The Lip Colour That Passed the Son-Kissing Test

On my birthday, my husband took me out. We went to several places and bought quite a lot, but one of our stops was Sephora, where I entered with a very specific mission: I wanted a nice beige-brown lip colour for everyday wear, but it also needed to work like a stain.

I do not like lipsticks that disappear the moment you eat, drink or accidentally touch your face. I am also far too lazy to carry a lipstick around and keep reapplying it every time it comes off. Once I put something on in the morning, I would prefer it to remain there and take care of itself.

I found the first Sephora helper I could and explained exactly what I wanted: a long-lasting lip stain in a colour that would complement my skin. She immediately took me to one that was quite literally a sign pen—or a felt-tip marker pretending to be makeup. I could test it on the back of my hand, but she explained that the tip could not be disinfected for people to try on their lips. So, essentially, trying it was an enter at your own risk situation. No, thank you.

Then she took me to a tiny Haus Labs display that had barely five colours. She picked up Sheer Sienna, a brownish shade of the Haus Labs Atomic Shake High-Shine Longwear Lip Lacquer, and explained that it would feel and look glossy but would not rub off once it had set.

Of course, I took that claim with a large grain of salt.

She recognized the look on my face and offered to swatch it on the back of my hand. It was visibly shiny, so there was absolutely no way it was not going to smear. She blew on it for a few seconds, told me to rub it and—nothing. It did not move.

Then she suggested that I try it on my lips. I wiped off the lipstick I was already wearing and prepared to test Sheer Sienna, which was the entire reason I had come in. But then I noticed Ruby.

Naturally, the original plan immediately went out the window.

I applied Ruby with a disposable applicator and began fanning my lips with my hand. The Sephora helper joined in. Then my son joined in too. So there we were, three people standing in the middle of Sephora, enthusiastically fanning my mouth.

After about twenty seconds, she told me to test it.

I crossed my fingers, leaned down and kissed my son on the cheek.

Nothing.

Not one red mark.

His cheek was completely clean, and I was honestly shocked. That was it—Ruby was coming home with me.

I tried Sheer Sienna next and initially thought, No, this colour is not for me. So I moved on to Sephora’s own collection, which had many more shades. I spent around twenty minutes trying this colour and that colour, hoping one of them would give me the same combination of comfort, shine and staying power. Some promised several hours of wear, but the colours did not do it for me. None of them felt quite like the Haus Labs one either.

Eventually, after all that rigorous and completely necessary testing, I returned to Sheer Sienna.

It turned out to be much better than I had first thought. Ruby was love at first sight; Sheer Sienna was apparently a slow-burn relationship. I walked out of Sephora very happy, carrying both shades.

I have worn them ever since. I did not even leave the house the following day, but I wore Sheer Sienna anyway, simply because I loved how it made me feel. Today, I am wearing Ruby for exactly the same reason.

What I love most is that they do not give me the tight, dry feeling I associate with marker-style lip stains. On my lips, they remain glossy and comfortably moisturized while the colour stays in place. Haus Labs instructs users to shake the bottle, apply a thin layer and keep their lips apart for about fifteen seconds while it sets. That last part matters. On another occasion, I became impatient and kissed my son before it had dried properly, and I did have to wipe his face. So the formula may be impressive, but it cannot protect me from my own impatience.

It is not entirely indestructible either. Vaseline or cleansing oil will remove it, and extremely greasy food—fried chicken or very oily fish and chips, for example—can begin breaking it down. But through ordinary eating, drinking and daily life, it has stayed on me remarkably well.

I paid $40 before tax for each one, so buying both was not a cheap little experiment. It was more than $80 after tax for two lip colours, and I absolutely expected them to perform accordingly. Thankfully, I am genuinely happy with both. Ruby remains my favourite, but Sheer Sienna has already proved me wrong in the best possible way.

My final review? They look glossy, feel comfortable and survive a properly timed kiss on my son’s cheek.

Frankly, that is the only transfer test I really needed.