I was looking for something a little different from my usual lipstick or lip gloss when I came across Maybelline colour sensational lip stain. I have seen these type of pens before but never actually got around to trying one for some reason.
In Boots where I bought mine there were a few other makes and variations but I decided to go with Maybelline as it was a reasonable price and seemed to have the colours I liked.

***THE LIPSTAIN***

The lip stain comes in a plastic tube much like a chunky marker pen which is colour coded to the choice of colour you make. A useful idea that I like as at least you can see at a quick glance which one is which without taking lids of or reading labels. Around the middle is a silver effect sticker which has the product information on it from Maybelline, this gives you limited information such as the fact it lasts for 12 months and the colour with it's corresponding code. On the pull off lid which is a secure fit, so no leaky lip stain in your bag, there is a small peel away sticker giving you the ingredients list, also comes with the bar code should any app people out there want to see how much it costs elsewhere.

***USING IT AND MY THOUGHTS***

Using the lip stain is fairly simple, it is just like a marker pen to be honest, the tip is pointed to the end allowing you to define the out line of your lips easily, however due to the size of the marker pen size it is not for precision application. Basically you just colour in the rest of your lips. Should you make a mistake it comes off better with a small amount of makeup remover I find so not quite as easy to remove as a lipstick.

So what do I think......The marker pen idea I love, so simple not going to squish or melt in you bag like a lipstick and they have a nice fruity smell too.
However, to use I also find it like a marker pen in that when applying I find I am always stopping and shaking it to colour my lips in as the stain seems to run away from the tip back into the pen.
The colour does last for a good few hours, but another downside is that it is very drying on your lips. There is no moisture at all and I find myself continually licking my lips. I suppose you could put a clear lip gloss over the top but for me that would defeat the object of why I bought it.

With regards to colours I chose two 350 Blushing which is a deep pink, very nice covers well, but the other colour I bought 150 Tender Rose is a pale pink and I can hardly notice it unfortunately there was no tester for this one so I bought it on chance.

***OTHER INFORMATION***

There are only a few colour choices that I have seen available, about 6, which are pinks and browns.
Found in stores such as Boots, larger supermarkets that stock Maybelline and online makeup sties and Amazon etc.
Each 14gram lip stain costs around £5.99

Would I buy again? Probably not - only because of the drying effect on my lips.

Review maybe posted on ciao and dooyoo under the same username J