Hello everyone! Today, I'm excited to share my thoughts on a lip product from a brand I've been wanting to try for a long while: Clarins Paris. Specifically, I'll be discussing the Clarins Water Lip Stain. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I love lip products, and for the past year, I've been particularly drawn to lip stains. While browsing at the mall a few weeks ago, I discovered that Clarins had just released a new lip product called the Clarins Paris Water Lip Stain, retailing for $28. I had already been eyeing their popular Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil for $26, having seen it on social media from users in Japan. From all the posts I had seen, it looked really cute and always appeared very pleasant on people's lips, with many raving about its moisturizing properties.
My initial encounter with lip products from Clarins was with their Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil. A nice saleswoman helped me try some. My first impression was that it looked thick and slimy, much like a lip gloss. As I'm not a fan of lip gloss due to its tendency to be sticky, I initially thought I wouldn't like it at all and that everything I had read was misinformed. To my surprise, my visual impressions were completely wrong, and I ended up liking it a lot! Despite its appearance, the lip oil is not sticky at all and is very moisturizing. They also released new shades of the lip oil, but I only got the (04 CANDY) color, as I wanted to use it on top of other lip colors.
Next, I tried the Clarins Water Lip Stain. Clarins released 4 new different colored Water Lip Stains, and I ended up purchasing 3 out of the 4, passing on the orange color. The packaging of these Clarins Water Lip Stains is in a glass container, which I found very cute. The size is small enough to fit in a purse and take anywhere. The applicator reminds me of a nail polish applicator, but this one is stiffer and shorter. The water lip stain lives up to its name; it's like water. It's very light on the lips, almost feeling like you're not wearing anything at all! They are also not drying on the lips and have a really nice, fruity scent. Once they settle on your lips, they won't go anywhere. This lip stain is kiss-proof and does not transfer onto glasses when drinking.
The lasting power of these lip stains is really good. I swatched them on my arm and tried to wipe them away with a makeup wipe; I even took a shower that night, and the colors were still there on my arms the next day. In the swatches below, you can see that the Water Lip Stain in (01 Rose Water) and (03 Red Water) stays longer and is more pigmented than (04 Violet Water). The colors are also buildable, allowing you to mix and match or layer as you prefer. I am glad I purchased these babies! Not only do they look cute, but they are also a really good lip stain.
Key Features and Benefits of Clarins Water Lip Stain
Formula and Texture
To be completely honest, the main reason I decided to pick these up was the delicious smell. I am quite a sucker for nice scents, especially those that smell like edible things, like delicious berries. The Clarins Water Lip Stain comes in cute little bottles of a very liquid lip stain, as the name suggests. I picked up two shades: “03 Red Water” and “01 Rose Water”. The product is housed in a see-through glass tube with a metallic red cap and a brush applicator. It looks and feels like an expensive product.
Clarins' price tag is generally in the lower end of high-end makeup, and these retail for $28. While I don't think this price is horrific for a lipstick, for a lip stain, it feels a bit high. After all, Korean beauty brands are experts in lip staining products, and you could probably find many affordable lip stains with a similar feel. The important aspect, of course, is how they perform.
The nice thing about these lip stains is that you can choose the intensity you want. You can paint it on and let the product dry to achieve an opaque stain, like the “03 Red Water” shown in the picture. How long it lasts on the lips depends on your application. A light stain, like the one I applied with “01 Rose Water,” will last for several hours. I found that it usually took 4-5 hours before I felt the need to reapply. If you desire a more opaque look, you will have to be prepared to reapply more often.
Wear and Longevity
They usually fade away very evenly on me, which I appreciate. However, I did notice once that if I had a dry patch on my lips, the stain did not fade as uniformly around that spot compared to the rest of my lips. Other than that, they feel super lightweight on the skin, almost as if you're wearing nothing. My favorite way of wearing them is to apply a soft tint, let it dry, and then apply some balm on top for moisture. This gives a very beautiful and natural look. Also, the fact that you can so easily control the intensity means that even the bright red shade could be worn as a soft tint during work hours or as an opaque tint in the evening. And yes, they have a strawberry candy scent!
Clarins states that the Water Lip Stain lasts "300 kisses!" and is finally lip color that won’t kiss off. They offer 4 sheer-to-stay shades that are moisturizing, stray-proof, smooch-proof, and fade-proof. Formulated with all the benefits of a lip treatment, the Water Lip Stain leaves lips soft, hydrated, and incredibly comfortable. You can customize the result, from a just-kissed look to high-voltage color, with more coats leading to deeper color intensity.
