiple coffees and a busy day without disappearing.
The appeal started with peel-off formulas and leave-on lip colours, but now lip stain markers are leading the charge – and e.l.f.’s £5 Main Stain Marker is making the trend even more accessible.
It has the staying power of a stain but the precision of a lip liner – not to mention you can slightly overline your lips to create the illusion of contoured, fuller-looking lips. All it takes is a swipe around your lip line and the marker deposits a pigmented, natural-looking stain that looks like your lips, only more defined. Naturally, I had to put it to the test.
What I love about the e.l.f. Main Stain Lip Marker
- Lasts an entire working day without budging
- It lends a pigmented, natural effect while giving lips the look of more volume
- Can be used as a liner or all-over lip tint
- It’s £5 – bargain.
About the e.l.f. Main Stain Lip Marker
I’m a lover of all nude lip shades, so I opted for Beigebait – a natural, soft-toned brown. Most lip markers I’ve tried have a nib similar to that of a traditional felt-tip pen, but e.l.f.’s stain has a clever two-sided shape: one side is flat, while the other is thin. The thin side lets you sketch on fine, precise lines, while the flat side makes filling in your lips quick and easy.
How to apply the e.l.f. Main Stain Lip Marker
Before diving straight in, I sussed out the pigment by applying it to the back of my hand first. While some lip stains can feel a little drying or look patchy, I was surprised by how seamlessly the pen glided on, leaving a rich, even line behind. Curiosity got the better of me and I instantly tried to rub it off – and, as promised, nothing budged.
I applied the pen to clean, hydrated lips – and by hydrated, I mean plump and flake-free, without any lip balm on. I used the thin tip of the pen to draw around my natural lip line, slightly going over it to create the illusion of fuller lips. I was impressed by how easily the formula glided on without running out of pigment or drying out. I then twisted the pen so it was lying flush against my lips and used the flat side to softly fill in the centre.
To finish, I tapped on the e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain in Maple Latte. Another multi-tasker, the liquid is part lip tint, part blush and has a water-like consistency that dries to a delicate, natural flush. I patted it into the centre of my lips for a sheer wash of additional colour, and it didn’t disturb the lip marker underneath. I also bounced a small amount onto my cheeks to pull the brown tones together for a bronzed look.
How long did the e.l.f. Main Stain Lip Marker last?
I’m potentially one of the best candidates for testing a lip stain. My day consists of drinking two too many coffees, snacking at any given opportunity and talking to every Tom, Dick and Harry who comes my way, so it’s fair to say I made this marker work hard.
I applied it at 7am and, by the end of my working day, the liner was still going strong. Sure, some areas had started to fade and the colour wasn’t quite as punchy as it had been in the morning, but my lips still looked defined. The lines around my lips stayed sharp and the pigment didn’t sink into fine lines or accentuate texture around my lips.
For a £5 lip product, I was seriously impressed. It didn’t completely survive the day untouched, but the fact that there was still visible colour is a pretty strong result in my book.
Overall thoughts
The price tag is practically unheard of – £5 for a lip stain is cheaper than the average takeaway coffee these days – and it comes in eight wearable shades, from muted pinks to rich nude browns.
The pigment is powerful, the staying power is impressive and the two-sided nib makes it incredibly easy to create a precise lip in seconds. Whether you’re a low-maintenance beauty girly who doesn’t want to worry about top-ups, or you’re on the hunt for a beach-ready stain that makes your lips look naturally more pigmented, this little pen is well worth adding to your makeup bag.
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
