Not every COVERGIRL lip stain is a pen, so this is the wider Outlast lineup. The Outlast Lipstain comes in more shades than most people expect. 55 Atomic Love and 97 Fangtastic are the bold ones by name, and 97 Fangtastic started life in the brand's Halloween set. 25 Tangelo and 62 Blushed Mauve are the quieter picks, and every shade here is the same pen with the same one swipe application.

Then there is the wear-all-day family. COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Lip Color with Topcoat is a lip kit that lasts up to 24 hours, with a moisturizing topcoat over the color. Your Classic Red is the shade I would choose for a proper red, and New Neu is the one for a softer everyday shade. Outlast Forever Velvet Lip Pigment in Baked Clay is a different feel altogether, a velvet matte liquid that COVERGIRL says leaves lips comfortable without being dry or cakey.

How to wear them: if you want a stain that sinks in, use the pen. If you want the shine of a gloss on top of long wear, use the topcoat kit.

What I would skip: layering the velvet pigment over a thick balm. It is a matte formula, so it likes a clean, lightly prepped lip.

Stains do not have to come in a pen, and the other brands here show how different the idea can feel. The Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red is a matte classic red liquid lipstick that is transfer-proof and full coverage, made with avocado oil so it stays comfortable. MAC Lustreglass Stainglass in XOXO is a glossy lip tint in a warm peach nude, lasting up to 12 hours according to MAC, with raspberry seed oil and squalane.

Mango People Hydrating Glossy Fruit Lip Stain in Rose Milk is a nude pink that wears like a gloss and then fades to a soft tint over two to three hours. Violette Lip Nectar in Betise is a warm berry stain with squalane, ceramides and hyaluronic acid, and its color blooms shortly after you put it on. Gucci Oil-In-Water Tint in 130 Elsa Hazel is an almond nude with a sheer hint of color. Kaja Jelly Charm in 02 Squeeze Guava is a soft plum pink that doubles as a blush. Laka Fruity Glam Tint in 102 Dewy is a muted mauve, and for transfer-proof wear it needs about five minutes to set. The Lip Tint Felt Lip Stain and Liner in 02 Rosewood Trace is a warm pink coral felt tip with a ballpoint edge for precision.

Try this: wear a glossy tint first, and once it fades, go over the leftover stain with a clear balm.

What I would skip: touching your lips while a stain sets. Wait the few minutes and the color stays even.

Start by deciding how much shine you want. If you like a matte, sunk in stain, the Outlast Lipstain pen is the direct answer, and Honey Sculpt or 65 Natural Blush are easy first shades. If you want gloss that fades, look at Mango People, Violette and MAC. If you want one product for lips and cheeks, Kaja Jelly Charm does both.

Whichever you pick, prep matters. A stain grabs onto dry patches, so smooth your lips first and blot before it sets. I keep a pen for the days I want zero fuss and a glossy tint for the days I want to look like I just ate a peach. Both are fine, and both fade in a way that looks lived in.