Fun fact: I'm literally never seen without a gloss, a tinted balm, or a coat of good ol' fashioned lipstick. There's something about a quick slick of pink that makes me look so much more alive! But glosses wipe off easily, lipsticks get crusty, etc. So naturally, I was intrigued by the idea of a magical lip stain with seemingly-eternal staying power in lieu of carrying around four lip products in my purse at any given moment.
Enter the Wonderskin Peel & Reveal Lip Stain! *Waves jazz hands!*Anyone with a TikTok account has probably seen influencers wiping away the $29 metallic stain to reveal flawlessly pink lips. It is, for some reason, a terrifying shade of blue and therefore a little gimmicky in the way that all TikTok-viral things seem to be, but the brand's claims that it's smudge-proof, transfer-proof, and water-resistant were definitely worth testing. Does Wonderskin live up to the hype? Keep scrolling for my full review!
The application process
I had mindlessly applied some lip balm about 30 minutes before I sat down to do my makeup, so I wiped off that residue before carefully painting on the Wonderskin lip stain in the shade Whimsical (it's a lovely rosy pink, although you can't tell just yet!). It tingled slightly upon application and felt more like a liquid lipstick than a thick mask.
Btw, don't be afraid to layer up—my first few swipes were pretty sheer but I eventually discovered that it was better to dab on the mask little by little rather than making wide swipes across my mouth.
Once that sat for 60 seconds, I lightly spritzed my lips with the activator spray. It was a liiiittle wet but it didn't mess up my makeup around my mouth. After spraying, I immediately (and gently!) peeled off the blue stain.
Full disclosure: The mask didn't come off in one satisfying piece, but a good chunk of it peeled off in one go—I used a paper towel to wipe off the remaining blue residue on my mouth.
The results (drumroll, please!)
And wouldn't you know it—I'm OBSESSED with the subtle, I-woke-up-like-this results. The alien blue stain left behind the most gorgeous tint that makes my lips look healthier and more flushed. It's the pouty, just-bitten lip color I wish I naturally had—the same results I imagine lip blushing would give me, minus the scary needles and the high price tag.
The Wonderskin lip stain is also a reeeeally great base for other products. I'm just wearing a touch of Aquaphor in the after photo, but a sheer lipstick or tinted gloss would look A+ over this natural stain.
The final verdict
I'll start with a con: I'm not gonna lie, after 12+ hours, the stain was a little crusty. There. I said it. The stain isn't inherently moisturizing, so I'd recommend wearing a lip balm or gloss on top. But to be fair, that's still wayyy better than solely relying on a mediocre lip oil that comes off every time I take a sip of my drink or a gooey lipstick that transfers onto everything I touch.
And when it comes to the pros, where do I start?! The Wonderskin stain is easy to use, comes in a gorgeous range of colors, and this might seem like a given, but it really, truly stains your lips! You can rub 'em as hard as you want and it won't come off. Also, it can be used with or without the activator spray! Spraying the stain makes it peelable and waterproof, whereas going sans spray will give you a lighter, less intense stain.
So, yeah, consider me a fan! Gtg, currently fighting the urge to stockpile this in every single color...
This viral lipstain is totally worth the hype
Wonderskin Peel and Reveal Lip Stain Kit (Sweetheart)
Wonderskin Peel and Reveal Lip Stain Kit (Beautiful)
Wonderskin Peel and Reveal Lip Stain Kit (Whimsical)
Wonderskin Peel and Reveal Lip Stain Kit (Romance)
Wonderskin Peel and Reveal Lip Stain Kit (Divine)
Wonderskin Peel and Reveal Lip Stain Kit (Glamorous)
Hannah is the Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from chic home decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and pictures of her office outfits that nobody asked for.
