The 17 Best Lip Liners to Define and Enhance, Tested & Reviewed
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Say hello to the perfect pout.
InStyle / Alexander Huang
An impeccable pout is one of our favorite ways to create a statement look. While a bold lipstick or ultra-shiny gloss might turn heads, what truly puts a statement lip together is outlining with a complementary shade to take your look to the next level. “Lip liners can be used to define the shape of the lips, creating a crisp outline that enhances the natural shape of your lips or alters it slightly for a desired effect,” says makeup artist Lisa Pimentel. A gorgeously lush-looking lip includes an excellent lip liner in a perfect-for-you shade formulated with strong, long-lasting ingredients you can rely on to stubbornly stay in place all night.
We selected 29 popular lip liners across a range of formulas, pigments, and applicators and spent 464 hours testing each one, rimming our lips over and over to scrutinize its performance. For a spot on our list, a lip liner needed to earn excellent scores from InStyle editors in all five categories: Application (did it glide easily across our lips or skip, dot, and drag?), wearability (did it feel like we were wearing a thick sweater on our lips or was the liner imperceptible?), texture and consistency (did it feel drying and chalky, overly gel-like and slippy, or somewhere in between?), pigment (did we need to add layer upon layer or did the color stay all day?), and most importantly, the final look it provided. Our favorite and highest-scoring lip liners make up this list.
Best Overall: Victoria Beckham Beauty Lip Definer
See at Victoriabeckhambeauty.com
Why We Love It: We love this buildable pencil and the way it glides smoothly onto lips. Unlike many lip liners, it doesn’t have a chalky, drying feel to it, nor is it overly greasy and sliding about. It provides a hint of hydration, preventing any creasing or a dreaded wrinkled finish
Who It’s For: This product is for people who want a natural-looking lip with just a little something extra.
Just Trust Us: To make sure this lip liner doesn’t settle into any creases, we love swiping some lip balm on top for extra moisture and shine.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, peptides｜Shades: 7｜Waterproof: Yes｜Size: 0.04 oz
Best for Sensitive Skin: Tower 28 OneLiner Lip Liner
Why We Love It: Rich pigment, smooth application and packed with hydration, this lip liner has all of our most coveted features. The liner itself applied easily and evenly dispersed the pigment. Its texture leans on the softer side so the tip doesn’t stay sharp for too long, and a sharpener wasn’t included. However, we noticed that any mistakes could be easily fixed and the color was easy to remove without staining.
Who It’s For: For those of us with dry lips, this product applied like a dream and the buttery texture didn’t snag or drag. The tip of the pencil was sharp enough to make a clean line that wasn’t too small. We were able to achieve our desired pigment in one swipe. This is for anyone looking for natural-looking liner (without needing a lot of shades to match different lip colors). This is perfect for individuals with dry, sensitive skin.
Just Trust Us: You can certainly build on this color, but we don’t think you’ll need to. You can get the desired effect in one swipe.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba oil, marula oil｜Shades: 3｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.04 oz
Best Budget Lip Liner: Milani Color Statement Lipliner
Why We Love It: If you’re a gloss addict, then this is the liner you should include to round out your look. With a pointed tip that leaves clean, precise lines, a gloss is the perfect way to allow for a buildable look. We noticed that because this liner isn’t incredibly creamy, it wouldn’t pair very well with a matte lip color. We didn't experience any tugging or dragging when we applied, and even better, the color didn't fade much throughout the day. Despite its staying power, it was very easy to remove with makeup remover and a cotton pad. We expected there to be a stain, but it left behind no trace of color.
Who It’s For: This would work best on people who like creamy lipsticks or lip oils. We would not recommend it to people who want to overline their lips.
Just Trust Us: Get a gloss that you love to pair with this product since the liner might initially appear dry.
