Kulfi Beauty's New Lip Product Is Somehow Both an Oil and a Stain

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This year, we saw a lip product boom that was buzzier than the latest office gossip. Brands launched lip oils, balms, and glosses left and right (with E.L.F. Cosmetics, Summer Fridays, and Haus Labs among some of the most talked-about formulas). While the beauty girlies were busy debating which new lip product was the best, South Asian makeup brand Kulfi Beauty was plotting a drop to top them all: the Kulfi Lassi Lips Staining Lip Oil. Yes, you read that right: This new lip product combines the shine and hydration of a lip oil with the lasting pigment of a stain. Its unique formula is what earned it the coveted One to Watch seal of approval from Allure editors.

Since its launch in 2021, Kulfi Beauty has been in the practice of giving people what they want. Take the brand’s Underlined Kajal Eyeliners, for example. Founder Priyanka Ganjoo gave consumers a kajal formula that was highly pigmented and long-wearing, so much so that it won a Best of Beauty award in 2023. So we anticipated greatness when we caught wind of Kulfi’s latest lip product, the Lassi Lips Staining Lip Oil.

Kulfi Beauty Lassi Lips Staining Lip Oil

$24.00, Sephora

The brand claims that the formula sweeps on glossy like an oil and dries down as a stain, without sacrificing hydration. “We found that traditional lip oils give you hydration, but they don't necessarily have much color payoff, while lip stains have pigment—and transfer-proof power—but they don't typically have that hydrating glossy look that people are looking for,” Ganjoo tells Allure. “So we made a baby of the two.”

Ganjoo says the product was thought up in the lab while the Kulfi team was musing on consumer feedback and reflecting on popular shades from its lipstick line. The founder drew inspiration from Korean lip stains which “have long-lasting pigment and are so easy to use. But I would always have to pair it with a clear lip gloss because I craved the high shine,” Ganjoo tells Allure. From conception to launch, it took Ganjoo and the team 18 months and four formula iterations to perfect Lassi Lips.

As I chat with Ganjoo, my brain is wracked by the question: How did they combine a lip oil and stain into one? The two products notoriously have different textures and functions. Sure, there are tinted lip oils, but their tints last only as long as the oil does on your lips (often a single sip from a straw will wash it away).

Cosmetic chemist Amanda Lam puts my queries to rest, explaining that the formula makes it a lip stain first. "It contains film formers and solubilizers that deliver color to lips and create that staining effect," she says. "It probably won't feel as thick and moisturizing as a traditional lip oil, but it should have a better shine than a regular lip tint."

But that doesn't mean it's not moisturizing. It contains emollients, like diphenyl dimethicone and hydrogenated polyisobutene, which give the formula a cushiony feel, according to Lam.

Knowing this, I was eager to put the lip oil stain to the test. Of the six very wearable shades, the brownish color, Tamarind, drew me in first. The other colors include Rose, a light, neutral pink; Caramel, a peachy neutral brown; Black Cherry, a dark reddish purple; First Sari, a cool-toned berry; and Lucky Lotus, a bright magenta.

How I tested it

I lined my lips with the Ami Colé Soft Shape Lip Liner before swiping on the lip oil stain, which “helps extend the stain's wear time,” makeup artist Andrea Claire previously told Allure. Claire said the best way to apply a lip stain is to draw a "V" at the bow and outer corners of your lips and a "U" toward the bottom. Then, connect the dots and fill in the lips.

When applying Lassi Lips I was immediately taken aback by the texture, which felt thin but also had grip. It wasn’t as gooey as your average lip oil, but it also felt a bit thicker than lip stains I’ve tried. Nonetheless, it was comfortable. I appreciated the thin, slightly tapered applicator, which made it easy to apply the product more precisely.

“We wanted people to be able to line their lips with it if they wanted,” says Ganjoo. “Because it has that staining aspect to it, you could choose where you want to place your product.”

As it dried down, it left a soft, cushiony feel that lasted about two hours. It's so pigmented, with a pretty yet subtle sheen. I’m used to glossier formulas, where the light bounces off my lips, so I was initially a bit disappointed when this didn’t have a super high-gloss effect. I almost topped it with my Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Ice Cooling Lip Luminizer, but after looking in the mirror for a few minutes, I started to appreciate the softer, satin finish.

