The primary difference between a lip stain and a lipstick or gloss is that a stain actually acts as a temporary "dye" to saturate your lips with color, whereas a lipstick or gloss is more or less like applying a colored "wax" to your lips. A lip stain will typically last longer than a lipstick or gloss and is designed to be waterproof once it has dried. Because they act as a dye rather than a wax, lip stains will also not smear, stain, wear unevenly or rub off on your teeth.