At first glance, lip tints might seem like another marketing ploy from the makeup industry to get consumers to buy yet another lip color. We've got lip gloss, we've got lipstick, we've got liners and primers and plumpers all designed for our lips. Why a tint?
Well, it turns out, this product is perfect for executing some of Korea's biggest makeup trends right now. It products an airy, natural looking color, stays on all day, and isn't too tough on the surrounding skin and lip.
Just ask HyunA. The K-pop star hawks one of the most popular lip tints in Korea:
Lip tints (or, as they're sometimes called, lip stains), are great for those days where you just want to give your lips a little extra something. Most go on very watery - don't be alarmed if some even drips a little or sinks into the cracks of your teeth right at first. It will dry quickly and smoothly, with a more muted color than appeared when it first goes on. Unlike a gloss that might get goopy or bunched up in lip wrinkles, a lip tint remains a little watery looking, like you just dipped your lips in a glistening pink pool.
Korean brand lip tints are still the best on the market, even though Western brands are starting to develop some of their own. Western brands, especially of the drugstore variety, just haven't figure out how to figure out how to get stains to last all day, and the colors tend to be less vibrant.
Here are a few to get you started:
There are a few main reasons that this is one of Korea's most popular lip tints right now (besides the fact that HyunA is one of its spokespeople). First, it has incredible staying power. This is going to last all day, even if you're sipping on drinks or sweating up a storm. It also comes in six bright, vibrant colors that range from a light pink to orange to a relatively full red.
It's always great when one of the best lip tints out there also happens to be one of the most affordable. Etude's House version is a bit creamier than some of the others on the market, but it doesn't compromise on moisture or lasting power. This one is also great for people who are rookie makeup applicators - it has a finer, more sponge-like applicator that reduces the risk of staining anything but the lip.
Here's another one of Korea's most popular tints - it consistently tops the favorites lists of beauty bloggers and reviewers. It goes on super watery, adding a little extra moisture to lips and stays deep and vibrant all day and night.
Here's a tint option that also promises to add a little plump and shape to lips. You're going to have to reapply a little more often than you might with other lip tints, but if you want a bit more of a pucker, this is your product.
MISSHA The Style Glow Tint Lip Balm
This, as the name implies, rolls on more like a traditional balm than a lip tint, but all the elements you want in a lip tint are there. It's just a little easier to apply and packs in more moisture than some of the other stains out there. This is a great option for people looking for light, luminous shades.
