You can play with your lip color all you want, but for days you want to look effortlessly pretty, it’s best to go for a K-beauty lip tint.
Going for a lightweight K-beauty lip tint could be your best choice, especially during the summer when creamy beauty products like lip gloss just don’t feel as comfortable.
Whether you want long-lasting color on your lips or just wish to avoid the heaviness of lipsticks, here is a list to help you find the best Korean lip tint that suits you.
10 Best Korean Lip Tints: Long Lasting, Matte, and Natural Look
Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint
Our Pick
Etude House is one of the most popular K-beauty cosmetics brands for good reason. The company, founded more than half a century ago, continues to deliver high-quality makeup and skincare products.
The Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint is one of its most highly acclaimed lip products. It comes with a doe-foot applicator, and along with the water gel formula and consistency, it’s easy to apply and absorbs easily.
The Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint takes the #1 spot on this list!
Pros
- Hydrating
- Comes in a variety of 8 shade range options
- Color lasts long
- Has a fruity scent
- Kiss-proof
Cons
- Slightly sticky upon application
Missha Wish Stone Tint
Best Korean Lip Tint for Dry Lips
This Missha lip tint looks like a wish stone, adding to its overall appeal. What we love most about this tint is the fact that you can choose from two different textures: Glossy and Velvety.
This Korean lip tint contains sunflower seed and apricot seed oil along with honey extract. These ingredients make the lips healthier and fuller. The only problem with this lip tint is that the color doesn’t last too long.
Pros
- Contains sunflower and apricot seed oil for plumper lips
- The packaging design is like a wish stone
- Provides two finish options
Cons
- Color doesn’t last as long
A’pieu Water Light Tint
Best Korean Lip Tint for a Natural Look
If you enjoy sporting an effortless off-duty model look, these A’pieu lip stains might be what you’re looking for.
You will love the healthy flush this product gives. It has one of the best colors we’ve ever seen in a Korean lip tint because of its subtle but beautiful effect. We’re all looking for the MLBB shade (my lips but better), and this might be the tint for that.
And because this lip tint is multi-functional, you can skip the blush and carry this product as an alternative.
The problem we have with this lip stain is that the smell is quite strong for our liking. It also has a bitter taste for some of the shades.
Otherwise, though, this is a great lip tint that gives a rich but natural tint for your lips.
Pros
- Rich and natural-looking color
- Has 16 shade options
- Can be used as a blush
Cons
- Strong scent
- Some shades have a bitter taste
- The container is prone to product spillage
BBIA Last Velvet Lip Tint Note Series
This Korean lip tint series by BBIA contains a lot of beautiful shades whose effect ranges from simple to seductive.
What we like best about the Last Velvet Lip Tint line is its formulation. Because of its very fine particles, the lip tint has a blurring effect, with the addition of a velvety finish.
Be careful when buying the BBIA Last Velvet Lip Tint online, though. Make sure you’ve chosen the correct color so that the right one is purchased and delivered to you.
Pros
- Formulated with fine particles that smoothen flaws
- Color lasts all day
- Has a velvet lip tint finish
Cons
- Colors are not accurately portrayed online
- Not for dry lips
Mamonde Creamy Tint Squeeze Lip
If you like a weightless water lip effect, this Mamonde lip tint is your best bet.
This K-beauty product comes in easy-squeeze, tube packaging and the formula glides right out. It will give you that refreshed feeling, thanks to its key ingredient: Rosewater.
You won’t feel like you’re wearing anything with this tint. It’s super lightweight and non-sticky. The high pigmentation is also the cherry on top. Many users like to use it for a water gradient effect on the lips.
One catch is that it can dry out your lips when worn for too long. Make sure you use a hydrating lip balm before using this for longwear.
Pros
- Contains rosewater
- Easy to spread formula
- Lightweight
Cons
- Drying formula
The Saem Saemmul Water Candy Tint
Here’s another product that would give you that water lip feel. This fun Korean lip tint comes in a candy-like container and tastes like one.
It contains hyaluronic acid and honey for additional moisture your lips badly need. The water-like consistency makes it easy to apply and easily absorbed into the skin. It’ll coat your lips with a bright pop of color.
However, you may have to reapply this throughout the day because unlike other lip tints, this is not kiss-proof. Not to mention, easily removed when eating or drinking.
Pros
- Moisturizing formula of honey and hyaluronic acid
- Water-like consistency makes it easily absorbed
Cons
- Not kiss-proof
Tonymoly Delight Tony Tint
The Tonymoly Delight Tony Tint is lightweight and provides a sheer matte finish.
Users attest to its staying power because this product can last all day. It’s so long-lasting, so you should be careful about applying this when you’re on-the-go.
If you make a mistake, it’s difficult to remove.
For lip nourishment, this Tonymoly product contains jojoba, argan, and rosehip oil, all of which add to your lip’s moisture and suppleness. The color is also buildable, so you can choose a bolder effect if you wish.
Pros
- Provides a sheer matte finish
- Contains rosehip, argan, and jojoba oil
- Buildable
Cons
- Not easily removed when incorrectly applied
Peripera Ink Airy Velvet
This Korean lip tint has a dropper-like design, which is quite cute. However, the disadvantage is the difficulty in holding the wand applicator because of its size.
Ultimately, the Peripera Ink Airy Velvet is very lightweight and might be the velvet lip tint you’re looking for.
Just remember to exfoliate your lips first before using this product because it tends to emphasize dry patches.
Pros
- Dropper-like dispenser
- Lightweight
- Gives a velvet lip tint finish
Cons
- Emphasizes dry patches
Labiotte Wine Lip Tint
The first thing you notice with this lip tint is its cute, wine bottle packaging. It definitely lives up to K-beauty’s enthusiasm with cute designs.