I wore the lip oil stain to the office, and after about two hours, it felt a little on the drier side. If you’re looking for long-lasting moisture, you might want to reach for a traditional lip oil.

But I’m not the only one with strong feelings about the Lassi Lips Staining Lip Oil. Ahead, Allure editors share their unfiltered opinions on the new Kulfi Beauty launch.

More Allure reviews

Jessica Cruel, editor-in-chief, wearing the shade Lucky Lotus.

I have a strong belief that Korean makeup brands make the best lip stains. On a recent trip, I brought many tubes home from my Olive & Young haul. This one from Kulfi is on the same level as my K-beauty favorites. It has a watery, yet hydrating texture that doesn’t feel oily or tacky. Is “dewy” a term we can use for lips? That’s exactly what it gives. The color is brighter than what you’d expect from a stain. It’s sheer but impactful, and you can build for more color.

My only qualm is that it doesn't last as long as some of my other tried-and-true lip stains. After eating lunch, the color faded leaving me with only the remnants of the purple pigment.

Bianca Richards, social media manager, wearing the shade Caramel.

This is one of the sweetest lip innovations I've seen in a minute. One might wonder how a lip oil can be a lip stain at the same time, but Kulfi Beauty nails it with this lightweight formula that has incredible color payoff. I love the shade Caramel, which is a great enhancer for my natural lip color. It complements my skin tone beautifully.

Unlike other lip oils, which have a thicker, gooey consistency, this lip product has a thinner, slippery texture that feels soft and airy on lips long after application. The color payoff and moisturizing benefits lasted through lunch until late evening, which truly surprised me.

Kara McGrath, content director, wearing the shade Rose.

Lassi Lips hit my desk about a month ago and immediately became the most-used lip product in my arsenal. The shade Rose is almost an exact match for my natural lip color, so it works just as well for a minimal makeup day as it does for a more dolled-up night out when I want my eye makeup to hold most of the focus. I also love how hydrating it is; my lips seem to absorb most oils pretty quickly, but this formula keeps them soft even after the shine has worn off.

Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor, wearing the shade of Caramel

I haven’t stopped gushing to my colleagues about this staining lip oil since it hit my desk. The Caramel shade evens out the different tones in my lips, and the slight shine makes them look fuller. It’s so comfortable that when its pigment wears away after two hours—or frequent sips of matcha—I immediately sweep on another layer.

Sarah Han, commerce editor, in the shade Lucky Lotus

Kulfi Beauty is a staple in my makeup bag (I wear Underlined Kajal almost every day), so as someone obsessed with (and quite critical of) lip tints and stains, I had extra-high expectations for Kulfi’s latest launch. My lips are naturally dry, so I knew the real test would be applying Lassi on my lips without any balm.

This product is billed as a lip oil, but I was happy to find the formula isn’t heavy or greasy. Lassi felt more akin to the lightweight Korean lip tints I usually wear. The slightly watery consistency instantly melted into my lips and blurred the look of my lip lines. (That said, I still prefer to prep my lips with a thin layer of balm.)

My lips felt instantly nourished, too, thanks to the formula’s mango seed oil. I only had time to apply one layer initially, but after the first layer dried down, I went in with a second for maximum color payoff. Lucky Lotus is also a gorgeous magenta that I (somehow?) don’t already have in my collection. So, yeah, you could say I’m a big fan.

Pricing and value

The Kulfi Beauty Lassi Lips costs $24. When compared with other lip oils and stains that do only their respective jobs, it falls snugly in the middle of the market. (Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil is $26, Fenty Beauty Hydrating Lip Stain is $28, Benefit Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain is $26, and Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil is $20.) There isn't a product on the market that does both the job of a lip oil and a stain the way Lassi Lips does, so I consider it well worth its price tag.

Catch up on previous One To Watch reviews:

• Summer Fridays' New Dream Lip Oil Is Quiet Luxury for Your Lips

• Serena Williams Is Ready to Wyn

• You've Never Seen a Liquid Eyeliner Like Urban Decay's 24/7 Inks

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Originally Appeared on Allure