One reviewer mentioned that Clarins says you can build their Water Lip Stain for custom intensity with up to 3 layers, but they personally found that one layer already provided a fire-engine, saturated bright red result. The intensity is quite surprising the first time you use it. It's called "water" because it's completely liquid, but the color payoff is insane. It is sheer in the sense that you can see your skin through it, but it is much more pigmented and bright than anticipated. If you're looking for a subtle color stain, this might not be it; it's a very bold lip stain.
The applicator is a short brush with stiff plastic bristles, small enough for precise maneuvering. However, application can be tricky. The issue with all lip stains is that they tend to stain drier areas of the lips more intensely than the rest, and this one is no exception. If not applied carefully, one might end up with a lower lip twice as bright as the upper lip, especially if the upper lip is drier. It's also necessary to even out the color really well with the small brush, otherwise, a streaky result can occur, as the liquid stain doesn't even out by itself. Rubbing the lips together is also discouraged, especially during the few minutes after application when the stain is drying.
Once the Water Lip Stain is fully dry, it is completely transfer-proof. While one reviewer didn't test the claim of resisting 300 kisses, they did kiss their hand a few times and drink tea all day as usual, with no color transfer. Once dry, it is truly a stain, meaning there is nothing on the lips but color. It's more than weightless; there's no texture left at all.
Comfort and Hydration
Many users tend to avoid lip stains because they can be drying, but Clarins promises that this one is hydrating. The formula includes many plant extracts (aloe, raspberry, green tea, among others) as well as glycerin, castor oil, and hyaluronic acid to make it more lip-friendly. While not as hydrating as a lip balm, it is described as the most comfortable and least drying lip stain ever tried. There might be a slight burning sensation upon initial application and while drying, but that's the only discomfort reported. Lips remain soft throughout the day, unlike with other classic lip stains where they often crack and peel.
The main selling point of lip stains is their wear-time, and the Clarins Water Lip Stain reportedly doesn't disappoint, lasting all day regardless of drinking or eating. Clarins mentions that you can wear the Water Lip Stain underneath another lip product. For instance, the Red Water shade pairs well with the brand's Lip Comfort Oil in Red Berry. If you enjoy the comfort of the lip oil but desire more color, this combination is perfect. However, as soon as an emollient product is added on top, the lip stain loses its transfer-proof quality, but gains glossiness and moisture.
Product Details and Ingredients
Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil
These seven delectable shades are infused with 100% pure plant oils that nourish, soothe, and plump lips, leaving a protective veil of color. The highly sensorial and lightweight texture is never sticky, though one user found it to be more heavy than light, feeling more like a heavier, moisturizing lip gloss rather than an oil. It goes on very glossy and makes lips look plump and adds dimension.
Some colors, like Candy, Tangerine, and Red Berry, feature a unique formula that reacts to your lip's pH to give a natural, customized shade, meant to look like "your lips but better and plus it's shiny!" However, it's still meant to be sheer. If you want a product with more color, this one might not be suitable.
Clarins Water Lip Stain
Lasts 300 kisses! Finally, lip color that won’t kiss off. Discover 4 sheer-to-stay shades that are moisturizing, stray-proof, smooch-proof, and fade-proof. Formulated with all the benefits of a lip treatment, Water Lip Stain leaves lips soft, hydrated, and incredibly comfortable. You can customize the result-from a just-kissed look to high voltage color. The more coats, the deeper the color intensity.
The new Water Lip Stain packaging is simple and elegant, with a round clear vial and a cap matching the color of the stain it contains. It's described as an updated, more modern version of the square tube of their well-loved Lip Comfort Oil.
The colors themselves only take about 2 layers to become bright and bold tones. The intensity is quite surprising, offering a bold lip stain rather than a subtle tint. The product is buildable, making it perfect for gradient lips. The claim of adaptable color results is true, as is the matte finish and bare-lips feel. This contributes to the minimal color transfer, a significant advantage of lip stains.
While the claim of "resists up to 300 kisses" has an asterisk, the staying power of this product is excellent. Swatched on the arm, even after an oil-based makeup remover and water, a little color remained visible. The supple and soft lips claim of this water lip stain is considered mediocre by some users.
