They were just a blip on my drugstore radar screen a few months ago, but now I’m tracking NYC New York Color full time. Before I even knew about the company’s cruelty-free philosophy, I was impressed by their prices and interesting colors, and after their awesome Ultra Last Lipsticks and Liquid Lip Shines buzzed my tower, I assumed the Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stains ($4.99 each, available in 10 shades) would too.
These unflavored, lightly fruit punch scented liquid lip stains come in a tube with a stiff felt-tip applicator. The 16H in the name refers to 16 hours, which is how long they’re supposed to last. They apply wet but dry to a finish that resembles the way lips look after a Popsicle or a glass of Kool-Aid. I wouldn’t exactly call it matte because it isn’t full coverage or thick like a matte lipstick, but it’s not at all shiny either. One layer leaves a light stain; two or three, a brighter, richer color.
Lip stains are great for date night. 🙂 Typically they deliver easy, long-lasting color without the stickiness or stained collars of a lipstick or gloss. And when one of you leans in to steal a kiss at the end of the night, homeboy won’t go home with glitter on his lips. Good lip stains usually last around four hours, which means not having to worry about touchups between dinner and the movie.
Swatches from left to right: Never Ending Nude, Smooch Proof, Forever Fuchsia, Berry Long Time and Rock on Ruby
Never Ending Nude on lips
Last Friday I donned two layers of NYC’s peachy brown Never Ending Nude before going to see Thor with El Hub. The natural-looking color coated my lips evenly (don’t you hate patchy lip stains?), but after a couple of PG kisses and one small bag of popcorn, Never Ending Nude was nowhere to be found. When I checked my lips after the movie, there was no NYC color there.
Hmm… I thought it might’ve been a fluke, so I tried a few other shades over the weekend. Same thing, I’m afraid. I only got about two hours of wear time out of them, tops.
The whole 16-hour thing? Not quite.
I don’t mind having to reapply my lip products often, but since NYC made a thing about these lasting so long, I do feel a little miffed (but not a lot).
For $5, these gaw-geous lip colors are easy to like, and if NYC ever figures out how to make them last longer, I’ll be their biggest fan.
PRICE: $4.99
AVAILABILITY: Available now at drugstores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. How was your Monday? I hope things went well. Tabs and I are trying to stay dry out here again because it’s been raining all day long. I feel a little sluggish and blah because of the weather, but other than that I’m fine. 🙂
I think I’m gonna watch another episode of Game of Thrones tonight. What are you up to?
Jessi says
May 16th, 2011 at 10:09 pmWow, NYC just shot to the top of my favorite brands whose names are 3 letters long and start with NY. I haven’t tried these lipstains, but I don’t think I would mind a short lived one. I tend to get tired of my lip color pretty quickly. I really want to try some of their other products you’ve posted about!
Jessi recently posted … My Current Favorite Concealer And A Scary Naked Eye Pic!
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:09 amDefinitely give the glosses a go! They’re fantastic.
Makeup Morsels says
May 16th, 2011 at 10:20 pmI was reading Game of Thrones the other day. The pacing of the book was a little bit confusing, but I heard the show’s really good!
The colors are all gorgeous, but I like my lipsticks to be somewhat longer wearing than that. Particularly if they claim to stay on for 16 hours.
Makeup Morsels recently posted … djv Beautenizer Volume Lash- As Good As It Gets
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:08 amI’ve never read the books, but the show is great so far. I’m about four episodes in, and I’m really liking it.
gio says
May 16th, 2011 at 11:12 pmThe colors are very pretty but what a shame they don’t last that long… 🙁
gio recently posted … Product Review- Eyeko Cheeky Colour Blush Duo in My Coral Crush
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:08 amYes, they are very pretty. I like that they apply smoothly.
Instant Karma says
May 17th, 2011 at 12:06 amDisappointing! I wanted that red one. Then again, I ALWAYS want the red one, lol. I had to go to CVS this weekend and I bought two different formulations of red Wet n Wild lipstick. I’ll have to play with them this week!
Tigger says hi (technically, he made a cute trilling noise) to you and Tabs, by the way. His balance is getting better and better! He can even run around a little bit with Gizmo now. Those two are totally partners in crime. The other day, I walked in on them, and they froze mid-stride. Gizmo had this look on her face that screamed, “Oh crap, we’ve been busted.” I have no idea what they were plotting…
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:08 amIf you can snag the red one on sale it might be worth a try, as they’re really pretty!