It prides itself with its lasting power since it can stay on your lips for up to 6 hours. There are also 8 different colors to choose from. Many users love the rich pigments it delivers.
This product also lives up to its packaging since it contains Sepivinol wine extract. This ingredient makes the formula taste like wine as well! If you’re a wine lover, this might be the perfect lip product for you.
Since it’s formulated to be long-lasting, the moment that you choose to reapply some more product, it may clump up. The texture will look blotchy on your lips so it’s best to apply exactly how much you want at first swipe.
Pros
- Cute, wine bottle packaging
- Tastes like wine
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Tends to clump when too much is applied
lilybyred Bloody Liar Coating Tint
This product is enriched with hydration capsules to nourish the lips. The formulation has oil-based ingredients which prolong dewiness and glossiness.
It comes in 6 highly-pigmented shades you can choose from. When applied, you’ll get to enjoy a fruit juice makeup look, which is the popular trend in K-beauty these days. It basically means that you’ll look like you just sipped your favorite fruit juice.
You should apply this quickly, though. Many users have complained that it dries too fast so it’s hard to blend after.
Still, the good thing about being fast-drying is that it doesn’t smudge. It’s certified kiss-proof as well because of this!
Pros
- Has hydration capsules
- Contains oil-based ingredients for a dewy effect
- Rich colors
- Smudge-proof and kiss-proof
Cons
- Dries too fast
What Are Lip Tints?
Lip tints are makeup products that provide natural color to the lips and also last longer than lipsticks. Unlike a lipstick or lip gloss, lip tints are often without gloss or shine, giving the lips a more natural look compared to other lip products.
Lip tints are popular in South Korea because of the youthful vibe they give. The more natural colors of Korean lip tints give a more effortless look.
Most of them sport a light color, just enough to bring life to dull lips. So if you’re going for a more natural tint, Korean lip tints are the best choice.
Korean lip tints are a good choice because they often contain more nourishing ingredients compared to others. This includes incorporated sunscreen in the tint to protect the lips from sun damage.
Kinds of Lip Tints
There are generally three types of lip tints: liquid, stick, and peel-off.
A liquid lip tint often has a wand applicator, making it easier to line the lips.
Tint sticks, on the other hand, are more moisturizing and look like your average lipstick except for the formulation of the product.
The peel-off lip tint takes longer to apply because you have to wait a few minutes before you can finish the application. To use, apply a thick layer over the lips and leave it there for about 10 minutes before peeling it off.
Lip Tints vs. Lipsticks
Most people often confuse lipsticks and lip tints.
The main difference? It lies in the formulation.
While lipsticks generally contain oils and waxes, lip tints have a liquid or gel base.
The oils make the lipsticks creamier and more moisturizing, but it’s also responsible for the lower product life lipsticks have because the former tends to slide off.
Because of their formulation, lip tints are more long-lasting and don’t require as many touch-ups during the day. A little goes a long way for lip tints because a small amount is enough to achieve the desired effect. They also stick to the lips more strongly than lipsticks do.
How to Apply Lip Tints
The first thing to do is to exfoliate the lips to remove dead skin cells. This is an important step because a lip tint’s formulation makes it easily absorbed by the skin, causing a drying effect.
If you skip exfoliation, it may end up emphasizing the dryness of your lips.
Exfoliation can be done by using a lip scrub or a gentle brush. Choose one with enough exfoliating power that doesn’t scrape off too much skin.
After exfoliation, dry the lips with a towel or tissue. It’s best to apply a generous layer of lip balm to moisturize the lips.
This is important because, as mentioned earlier, lip tints can be drying.
The final step is to apply your chosen Korean lip tint. You can choose to do a gradient lip tint look for a softer vibe.
Lip Tint Application Effects
There are a few tricks you can use when applying Korean lip tints. You can go for the gradient look, diffused look, or full coverage.
For the gradient effect, apply the lip tint only on the inner corners of the lips. Press the lips together to spread the color a bit, but don’t apply too much of the product so it can cover even the outermost portions of the lips.
You can achieve a diffused look by applying lip tint over most of the lips. Avoid applying the tint on the edges though. Then, press the lips together to diffuse the color.
For full coverage, apply the lip tint as you would an ordinary liquid lipstick. Outline the edges of the lips and then work your way towards the inner part.
You can choose an application without adding anything else, but some prefer to add a layer of shimmer or gloss. You can also experiment with your desired effect.
How to Remove Lip Tints
A lip tint can be hard to remove because of how long it lasts on your lips.
Some make the mistake of over-exfoliating or even using cleansers to remove the product. These methods dry the lips out and should be avoided.
To properly remove a lip tint, take a gentle makeup remover and use it to wipe the tint off.
If you don’t have makeup wipes, grab a cotton pad and use your favorite beauty oil. Apply the oil onto the cotton pad and press gently to the lips for a few seconds. This melts off the lip tint without being too harsh on the lips.
Conclusion
Korean lip tints are popular because of the unique effect they give to your lips. These makeup products look more natural, effortless, and last longer compared to ordinary lipsticks and lip gloss.
The best Korean lip tint on this list is the Dear Darling Water Gel Tint. It’s kiss-proof, long-lasting, and hydrating!
The Missha Wish Stone tint comes in a close second because we love how it effectively nourishes dry lips. It could use a stronger staying power, but its quality justifies the need for reapplication.
CHANGELOG:
September 10, 2021 – Updated article links
August 23, 2021 – Updated product descriptions, improved article formatting, reviewed and updated overall content, updated article title and article description
July 15, 2021 – Reviewed and updated article links