I Tried Thrive Causemetics’ New Lip Stain—Here’s What Stood Out

I haven’t always had the best luck with lip stains, and judging by the reviews I’ve read on other products over the past year, perhaps neither have you. I want color that stays through matcha, lunch and whatever else the day brings, but I don’t want to feel like my lips have been shrink-wrapped in pigment by noon. Thrive Causemetics’ Lasting Mark Lip Defining Stain ($26) takes a different approach, pairing the staying power of a stain with a formula designed to keep lips comfy. Here’s my honest review.

The Benefits of Thrive Causemetics’ Lasting Mark Lip Defining Stain

One of the things I appreciate most about this lip stain is its skin care–forward formula that doesn’t dry out my lips. Thrive Causemetics founder Karissa Bodnar said her customers had been asking her for years: “Why does every lip stain either dry out your lips or bleed right through your lip line?” She wanted to do better, so she created a formula powered by 97 percent skin-care ingredients, including the brand’s Hydra-Lock Hydration Complex (glycerin, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid filling spheres), which locks in moisture and keeps it there all day.

The lip stain also features Thrive’s proprietary Color-Grip Stain System, which ensures “even, patch-free pigment distribution from the first swipe.” In my experience, it lives up to this promise, as I’ve been able to apply it smoothly without patchiness, and it doesn’t bleed outside my lip line. The finish is a soft matte, and it doesn’t feel tight or too dry.

I also love the marker-style, felt-tip applicator, which I find much more precise than a liquid stain. I can trace my lip line with the pointed tip, then use the broader side to fill everything in without reaching for a separate liner. (You can also use it solely as a lip liner if you prefer.) Pro tip: Store the marker tip-down on your vanity so it doesn’t dry out. If you forget to do that, hold it upside down and shake it or prime it on your hand before applying.

After wearing the Lasting Mark Lip Defining Stain for several hours, my lips still felt like my lips, which, for a stain, is worth noting. It comes in five shades, each named for a real woman who made a lasting impact—an ode to the brand’s broader mission of giving back (hence Thrive Causemetics). I was drawn to Daniella, a “toasted rose” hue, but the others include Li (baby pink), Liliana (deep berry), Brandy (spice brown) and Leslie (soft red).

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The Bottom Line

For me, the biggest selling point is the combination of precision and comfort. There’s also the versatility factor, since you can use it as a liner or a full lip color. It’s comfortable, buildable, smudge-proof and definitely a lip stain I will keep in my rotation.