Key Ingredients: Zeolite minerals, synthetic wax｜Shades: 8｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.04 oz
Best Pigment: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner
Why We Love It: Once we tested this, it was obvious that we’d dub it the best pigment. Anastasia Beverly Hills established itself as the ultimate go-to brand for brow products, and with the launch of a lip collection, these liners are equally covetable. The waxy formula effortlessly applied onto our lips leaving a deep, intense color. It didn’t take more than one or two passes for us to get the desired look, but of course this pick is also buildable. The finish was velvet-matte while the formula was smooth and waxy, as opposed to highly creamy which allowed the color to go on even and uniformly, without feathering, bleeding or needing time to dry. The pencil itself was also easy to sharpen, so we didn’t have to sacrifice precision.
Who It’s For: These rich shades are a match made in heaven for anyone whose personal aesthetic always has a bold, bright lip with intense color and dimension.
Just Trust Us: Removing lip products isn’t always easy, and we thought this deep hue would be a headache, but all we needed was a few swipes with a makeup wipe.
Key Ingredients: Antioxidants, wax-based formula｜Shades: 22｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.053 oz
Best for Mature Lips: BareMinerals Mineralist Lasting Lip Liner
Why We Love It: How much we loved this pick all boiled down to the texture: Milky and soft, this formula blended well into our lips, leaving behind an impeccable matte finish that had an instant dry time. However, for some of us the soft texture was a deterrent and that felt like we were obviously wearing makeup. Yet, we were able to achieve precisely lined lips that stayed defined and didn’t settle into the lines on our lips. Even during a night out with plenty of eating and drinking, it just needed to be touched up once and was easily removed without leaving a stain behind.
Who It’s For: It's creamy, smooth texture blends well with lipstick to create a natural vibe for mature lips. Although if overlining is your thing, it draws onto lips with precision for a well-defined lip. We think it's an especially great choice for anyone with smaller lips who wants to exaggerate their shape.
Just Trust Us: This range has some great nudes and natural shades, perfect for nailing a no-makeup, makeup look.
Key Ingredients: Black grape extract, sea buckthorn fruit oil｜Shades: 7｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.04 oz
Best for Precise Lines: Buxom Power Line Plumping Lip Liner
Why We Love It: It was impossibly easy to apply this liner evenly and smoothly. Unlike most other liners, it has a flat triangle-shaped point, and we were surprised by its incredible precision. This liner was perfect for creating a good fine line and left a buildable, pigmented color. It dried down pretty quickly and once dry, it did a good job at staying in place without bleeding or feathering. This lip liner also features a blending brush on the opposite end.
Who It’s For: The pointed tip helps keep the lines clean and sharp (circle tips are easy to fumble), so reach for this little number if you want to exaggerate a small lip.
Just Trust Us: If you’re constantly on the go like us, this applicator is definitely a luxury. The triangle tip and the brush applicator makes it easy to reapply on the go.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil｜Shades: 10｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.01 oz
Best Nude Lip Liner: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
Why We Love It: Charlotte Tilbury is known for her iconic highlighting techniques and her best-selling magic cream, but we think her lip products are also high ranking. The ones we tested left no trace of feathering or bleeding. The liner itself has a creamy texture but leaves a plush matte finish that dries quickly without drying out our lips, which is a major plus. Although the Iconic Nude shade is, in fact, a nude, it's far from your run-of-the-mill neutral: The color itself is rich and multidimensional, adding just a hint of a natural flush on our lips.
Who It’s For: Many lippies claim to deliver a natural look, but this one actually does it. Use it to outline the curve of your lips or fill it in with color all the way; the only wrong way to use this lip liner is to not use it at all.
Just Trust Us: For anyone who prefers cool-toned lipstick colors this range includes many to pick from with colors that appear exactly how you expect.
Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, cottonseed oil｜Shades: 23｜Waterproof: Yes｜Size: 0.04 oz
Best for Red Lipstick: Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 Automatic Matte Lip Pencil
Why We Love It: Lovers of a bold red lip might just have their perfect lip liner match, or at least we think so. The color payoff was impressive, and noticeable to us upon the first application of this creamy lip liner that went on super smooth. The precision tip made for easy definition and although the color was full-bodied, it was easy to remove and didn’t leave too much of a stain, an impressive feat considering its intense pigment.
Who It’s For: Beginners and experts alike will adore this low effort, easy-to-use lip pencil for its maximum payoff in a bold, eye-catching color.
