The best lip stains to last all evening: Tried, tested & reviewed

With a lightweight, water-like texture, Clarins has knocked it out of the park with its matte, raspberry-scented lip stains. For a comfortable, enduring hit of colour, I adore the shade 'Red Water'. When the colour eventually does begin to fade it just feels like a more subdued version of the original - still forgiving and not drying at all.

Nars never fails to deliver on shade range, and its Powermatte Lip Pigment is a prime example. The selection is diverse, plentiful and characteristically considered - I love 'Bad Guy', a pretty, cool rose. The payoff is so good, that you actually need to be very careful with application otherwise it could end up looking imprecise around the edges. (A lip liner will be worth its weight in gold here.) It takes a while to dry fully, but once it does, the staying power is decent. 

The Dior Addict Lip Tint is just dreamy. What I personally love is how the pigment isn't super rich, more like a fresh wash of colour. It's not a punchy hit, rather a soft-focus veil, and I'm here for it. '421 Natural Tea', a lovely, brickish pink is my favourite. The inclusion of cherry oil means that it is extremely comfortable to wear, although if you're eating and drinking I'd personally top it up to retain the original shade, otherwise it just looks lovely and hazy.

Elf is one of the best beauty brands out there for affordable excellence, and its viral Glossy Lip Stain is no exception. The doe-foot applicator isn't especially precise, but I don't feel it really needs to be since the colour payoff is sheer and forgiving. 'Coral Cutie' is lovely for a low-key weekend errand face. It starts out with a glossy texture, and then it moves closer to natural as the hours pass. The formula is comfortable, not unlike a balm, and for six quid, I'm sold. 

"This product just hits different," says Rihanna, and I'm inclined to agree. Richly pigmented, the endurance level on Fenty Beauty's Poutsicle is no joke. I'm basically still rocking it a week later. It's glossy at first, then moves into traditional stain territory, but what I also really like is that the buildable formula gives you the freedom to alter it in line with your own tastes.

For a comfortable, fresh look no further than Charlotte Tilbury's Tinted Love in the shade 'Petal Pink'. The long-lasting formula starts off glossy but still appears extremely natural, and if I was in a pinch, I would totally wear it on my cheeks for a polished, tonal look.

If you've ever been wary of a red lip, let Victoria Beckham's Bitten Lip Tint convert you. The colour is flush-like and very forgiving. 'Je T'Aime' is a pretty, muted raspberry – ideal if you're wanting a bit of brightness but without the self-consciousness that can come with a richer pigment.