When it comes to long-wear lip colour, a good stain can be a lifesaver. No fuss, no constant touch-ups, just pigment that holds its own whether you're sipping coffee, chatting through a full day at work or heading out in the evening. I recently put two of the most talked-about versions to the test: Huda Beauty's Lip Contour Stain and Kiko Milano's Long Lasting Colour Lip Marker .
Both products promise lightweight wear, bold pigment and serious staying power, but they go about it in different ways. Huda's is pitched as a dual-purpose liner and stain in one, with a smart two-sided tip for precise outlining as well as filling in. Kiko's comes more like a felt-tip pen, a throwback to the marker-style lip stains we used to see years ago, and it's designed to give that 'tattoo' wash of colour that clings on without transfer.
The Huda stain has an undeniably luxe feel. The formula glides on smoothly and sets quickly into a matte finish that looks pigmented without feeling heavy or sticky. The dual tip is genuinely useful: the fine point works well for shaping the cupid's bow or edges of the lips, while the broader side fills in colour fast.
What I noticed most was the staying power. It lasted through a half-day, including lunch and coffee, without fading into that dreaded uneven outline. The shade range is also flattering, leaning into nudes, browns and reds to suit all skin tones– light and dark. My only niggle is that the pen really does need to be stored tip-down, otherwise the product can feel a little dry when you go back to it. This is fine if you have them in a pot at home, but I like to store mine in my handbag, so sometimes the tip of the pen gets a little dry.
Kiko's Lip Marker is a different feel altogether. It feels light on the lips, almost as if you're not wearing anything, but still leaves a punch of colour that sets quickly. The texture is thinner and waterier than Huda's, which makes sense as it's a marker formula, and it gives that 'bitten-lip' look.
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