Just Trust Us: With this dense, rich pigment, all you really need is one coat to achieve a bold, bright color.
Key Ingredients: Licorice, soybean｜Shades: 12｜Waterproof: Yes｜Size: 0.01 oz
Best for Overlining: Juvia’s Place Luxe Lip Liner
Why We Love It: A striking appearance is what we achieved with this product. An incredibly creamy formula that ends with a velvety-matte finish, this pick didn’t feather or bleed outside our lip. Instead, it applied evenly and uniformly, corner to corner. Even though this product dried to reveal a matte finish, it didn’t dry out our lips, like many matte products tend to do.
Who It’s For: You're either team chalky liner or team creamy liner; this one is most definitely for those on the latter team. This is the perfect liner for a gloss girlie.
Just Trust Us: It is very easy to create a strong outline, due to the formula's creaminess and saturation, although we recommend locking it in place with a light dusting of setting powder.
Key Ingredients: Ozokerite mineral wax, glycerin, fatty acids｜Shades: 9｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.32 oz
Best Plumping Lip Liner: Lawless Beauty Forget The Filler Definer Lip Liner
Why We Love It: Buttery soft with a suede, not quite shiny, but not exactly matte finish, this dusty pink liner is one of 11 skin tone-forward hues that complement a wide range of undertones. We loved the velvety feel of this liner so much that it was easy to overdo it, but its formulation is just creamy enough to blend away any slips. You'll need a sharpener to keep the tip super pointed and precise.
Who It’s For: We'd argue this lip liner is one of the most universally lovely lip liners currently on the market, from the wide shade range that suits most skin tones to the cream-to-powder texture to the plumping effect it gives slim puckers, we've yet to find an editor who wasn't a fan.
Just Trust Us: Keep this pencil close if you’re going to be out all night eating and drinking. The color range is impeccable but it might need to be touched up after a few hours to keep it vibrant.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, coconut oil｜Shades: 11｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.03 oz
Best for Deep Skin Tones: MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil
Why We Love It: MAC is legendary for curating an entire brand filled with professional formulations, pigmented hues, and no-nonsense foundations, so we were expecting intense color at the expense of a barely there wearability. But we were wrong—we daresay these lip liners, in 28 fabulously deep, lustrous shades, feel moisturizing on lips and were a delight to apply without a hint of dragging. And to our delight, our lips looked perfect for hours on end, no cracking or chapped feeling at all.
Who It’s For: MAC is a beauty girl's brand, and with 28 gorgeous hues to choose from, it will be a challenge for such a person to refrain from snatching up all 28 shades.
Just Trust Us: Try blending this closer to the middle of your lips to create a little bit more uniformity (and not such a stark contrast with the red lines). This pick will smudge out on your fingertips easily.
Key Ingredients: Japan fruit wax, vegetable oil, triglycerides｜Shades: 28｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.05 oz
Best Dual-Ended: Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil
Why We Love It: We love that the point of this pencil is stiff and sharp but not too hard, which allowed us to get an even and uniform application. Although the formula isn’t too creamy it does include some emollients, so our lips didn’t feel dry while testing and the color was true to what was on the packaging. This pick remained within the lines of our lips without feathering or bleeding and didn’t require time to dry down which is great for anyone in a hurry. Although we did have to touch up due to slight fading, the product remained in place until we removed it with one swipe of a makeup wipe.
Who It’s For: This is great for makeup artists, beauty enthusiasts and beginners alike. It comes with its own pencil sharpener that pairs perfectly. Sharpening the pencil is effortless, and it doesn't eat up the pencil or leave it jagged and uneven.
Just Trust Us: Because this pencil isn’t super creamy, make sure to prep with a lip scrub and balm before going in with a pencil to avoid pulling and dragging across dry skin.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, fatty acids｜Shades: 23｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.049 oz
Best Long-Lasting: Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
Why We Love It: Upon first application, the texture was on the drier side and would be almost unpleasant for anyone with dry lips. However, once the pencil was sharpened the texture improved immensely. It no longer tugged at the outer lines of our lips and only dragged a little at the interior which is a huge difference. It also glided on well and we were able to achieve a precise line in one swipe. This liner dried down instantly, didn’t feather or bleed, was clearly pigmented, and the color didn’t shift. However, even though we found the formula to be a bit dry, the liner itself didn’t settle into the crevices of our lips.
