Battle of the Stains (lip, that is)

Bionic decided to stand two of the more readily available lip stains against each other. Our picks: Revlon’s Just Bitten Lip Stain in Berry Juice versus Sonia Kashuk’s Lip and Cheek Stain in Sheer Bliss. Read on for the battle results.

Revlon’s Just Bitten is available at most Targets, Walgreens, CVS or drugstore.com for $10-12. The color goes on well if your lips are clean and dry (don’t put balm on before hand. The packaging is nice: just a clear tube with a roller ball for application. The stain is more like a gel which goes on smoothly. There is a bit of “fruity” smell to the stain. In normal wear, the stain lasted about 4 hours with drinking, eating, talking, etc not affecting it. You will probably need to apply a balm on top, or a gloss if you do not want a matte finish.

Sonia Kashuk’s Lip Stain is available only at Target stores or at Target online for $7.99. This stain is really a bargain! It only comes in one color which seems unfortunate, but it goes on nice and sheer to start and you can layer it up for bolder color. Don’t be scared by the color in the dispenser, it’s not that bright once on. The stain is a bit more liquid than the Revlon stain, but this also allows you to save room in your makeup bag by doubling the stain as a cheek color. Packaging is nice and the product goes on smoothly (again, do not apply balm before the stain or it will inhibit the stain for absorbing into your lips).

In summary, both stains hold their own against the big boys, and at these prices you can afford to buy both and play around with them. Have fun and happy shopping!