The Clarins Water Lip Stain is a lightweight, 75% water-based lip stain, with a 99% skincare formula made with 97% ingredients of natural origin, including Organic Aloe Vera for long-lasting hydration. Clarins' Anti-Pollution Complex shields lips from environmental damage that can lead to premature signs of aging. It is available in 4 vibrant, customizable shades (Rose Water, Red Water, Violet Water, and Nude Water), all housed in eco-friendly packaging made from 30% recycled materials.
The 99% skincare formula is composed of 97% ingredients of natural origin. The NEW Color Tint Complex, with water-soluble color pigments, works with the NEW Water-Shot Complex-featuring Clarins' exclusive Hyaluronic Acid Complex and Organic Raspberry Water-and Organic Aloe Vera to deliver long-wear, bold color while softening and protecting lips from dehydration. This is makeup made for skin.
Ingredients List:
AQUA/WATER/EAU. GLYCERIN. ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE. RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) FRUIT WATER. PENTYLENE GLYCOL. POLYGLYCERYL-4 CAPRATE. POLYGLYCERYL-6 CAPRYLATE. PHENOXYETHANOL. PARFUM/FRAGRANCE. CAESALPINIA SPINOSA GUM. SODIUM CITRATE. CARBOMER. ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN. AMMONIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE. SODIUM HYDROXIDE. POTASSIUM SORBATE. SODIUM BENZOATE. CI 45410/RED 28. SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE. SODIUM HYALURONATE. BUTYLENE GLYCOL. CITRIC ACID. PHENETHYL ALCOHOL. FURCELLARIA LUMBRICALIS EXTRACT. CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT. LAPSANA COMMUNIS FLOWER/LEAF/STEM EXTRACT. MARIS SAL/SEA SALT/SEL MARIN. *For information purposes only.
Clarins Water Lip Stain: How-To
Application Tips and Tricks
If you don't mind taking the time to prep your lips and being extra careful when applying your lip color, the new Clarins Water Lip Stain is well worth the effort. For the longest wear, apply to clean, dry lips and let the stain set before adding a gloss or another layer or two.
An oil-based cleanser like Clarins Total Cleansing Oil makes it easy to break down the long-lasting formula of the Water Lip Stain.
Ultimately, if you had to pick one product to put in your purse, the Water Lip Stain is a strong contender due to its long wear and good pigmentation. It's considered more versatile by some users.
The product featured in this review was purchased by the reviewer. No compensation was received to write this post, which reflects personal opinions. This post may contain affiliate links, where a small commission is received when you shop through those links, helping to cover review expenses.
Lip stain is a lightweight, long-wearing product that adds a splash of color to your lips. Unlike traditional lipsticks or glosses, lip stains have a water-based formula that absorbs quickly, leaving behind a sheer or buildable tint. Clarins' long-wearing lip stain offers many looks in a single product, allowing you to customize the result you desire-from a just-kissed look to match nude makeup, to high-voltage color for special occasion makeup. Shades like Red Water provide instant color and confidence, Nude Water offers a warm tint, Rose Water delivers a sheer, long-wearing color with a matte finish, and Violet Water allows you to showcase your individuality.
Clarins Lip Stain is your go-to for vibrant, smudge-proof color with a barely-there feel. Whether you prefer a subtle tint or a bold pop of color, this lip stain delivers customizable coverage and all-day confidence, eliminating the need for constant touch-ups.
When liquid lipstick first emerged, it was all the rage. However, after a few years, the love for liquid lips has faded, as they tend to remove when eating or drinking and can leave lips looking patchy when they wear off. Clarins' Water Lip Stain, however, is different. It offers buildable coverage, from a subtle, sheer tint to a bold, vibrant color. The NEW transfer-proof Water Lip Stain delivers matte coverage with 24-hour wear and an ultra barely-there feel. Its NEW Color-Tint Complex of water-soluble pigments ensures long-lasting hold and an even, vibrant matte color with buildable coverage for a customized look-from a subtle tint to a bold tattooed lip effect. The New Exclusive Water-Shot Complex, a blend of Hyaluronic Acid and Organic Raspberry Water, leaves lips 49% more hydrated and helps soften them for comfortable, supple lips. Developed with the same expertise as Clarins' skincare, this lightweight, 75% water-based lip stain is a 99% skincare formula, made with 97% ingredients of natural origin.