Stained class: How to apply lip and cheek stains without streaking

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Makeup artists love to talk about stains these days; we’ve heard plenty about how to make your lipstick more of a stain (by blotting the heck out of it.)

But with so many actual stains on the market (and summer being the perfect season for the low-maintenance look) we asked L.A. makeup artist Amy Chance, who works with Lily Allen and Chloe Sevigny, among other edgy celebs, to share her favorite stains — and give us a few tips on how to apply the water-based formulations (which are prone to streaking.)

All the Rage: What’s your favorite method for putting on a lip stain?

Amy Chance: If the stain comes with a brush — like with Benefit’s BeneTint — you can lightly brush it on and let it sort of soak in for a minute. If it doesn’t have a brush, take a lip brush and trace over your lips.

How do you like to apply a stain to cheeks?

I really love Tarte’s Cheek Stain, but it comes in a round applicator, and if you use it straight from that, your stain is going to end up being a circle. Instead, rub a little on your fingers and diffuse it over your cheeks using feathery [swipes.] You can also do that with BeneTint and the more watery ones too.

What are your go-to stains?

Tarte’s Cheek Stains are my favorite, but I also love Smashbox’s new Limitless Lip Stain & Color Seal Balm [a pen-style stain with a colorless balm.] It’s a really great, convenient product.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photos, from top: Smashbox Limitless Lip Stain & Color Seal Balm; Tarte Cheek Stain. Credit: Smashbox; Tarte.