Finding the perfect long-wearing, but comfortable, lip color is an elusive task. While lip products have advanced to have a long-lasting claim, there are many formulas to consider based on the type of look you want.
Liquid lipsticks are often the go-to for long-lasting, high impact color, but lip stains are also a good option for more subtle color that lasts throughout the day.
Whether you like full-on color or not, removing long-wearing lip products at the end of the day can be difficult.
Lip stains have the word “stain” in their name for a reason, so naturally they will leave behind traces of color even after you attempt to wipe them off. Having a lip product that is meant to leave a wash of color behind as it fades comes with its own need for a best removal method.
So, how do you remove lip stain? There are five great methods for removing lip stain, including using makeup wipes, cleansing balms, lip scrubs, makeup remover, and micellar water. However, you’ll want to use these products properly to avoid damaging your lips.
Below are five removal methods that will fit into your beauty and skincare routine to ensure you will not be leaving a trace of makeup behind.
From oils to exfoliators, these products work well for overall makeup removal, but are gentle enough to be used on the lip area specifically.
What Is A Lip Stain?
Lip stains are a relative to lipstick and liquid lipsticks. They are meant to be long-wearing and leave behind a tint of color on your lips. Rather than product sitting on top of your lips, however, lip stains are made to adhere and absorb into your lips for hours-long wear that has a natural finish.
Lip stains are available in a variety of textures. Traditional lip stains give the appearance of color on your natural lip, while there are also versions that have a glossier finish. Typically, the gloss will dissipate after a few hours of wear and leave a stain of color behind.
Ultimately lip stains are meant to provide low-maintenance, soft washes of color on your lips that require zero to minimal touch-ups. They are meant to absorb into your lips to provide natural color that will be smudge- and transfer- proof, and will last throughout the day.
How To Prep Lip For Lip Stain
While lip stains will have their maximum staying power when applied to dry lips, making sure your lips are prepped beforehand is an important step when any long-wearing product is concerned.
Since the product is meant to last for hours, you want to make sure your lips are well hydrated. It is also important to make sure your lips are free of any dead skin cells so the color can apply evenly and won’t cling on to dry patches.
Starting out with a lip exfoliator (we love this ultimate lip scrub from Sara Happ) if you find you struggle with chapped lips will give your lips a clean, smooth slate to apply any lip product on top of.
As lip stains absorb the color into the lips, giving yourself a fresh canvas will make sure the color doesn’t appear patchy. The lip exfoliator will also come in handy further below as we talk removal methods.
If you decide to exfoliate your lips beforehand, the next step is to lock in that moisture so your lips don’t feel dehydrated throughout the day. Give yourself a nice coat of lip balm to moisturize at the start of your beauty routine and let it sink into your lips.
After your lip balm has been completely absorbed and the lips are free of product, you are ready to apply your lip stain and take on your day.
Lip stains can be applied to the lips solo without any additional lip products if you want a quick application. Adding a lip liner before applying will not only enhance your lip shape, but will help to extend the wear time of the stain as well.
Tapping the lip stain onto the center of the lip with a finger and diffusing out towards the edges of the lip will give you a natural, wash of color.
How To Remove Lip Stain
As with any makeup removal process, there are several ways you can achieve freshly clean skin. Because the lip area is so delicate, you want to make sure you are gentle with any removal methods for long-wearing products.
You want to avoid any harsh tugging or scrubbing, especially after they have been subjected to hours-long wear of a lip product.
It is important to make sure you have a makeup remover that is safe for the lip area, and it is best if it is alcohol-free, as you don’t want to dry out your lips. Below are five of the easiest, quickest ways to remove your long-lasting lip stain.
1. Makeup Remover Wipes
Makeup remover wipes are great for quick, mess-free removal. Not only do they work well on lip color, but are the perfect solution for a lazy, all-over makeup removal.
They are also perfect for switching lip color midday without disturbing any of the other makeup on your face or for cleaning up any mistakes made when applying.
Wrap the makeup remover wipe around your index finger and start gently swiping the color from the center outwards to prevent removing any product to the surrounding area on your skin.
If you find that color is still left behind, you can use a clean part of the wipe with some additional makeup remover for the ultimate cleanse.
2. Makeup Cleansing Balm
Makeup cleansing balms are a hydrating way to remove makeup for dry or sensitive skin. Made up of hydrating oils, along with cleansing ingredients, cleansing balms melt into the skin to break down and remove makeup.
Cleansing balms do not require water and are best used when worked into dry skin and then wiped away to remove makeup and retain skin’s moisture.
Cleansing balms are perfect for rehabbing your lips after hours of wearing a stain. It completely removes any traces of color, but adds the hydration back to your lips that can disappear from frequent use of long-lasting stains or lipsticks.
You can wipe away the cleansing balm with a makeup remover towel for a swift and complete clean.
3. Lip Exfoliator Scrub
As mentioned earlier, lip scrubs are the perfect way to ensure a smooth canvas for your lip products. However, lip scrubs also work exceptionally well with stubborn, hard to remove colors.
Also, because long-wearing lip products can be drying for your lips, the scrub will also remove any dry patches from a long day of wear.
Lip scrub exfoliators are specifically created for the lips, so they are going to be gentler than your typical facial exfoliator.
It is important to remember to follow up with a hydrating lip balm afterwards, just as you would with your moisturizer after exfoliating your face. A lip scrub and lip balm combo will help your lips look and feel soft and smooth.
4. Makeup Remover Oil
Similar to a cleansing balm, cleansing oil is ideal for dry or dehydrated skin. It is created with a blend of hydrating oils to remove any traces of dirt, oil, or makeup while also providing moisture to your skin.
Applying a light amount of cleansing oil to dry lips will begin to break down the lip stain to thoroughly remove any trace of color.
Makeup remover oils emulsify when mixed with water to remove all makeup and will leave your skin feeling hydrated. You can then follow up with your favorite face wash to deeply cleanse the skin.
Adding a bit of cleansing oil with the lip scrub is a great way to combine hydrating your lips, exfoliating away any dry patches, and removing lip product completely.
5. Micellar Water & Cloth
Using a makeup remover towel is a sustainable alternative to using makeup wipes.
There are a variety of brands that make these reusable towels in a range of sizes and shapes; some are meant to mimic the look of a cotton round and others are larger towels to recreate a makeup wipe.
Because you can wash and reuse them multiple times, they are more cost effective and cleaner for the environment.
Some of the makeup removal towels only need to be dampened with warm water to start the removal process, while others work with your liquid makeup remover.
Micellar water is a cleansing water that removes dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping the skin of moisture.
Adding micellar water to a makeup removing towel will thoroughly cleanse the lip of product, without drying out your lips or smearing product over your face.
Conclusion
Now that you have the best removal methods for your long-wearing lip stains, you can experiment with color and textures to find the ones you like best.
Lip products are a fun way to switch up your everyday makeup routine by adding different pops of color, or keeping it natural and effortless.
Having a long-wearing product you don’t have to worry about reapplying for hours is great, and having a way to make sure it is removed completely after a long day of wear is even better.
Related Articles
Best Lipsticks For Older Women
How To Make Your Lips Look Smaller
