Review: Is WonderSkin Lip Stain Really Worth It? All My Friends Are Raving About This Last-All-Day Tint

Wonderskin has apparently created the unthinkable: A lip color that delivers rich pigmentation that looks fresh all day. The brand describes it as their “patented liquid blading technology,” which infuses color into the top layer of your lips in under a minute.

There are two different ways to accomplish this with their product line:

1) You can dip your toe in with their Lip Stain Masque. This is the product I tested and is what I’d describe as a more low-maintenance approach. Simply apply the product, let it set for up to 30 seconds, then wipe it away with a damp towel or tissue. Voila! A soft—and buildable—color remains. (FWIW, this is the product my friend uses and the one I’ve seen countless influencers in my orbit rely on as well.)

2) For even longer-lasting lip color that’s a bit more involved, you can try Wonderskin’s Peel & Reveal Lip Stain Kit ($29). Similar rules apply: Paint on the lip stain in a few layers, then wait up to 45 seconds for color to set. But here’s the pivot: Next, mist Wonderskin’s Wonder Blading Activator on your lips, then quite literally, peel and reveal your color. (According to the brand, the spray boosts the setting power—but, like I said, I experienced rich, long-lasting color without it, too.)

No matter which option you choose, the result is clear: Waterproof, transfer-proof, alcohol-free (meaning it won’t dry out your pout) color that’s as moisturizing as it is gorgeous. Also, before you panic about crazy chemicals that are making this happen, Wonderskin’s lip stain masque is vegan, paraben-free and PFAs-free.

A word of warning to begin: Don’t be alarmed when the product applies in a deep purple shade. I test drove a few different colors for the purposes of this story—Beautiful, XOXO and Charming—but all three of them begin as a rich, metallic purple.

To use the Wonderskin Lip Stain Masque, you simply apply the shade of your choice (there are 17 in total) in a thick layer on your lips. It actually goes on a bit sheer, so I had to swipe the wand a few times to achieve full coverage. The goal here is to have no part of your natural lip color peek through. I noticed a light tingling when it first went on, but nothing too bothersome. From there, I applied my eye makeup, which took roughly 30 seconds, then picked up a soft washcloth that I dampened with water to wipe away the purple for the big reveal.

I was delighted by the results: a subtle, but elevated-looking pink (my first attempt was with Beautiful). It looked like I’d put in some effort to appear more polished, but the color wasn’t too bold or try-hard. From there, I headed out to run errands while keeping tabs on my appearance. (It looked like the color started to fade around the 5-hour mark.)

My next few attempts involved more experimentation: Thicker layers of the product (as I mentioned before, the color is buildable!), but also testing out a richer hue (Charming packs a more vibrant punch). I found that the staying power really varied based on how much product I applied. The pic above shows my lips six hours later after wearing it to the office—and after a few meetings where I talked a lot, plus lunch.

Still, what was most remarkable was how soft and moisturized my lips felt throughout the day. So many lipsticks have a drying effect and the color tends to fade quickly. But Wonderskin gives me extended color that doesn’t lead to flakiness. I loved that.

I also had fun experimenting with a bit of product layering of my own—for example, I added a gloss over it one day, but also tried applying this YSL Candy Glow Tinted Butter Balm (another go-to product of mine that delivers a delicate shine). The base color from Wonderskin still remained.

Bottom Line

This product could feel gimmicky at first glance, but in my experience, it really works. For anyone who’s pressed for time and is in perpetual search of a lower-effort beauty routine, it’s a total win. One-and-done with zero dryness.