This £12 lip tint is so comfy and long-lasting, I wore it every single day on holiday
After two weeks of non-stop wear, I can confirm this flattering shade works for every occasion...
Holidays are a good way to test which makeup is truly essential. What am I willing to cram into a tiny, clear bag at the airport, cart across the continent, then actually want to apply in the heat and humidity?
On a fortnight's sojourn in France, where my top priorities were swimming in the sea and drinking pale supermarché rosé, one easy-breezy long-lasting lipstick was never far from my face.
I wore it to alfresco lunches, galleries, bars, and the beach. It survived a sweltering Bastille Day street party in Marseille and an intense petanque tournament on the windy Provencal coast. It suits every occasion and costs just over a tenner, so it's my act of public service to tell you about it now.
Et voila! The weightless, lovely lip stain that lives in my bag at home and lived on my face on holiday. It comes in a great range of colours and has a moisturising, lightly sheeny finish. I'd say the main reason this stain became so completely indispensable on my travels was its combination of comfortable feel - it swipes on all slippery and creamy, then sets but never dries out - and excellent lasting power.
It subtly enhances the colour and adds a tiny touch of sheen, but essentially, you don't look like you are wearing makeup. It just appears as if you have a lovely natural lip shade, hence its versatility for absolutely everything my holiday threw at me.
Shade-wise, I wore Peachy, and I'd say Cheeky and Royal would make nice neutrals against warmer and deeper-toned skin than mine. Seeing as they're so budget-friendly, you could even buy a couple for more natural and intense looks.
In hubris, I had brought maybe three or four lipsticks away with me - including an extremely high-maintenance bold matte red, as if I'd bother! - but ended up solely reliant on Vinyl Ink.
I chucked it on first thing each day, gave it another swipe after lunch, maybe one more in the evening. It was always present in one form or another - sitting there softly, comfortably, and subtly.
I may have been influenced by my environment there - French makeup is known for its whisper-quiet approach, and this fits the understated, effortless brief so perfectly.
And unlike scratchy shell bracelets or those jazzy harem pants I rocked in Thailand '09, this is one holiday style hero that's translated beautifully to my life back on home turf, too.
