Louise McSharry: Everyone from Marian Keyes to Billie Eilish is obsessed with lip stains – here are five to try

Recently, much-loved author and national treasure Marian Keyes posted an article to her Instagram stories which said that lip stain was the next big thing. She’d only just bought some lip glosses, she bemoaned, and I have to say, I fully empathised with her.

Lip trends move at lightning speed, and keeping up with them is an occasionally punishing process. Lip glosses absolutely were the number-one thing in lip products there for a good 10 or 15 minutes, but alas, we have, in fact, moved on to stains.

Of course, none of us have to follow these trends. Some people are simply matte lipstick queens and others will always wear gloss, no matter what the beauty pages say. Still, there are those of us who have a deep-rooted and insatiable need to try the new thing, for whom trend cycles are unignorable. So, for those of you who share this affliction, along with myself and Marian, here’s the lowdown on lip stains.

The first thing to note is that lip stains are not new. They’ve existed for decades — Benefit’s eternally successful Benetint (£22.50) is evidence of that. However, there has been some innovation in this area of late which has resulted in the market’s enthusiasm for such products. Also, who doesn’t want a product that doesn’t need to be reapplied every hour?

Billie Eilish recently went viral for sharing her pre-gig make-up routine which included the use of a lip stain as liner. The product she uses, Sacheu Stayn Lip Liner (£12), is a peel-off product, meaning it applies as a liquid, before drying down to form a layer of film. This film is then peeled off, leaving a stain in its wake.

As you might imagine, the main benefit of using a stain is longevity, and it’s no surprise that Billie chooses to wear this during her long and sweaty shows because, once you apply it, it simply does not budge. I’ve gotten a solid eight hours out of this one. Also, if you like a 1990s-esque brown liner, you’ll be happy to know this shade range includes one which delivers just that.

Other popular stains on the market currently include Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain (£19), which manages to bridge the gap between stain and comfort. Too often, lip stains leave the lips dry and uncomfortable, but this product goes on like a tinted oil and initially looks glossy but dries down to an immovable tint that never feels dry. Available in six shades from pink to red to berry, your bases are well covered here.

Similarly, NYX Cosmetics Lip IV Hydrating Gloss Stain Lip Glosses (£9.99) appear thick and glossy on application, but if you allow the product to set, it will eventually wear down to a long-lasting stain. Of course, if you don’t want the glossy effect, you can simply wipe off the top layer of gloss after allowing the colour to set.

Finally, if you prefer a classic liquid formula, Boots Collection Lip & Cheek Stain (£3.99) delivers a lasting tint without any faff or stickiness. Unfortunately, it’s only available in two shades, but you can’t argue with this price, which will allow you to experiment with a lip stain without making a huge financial commitment.

Buying Irish

Based in Co Clare, The Burren Perfumery makes fragrances and cosmetics inspired by the beautiful landscape of the Burren. The brand’s Neroli Eau de Parfum (£120) was recently nominated for a Fragrance Foundation Award, where it will compete against some of the industry’s biggest names. The fragrance is beautiful, with citrus notes of bergamot, bitter orange and yuzu as well as neroli flower and mimosa, and subtle notes of vanilla and sandalwood. Aside from that, its packaging is elegant and simple. I’m a fan.

Something old…

La Mer has long been one of the beauty world’s leading brands in luxury skincare. Established in 1965, La Mer’s story began with Dr Max Huber, an aerospace physicist who turned his attention to skincare and healing after suffering burns in a lab accident. Inspired by algae’s ability to self-regenerate, he looked to the sea and used giant sea kelp to develop ‘miracle broth’, which forms the foundation of all of La Mer’s products. I’m not a scientist, but there’s no denying people love these products, with a pot of the original Crème de la Mer sold every 36 seconds. Of course, the range has expanded and now includes The Eye Balm Intense, a hydrating and soothing product which sinks in deeply and conditions the skin around the eye. La Mer’s products are incredibly expensive, which is often attributed to a labour-intensive production process.

… Something new

The origin story of Augustinus Bader is impressive. The brand was founded by Professor Augustinus Bader, a globally recognised biomedical scientist and physician with over 30 years of ground-breaking stem cell research in the area of healing. In 2008, Prof Bader developed a wound gel which heals severe skin traumas. The science and technique at the root of this wound gel became the basis for Bader’s skincare line. Founded in 2016, the line is still relatively small, the latest addition being The Rich Eye Cream (£160), which uses the brand’s TFC8 technology to enhance skin renewal and refresh the skin around the eye. It also comes with a metal applicator, which makes applying the product soothing. If you have the cash, the products are beautiful and effective.