I absolutely LOVE long-wear lipsticks (a.k.a. “lip stains”) because the extended wear cannot be beat and is perfect for anyone who always needs to reapply regular lipstick throughout the day because you've managed to lick, bite or eat it off. Anyone who has worn a lip stain however can attest that even though you get lasting color, the sometimes undesirable dry feeling on your lips can drive you crazy. So, do the benefits outweigh that side effect? YES, if you prep your lips properly to get the best application and use a lip stain that comes with a moisturizing topcoat. That topcoat (usually a clear gloss) will be your new best friend.
A word to those of you who might be trying this for the first time though: Exfoliate your lips to the point where you buff, brush and soften your lips to eliminate any and all existing dry skin that’s there (or could potentially be there) before you apply color. Dry lips and lip stains are a disaster to look at, so keep your lips looking lush and soft by prepping them first. Removing the lip stain can be a bit tedious as well, but nothing that baby oil can't fix.
Aside from the beautiful, long lasting color for 8-12 hours, there is no more smeared, bleeding or feathering going on, AND your lips will never look better with all that exfoliating you’ll be doing. For me, the best part about long-wear lipstick is that the color you see in the tube IS the actual color you get on your lips, so no more guess work or disappointment. How awesome is that?
