Covergirl Outlast Lipstain: Review

It should come as no surprise that, when I'm not concocting my own, I generally buy my cosmetics at the drugstore. Obviously, this is often a hit-or-miss scenario: sometimes you get exactly what you pay for with cheap makeup. There are times, however, when you come across something so good that you swear you'd keep using it if you won the lottery tomorrow.

For me, this product is Outlast All-Day Lipcolor by Covergirl. When my mother decided I should start wearing makeup, I remember this being the first product she gave me. The few times I've veered away, I've regretted it. When Covergirl claims it will last up to sixteen hours, they mean it. It withstands kisses, lip-biting, water bottles, intense exercise, and even coffee cups (though admittedly, a small amount comes off on my Starbucks lid). My adoration of Outlast All-Day Lipcolor prompted me to see what else Covergirl has to offer with their Outlast Collection.

Given my love affair with the All-Day Lipcolor, the idea of a lip stain from the same company obviously drew me in. According to Covergirl's website, "The water-based colorants of Outlast Lipstain give lips a beautiful, lightweight flush of color that won't come off, lasting for hours without the heavy look or feel of an ordinary lipstick. Its pen-like precision applicator makes it easy to define your lips — just draw on color without any hassle!" I admit that I still haven't perfected the  on-the-run application of lipstick, so for busy days the product seemed promising.

Before I even bought the product, I noticed the lack of color selections. Now, I realize All-Day Lipcolor has left me spoilt for choice (41 shades are available on Covergirl's site), so I shrugged off my disappointment and picked up the pretty "Wild Berry Wink". The color went on beautifully-- it definitely lives up to its namesake as a stain-- and the pen's design left for easy application. Strange as it sounds, it reminded me of an extremely effective highlighter with a soft, rounded tip. Like a highlighter, the product should only be applied to dry surfaces; even slightly wet lips will block color absorption. 

As far as lip color products go, Outlast Lip Stain stays on for a comparably long time. As far as something with the word "stain" in it goes, however, I expected the color to last longer. While it held up well against the dreaded coffee cup, the color faded after about four hours. Just a touch of moisture leaves it to virtually disappear, and as you go through your day, exposure to moisture is completely unavoidable. Obviously, most lipsticks aren't marketed as waterproof, yet even these manage to hold their own better than this supposed "lip stain". 

While I'm certainly not knocking the product-- I still use it for quick outings-- it will hardly hold a permanent place in my makeup bag. Admittedly, this is the first lip stain I've tried, so I can't compare it to others-- but I can only hope they prove to outlast Outlast.

Pros:

• Easy to apply with great precision
• Rich color that maintains the texture of your lips

Cons:

• Lacks any sort of moisture-resistance
• Wears off after a few hours

Price: 6/10 ($7.84 at Target)

Durability: 3/10

Appearance: 7/10

EWG Score: 7 (In Scarlet Pucker)

Overall: 5/10