Back in January I was in Rite Aid and saw these on a front display and instantly picked them up. I ended up picking up two of them, one in Champagne Stain 493 and the other in Persistent Pink 490 and I believe I paid around $4.00 for each. The first thing I noticed after applying the stain (I chose the Champagne Stain today) was that it has a very yucky taste. It's not as horrible to where it is unbearable, but if you are sensitive to chemical tastes, then be aware. The smell of the stains has a slight fruity smell, yet it is masked by a pretty intense chemical smell as well. Before I get into the review of the actual staying power of these babies, here is a picture of the swatches. The top is a swatch of Persistent Pink and the bottom is Champagne Stain.
They are completely matte, so if you see some sparkle, it's because I was swatching blush earlier, so I still have traces of sparkle from that.
Here is the lip stain freshly applied. I applied the Champagne Stain (as noted earlier)
Now, on to the review: These stains are quite drying, like most other stains that I have tried. I put the stain on at around 11:30 and at 12:18, my lips had a really bad feeling of dryness. I put some lipbalm over my lips and it took care of the dryness (I used Neutrogena Natuals lip balm) Do be aware that if you put lipbalm on over the stain, it is going to transfer onto things, the lipbalm included.
Here is a picture taken 2 hours later:
All I can say is wow! For something to come with a claim of 16 hours and then not even last 2 is very disappointing in my book. My lips are also so incredibly dry I am about to go insane. So, off I go to the bathroom to get some tissue to wipe the rest of this off of my lips and on goes the lipbalm again. Let me know if you guys have any lipstains that work better than this.
Final Verdict: WILL NOT repurchase. Worthless as a lipstain, but I think it may be great as a lipliner. I would say to definitely pass by these stains and don't give them a second glance.
Jill xoxo