I’m glad to hear that Tigger’s getting better and that he and Gizmo are becoming BFFs. You’ll have to send me a pic of the two of them someday. 🙂
Soo says
May 17th, 2011 at 12:48 amI’ve tried a couple lip stains and didn’t like them too much. lip stains also kind of terrify me so the short wear time of these is a bit of a good thing for me, haha. Forever Fuchsia looks like a color I’d buy and actually wear too! especially with how it shouldn’t apply patchy (patchily?)
Soo recently posted … Shot of the Day
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:06 amGive it a go, Soo. 🙂 You might like them!
Jen W says
May 17th, 2011 at 1:31 amWhat a shame they don’t last very long. For $5 I still think they’re a bargain since the colours are so pretty and they apply without patchiness
Jen W recently posted … Moving pains
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:06 amYou should give them a try! Some of the gals here don’t have the same issues with wear, so you never know.
Stephanie says
May 17th, 2011 at 4:31 amI’ve been watching Game of Thrones recently. I really like it, and I heard that it sticks to the books pretty well. It’s becoming one of my favorite shows.
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:05 amI’m really enjoying it too. I felt the first episode was kind of confusing because it just throws you into the action without really explaining things, but it started to pick up in the second episode.
Kim says
May 17th, 2011 at 5:49 amHi there! I feel like I haven’t checked in in ages! Silly work has been crazy! 🙂 What a bummer about the lip stains – I really liked the idea of the felt-tip-marker style applicator.
What do you think of Game of Thrones? I’ve read the series – A Song of Ice and Fire – and like it a lot (though, I must say that much of it makes the Hunger Games seem cheerful). I think HBO is doing a great job with the series, which is no surprise. I think you’d like the books, especially since the rainy weather lends itself to some slightly gloomy reading. 🙂
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:04 amSoooo I think I’m kinda addicted to Game of Thrones already. In fact, I had to tear myself away from another episode so that I could get started on today’s writing, LOL! I’m on episode four right now. Will Bram remember what happened to him? And what’s the Imp plotting?! Those Lannisters are a tricky bunch.
Kim says
May 17th, 2011 at 11:35 amOooooh, it’s a slippery slope with Thrones. Those books are what kept me sleep deprived for weeks. I couldn’t put the darn things down! 🙂 There are definitely some changes in the HBO series so I’m not sure how they’ll play it. In the books, the truth comes out about Jaime pushing him but it’s not through Bran. Ah, the Imp! He’s a great character – even more so in the books. I know you know this but there’s so much more character development in books since there’s really no time limit. The great thing about it in this series is that everyone is gray. It’s not made up of heroes and villains. You’ll sympathize with a character one minute and be furious with them the next – they all do good and bad things. 🙂
Kajal Couture says
May 17th, 2011 at 5:53 amSadness! I love lipstain markers and the MAC ones from last year worked pretty well for me, so I was hoping this would be a nice cheap alternative. Guess not.
Kajal Couture recently posted … Makeup Tip Monday- How to Depot Shadows and Blushes
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:03 amYou might want to give them a go anyway; you never know. The wear time issue doesn’t seem to be an issue for some gals!
vive says
May 17th, 2011 at 5:59 amI actually think they last longer than two hours, I agree about the lack of patchiness, and I love the colour selection. The best thing is that they don’t dry out my lips like the CG lipstains! However, they dry out really, really, really fast. But, they’re cheap. If they didn’t dry out so fast, they’d be one of the best lipstains I’ve tried. I just should give up on the pen-types.
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:02 amHi Vive,
Alyssa (one of the commenters here) mentioned that eating seems to always remove the stains; I’m thinking that might be my issue, since I’m always snacking on something throughout the day. Do these stay on through meals for you?
Ashley says
May 17th, 2011 at 6:33 amThese look really similar to the cover girl ones they came out with a few years ago.
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:01 amI tried those when they came out and had some trubs with patchiness. How did they work for you?
Ashley says
May 17th, 2011 at 6:07 pmThey didn’t work the greatest for me either. I still have one kicking around though so I guess the plus is you don’t have to worry about them drying out too quickly on you.
