Cheek and lips stains can be found just about anywhere cosmetics are sold. Formulas vary from petrolatum-based to silicone-based and everything in between, or some combination thereof. For those with combo to oily skin who must stay as far away from cream blushes that inevitably clog pores and trigger breakouts, Laura Geller's water-based Just Pinched Cheek Stay is the perfect product.

Laura Geller's Cheek Stay beautifully "stains" my lips (yes, my lips too!) with that just...that "just arrived" color. To keep it clean, it's as though eating a perfectly ripe dark cherry colored popsicle left just enough color on my lips to give them that beautiful youthful luscious color. Although it isn't marketed as a lip stain I love dual use products and I couldn't find any ingredient that this product couldn't be used on the lips as well, but don't take my word for it, ask a professional if you're unsure.

For an "au natural" makeup look I will stain my lips and swipe with any SPF 15 clear, or slightly tinted, gloss. Then reapplying gloss without a mirror is a no brainer since the stain is already there. Although the water-based stain requires occasional reapplication on the lips from exposure to drinks, licking the lips, or (gasp!) kissing, application to the cheeks need only be done in the morning and you're off for the day, unless of course you're swimming or sweating heavily from exercise or athletic play. The color is sheerer than it appears to be in the bottle and if you want a heavier look, say for evening, you can build it up in layers.

May 2008 - Pricing is speculative, even when purchased directly from Geller's retail website. Search "Cheek Stay" on her site and you get two results, neither of which state container size: one in a "teen section" for $21 and one in general section for $23 for what looks to be the exactly same sized container. You can purchase a .17 oz. container from QVC for $16 (plus 4.97 shipping for the 1st container and less for ordering two or more in the same order). Before the larger sizes were available for purchase, I bought five .17 bottles from QVC to minimize shipping and make sure I wouldn't run out, ever! It is unclear whether the container sizes are the same from LauraGeller.com and QVC, although I would surmise that the higher prices coming direct from Geller's retail website would indicate a larger size bottle, such as the one sold at Sephora.com.

Update: I noticed that Sephora.com is selling the same Laura Geller product under the slighty different name, Tint Hint, in the same universal color "Just Pinched" at a cost of $22.50 for a .39 oz. container. Role over the image above and you will see where I included a copy of the product image carried at Sephora vs. the main image of the container from LauraGeller.com and QVC.com.