stain-off: benefit vs the balm

Not all stains are created equally. Yes, the reality is that some are better than others. In general, I love the idea of cheek and lip stains. Why? It's always nice to have makeup that has a little staying power! When you've got a long day ahead of you, the last thing you want to is worry about touching up your face.

Over the last little while, I've tried out a couple of new cheek and lip stains. One is bene-tint by Benefit and the other is stainiac by The Balm. I already own a ton of products from Benefit and they have quickly become one of my favourite makeup brands. On the other hand, I've heard amazing things about The Balm - but their products aren't easily found in my country. So, this was my first time trying anything from them.

Since these two products are pretty similar, I thought it was time to do a stain-off. Which product will be victorious? Let's find out!

As you can see, both of these products have similar claims. It's all about subtle colour that lasts all day and all night. However, The Balm also claims to dry slower, giving you time to work with the product before it sets - super handy! While both stains are similar in terms of texture and staying power, there are a few key differences: the colour and the application. In terms of colour, The Balm is more of a ruby shade while Benefit offers a soft, feminine pink. As for the application, it's a sponge tip for The Balm and a brush for Benefit.

Here is a swatch to compare the two shades side by side:

And the winner is.........The Balm's stainiac! As much as I adore Benefit (and the brush applicator), this lip and cheek stain just came out on top. The colour was a little bolder, richer, easier to work with, and had just as much staying power. Plus, it a lot more affordable. Now, let's see this bad boy in action. Here is my most recent makeup look using stainiac:

Have you tried either of these stains? Which do you prefer?

xo Shannon