Lip tints and barely-there glosses are trending at the moment thanks to social media’s “clean girl” movement away from heavy, matte make-up. Because of this, Benefit’s iconic Benetint Lip Stain & Blush Tint, £17.50 here, is having a moment in the spotlight.

The product isn’t new – in fact, it was created back in the 1970s for an exotic dancer. These days, we mostly use it on our cheeks and lips, but the history of the product is well worth reading into if you have a moment to spare.

The tint is famously loved by beauty editors and industry experts, but five-star reviews from shoppers are still popping up daily on Sephora, Boots and Benefit’s own product pages Comments range from glowing reviews about how long it last on the lips – “all day”, according to one Sephora shopper – to how it’s a “dream come true” in terms of giving the perfect rosy pigment.

Benefit's Benetint is a long-standing favourite for tinting lips and cheeks

Still on the fence about clicking “add to cart” on this cult classic buy? Our OK! deputy beauty editor Zoe calls it her go-to alternative to a semi-permanent lip tattoo.

Zoe says:

I’ve been umming and ahing over the idea of getting a semi-permanent lip blush (tattoo) treatment for months. I will take the plunge soon, but in the meantime I’ve been looking for less permanent ways to give my lips a perfect rosy tint without the product fading fast or transferring onto my coffee cup.

My secret? Benefit’s original Benetint. Every time I wear it out, without fail, one of my friends asks me what my lip combo is. When I tell them it’s the Benefit tint, they give me a knowing nod like we’re all part of an elite club of beauty lovers who have heard about this holy grail buy. The product is actually no secret – and I’m sure you’ve heard of it yourself – but with all of the new launches and sparkly new brands on the shelves, sometimes we need reminding about hero buys like this one.

Left, Zoe with no tint, and right, wearing Benetint

My top application tip is to use a lip liner with it. REFY’s Lip Sculpt in Rosewood, £18 here, is my go-to as the dusky rose hue blends perfectly with the tint. However, there are darker and lighter shades of the liner to suit your lip colour. I first apply the tint and leave it to dry and set on my lips for about a minute. I then go over the borders of my lips with the liner. Sometimes I’ll add a gloss over the top, but mostly I keep the tint looking semi-matte (this is how it dries).

The shade honestly lasts for hours on my lips. The only thing I will say is it fades quicker near the insides of the lips, but a quick touch-up dab of the tint will fix that in a second. I’ve seen the product is out of stock on Benefit’s website (but luckily not yet on Boots or Sephora), so I’ve already ordered myself another one just in case there's a rush!

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By Editor