“I’ve Found A Brilliant £10 Alternative To The Viral Huda Beauty Lip Stain”
Recently, it’s felt like there’s no hiding from my algorithm. I love lip liner, but I’m continually surprised by how quickly it can wear off. So, when the Huda Beauty Lip Contour Stain started going viral for its ability to multitask as a long-wearing lip stain, I was instantly intrigued. At £22, though, I was less excited – that is, until I found an alternative that came in at under a tenner…
The hero find
I was casually popping into chemists and beauty shops over the course of a few weeks to see if I could find the trending lip stain in store (I was keen to swatch the product before buying it, something you can’t do online), but I wasn’t having much luck. Instead, I started browsing other, more affordable beauty brands and then, out of nowhere, I spotted exactly what I was looking for: a cheap and cheerful alternative. A few seconds later, a couple of girls arrived next to me, looking at the exact same lip pen, saying “oh here it is!”… so it seems the beauty girlies are onto it.
A few seconds later, a couple of girls arrived next to me looking at the exact same lip pen, saying “oh here it is!”
Why I’m obsessed
Compared to the trending version going off on TikTok, which costs £22, the Rimmel Lip Ink Pen comes in at under half the price, at £9.99. I’ll admit, I love paying less for something, and this is exactly what I was looking for. I went for the shade Tres Chic, which is a slightly darker shade than my natural lip colour.
The results
When I was in the store, I swatched a couple of shades on my hand to find my favourite hue and, sure enough, it stayed put long after my lunch break shopping trip. I actually had to wash it off after dinner. Safe to say, this stain really does have staying power!
There isn’t really much faffing involved – you simply pop the cap and start lining your lips. The ink dries quite quickly so, if you’re looking for a more natural effect, follow each swipe with your finger to smudge out the product. Depending on how pigmented you want the colour, you can keep applying and, for a brighter result, colour in the middle of your lips too. For something more subtle, just smudge the liner gradually around the edge of your lips.
As this lip stain really is a stain first and foremost, I go in with a gloss or balm over the top to create a plump, hydrated finish. Right now, I’m loving Merit’s Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil in Marrakech, with this duo becoming my new go-to lip combo.
If you’re looking for a more natural effect, follow each swipe with your finger to smudge out the product.
Before
After
The verdict
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