Alyssa says
May 17th, 2011 at 7:00 amI have Rock on Ruby, Forever Freesia and the lightest pink, can’t remember its name. I work nine hour shifts at work and they stay on the whole day as long as I dont eat lol, they stay on drinking just fine but eating makes them fade away, no matter how long they have been on. A lil disappointing but for $5 I dont mind reapplying after I eat.
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:01 amHi Alyssa,
Hmm, maybe that’s why I’ve had no luck with the staying power… I’m always munching on some kinda snack, LOL!
What kind of work do you do? Do you like your job?
Vnssa906 says
May 17th, 2011 at 7:03 amHow weird! I was debating on purchasing one yesterday when I was@ duane reade, and thought “did Karen review these yet?” I’m convinced I should pick one up; hoping they’re better than the Covergirl ones 😉
Xxxo, Vanessa
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:00 amI hope these work for you Vnssa, because they’re really pretty. Let me know what you get for wear time once you give ’em a go.
Chris25 says
May 17th, 2011 at 7:59 amI am going to spring for the lip glosses instead. I am not a huge fan of lip stains. They make me look like a little kid with a red marker. 😛
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 8:59 amThe lipglosses are the bomb.com. Seriously, LOVE!
Alyssa says
May 18th, 2011 at 6:17 pmLol I work in a pharmacy and yes I like it, of course my dream job would have somethin to do with makeup LOL but yeah its definitly a better starter job then most. I started as a cashier and less than a year later have moved on to pharmacy technician (and Im only 19) and I can wear whatever makeup I desire to work everyday lol
saby says
May 17th, 2011 at 8:55 amHey Karen are you OK ? You look very sad 🙁 Hope everything is fine !
Love from Romania !!!!
Karen says
May 17th, 2011 at 8:59 amHi Saby,
Yeah, everything is fine. 🙂 Thanks for asking, though. You have a good Tuesday, okay?
Vijaya says
May 17th, 2011 at 8:59 amThese look great for the price!
Vijaya recently posted … Why I Wont Be Buying Nyx Anymore
rhamnousia @ desi girl does makeup says
May 17th, 2011 at 12:28 pmI LOVE these!
I am all about lip stains but we don’t seem to get all the NYC goodness in the UK. We do have some products but I’ve never seen these bfore, I’ll keep an eye out next time because they look gorgeous.
rhamnousia @ desi girl does makeup recently posted … Armani Code and a ramble about my perfume history
Nina says
May 17th, 2011 at 6:55 pmgoodness! i would like them all!
KSlone says
May 17th, 2011 at 7:46 pmGet outta ma head yo! I just saw these yesterday and wondered if they were any good! I will be giving them a whirl! Thanks!
Arummmanis says
May 17th, 2011 at 9:46 pmHey Karen,
How does it feel on your lips? Are they drying?
I tried my friend’s once, can’t remember the brand though. It had this weird aftertaste which I didn’t like.
Arummmanis recently posted … Biore Cleansing Oil Sheet
Lillie says
May 18th, 2011 at 5:59 pmThanks for the tip. Went and got the palest pink one today. I’m always looking for the right color to mask my freaky bluish lips so my glosses look true, and this is great! Not too dark. The wear time is less a concern than the right color. Gotta love that I can get it at walmart in my po-dunk town too!!!
Bethany says
May 19th, 2011 at 6:52 amKaren! You saw Thor? How was it? I’m going to see it tonight.
Kbelle says
June 14th, 2011 at 9:33 amThese look really pretty, eventhough they only last a couple of hours/kisses/popcorns! This was too funny: “And when one of you leans in to steal a kiss at the end of the night, homeboy won’t go home with glitter on his lips.” I’ve been a “lurker” here for a while, but the above bit of humor along with the mention of my favorite early 90’s hair product L’Oreal Pumping Curls on another post has brought me out of the woodwork! Your pictures are always perfect, your reviews are thorough, thoughtful and always a fun to read because you got he extra mile to make them unique and charming. I really enjoy your blog and thank you so much for all the work you put into it!
Kbelle says
June 14th, 2011 at 9:34 amAhem…that was supposed to be “go the”, not “got he”…oy
Kbelle recently posted … Test Drive Swatches- Maybelline Shine Sensational Lip Gloss in Passion for Papaya