Who It’s For: This is best for people looking for a long-lasting, richly pigmented lip liner who have moisturized lips.
Just Trust Us: Sharpen this pencil before each use to get a smooth glide and precise, even line.
Key Ingredients: Vegetable wax｜Shades: 10｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.042 oz
Best Lip Liner for Wedding: Too Faced Lady Bold Waterproof Longwear Lip Liner
Why We Love It: For us, this lip liner stood the test of time: Its color clung to our lips through cocktails, dinner, and dancing, although it went on so smoothly and dried down quickly in less than a minute, we wouldn't have minded reapplying. We also adored the cute packaging and the little heart-shaped twist button to get more liner.
Who It’s For: We wore this to a friend's wedding, which was the perfect test to see how it would last through several hours of eating, drinking, chatting, and dancing, and this creamy, waterproof formula nailed the balance between hydrating and drying, which we think helped its staying power. We slightly overlined our lips to exaggerate their shape and create symmetry.
Just Trust Us: This liner doesn’t budge, but if you want to create a more intense color a few extra swipes of the pencil are just what you need.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, pomegranate flower extract, jojoba wax｜Shades: 5｜Waterproof: Yes｜Size: 0.008 oz
Best Waterproof: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Lip Liner
Why We Love It: A creamy, moisturizing, and buildable texture that draws as one rich, saturated pigment. Unlike some creamier textured pencils, this one’s point didn’t get too squished during and the texture allowed for a smooth, tug-free application. It felt so comfortable on our lips that we often just went for it and colored in our entire lip without ever bleeding, feathering, or feeling dry and tight.
Who It’s For: This is for people who love a strong, defined lip, but don't want to fuss with reapplying or stressing about drying up.
Just Trust Us: This liner is a true pencil, not a retractable twist, so you'll need to keep it sharpened to get the most of it. There's a layer of plastic around the pencil tip that is unusual, but it shaves right off, and we liked that it prevented the formula from getting eaten up by the sharpener. Given its firm structure and creamy texture, it's great for beginners who want a straightforward, uncomplicated option that's waterproof and applies quickly without a mess.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, jojoba oil｜Shades: 21｜Waterproof: Yes｜Size: 0.04 oz
Best Plumping: Tarte Marajuca Juicy Lip Liner
Why We Love It: As soon as the lip liner touched our lips, we were surprised to see such a deep, saturated pigment from a soft, light-as-a-feather texture that felt almost invisible. Setting into a velvet matte finish, this hyaluronic acid-based formula gives lips a full, pillowy appearance, and looks fabulous on its own; we didn't need to use any other lip plumping glosses or serums.
Who It’s For: Marajuca Juicy Lip Liner lives up to its name, and we think anyone looking for juicy lips will be very happy.
Just Trust Us: For a natural plumping effect, add either a plumping gloss or lip oil to enhance this liner.
Key Ingredients: Maracuja, hyaluronic acid, superfruit complex｜Shades: 11｜Waterproof: No｜Size: 0.5 oz
Best Matte: Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner
Why We Love It: This soft, conditioning feels more like a moisturizing lip crayon rather than a traditional liner, and we're here for it. Encased in packaging with a twist-out mechanism, it's simple to get more product when you want and then twist it right back down to keep it safe before popping the lid back on. It went on like a balm, sidestepping any dragging or skipping as we outlined, and dried down into a lovely matte hue without any trace of stickiness or heaviness.
Who It’s For: We can't get enough of this richly pigmented pencil, and the emollient texture makes it easy to blend away any mistakes.
Just Trust Us: This product has major staying power, but when paired with a gloss or lip oil, you might notice that it slides around more freely, making it a little easier to transfer.
Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed extract, lotus flower extract, water lily extract｜Shades: 10｜Waterproof: Yes｜Size: 0.014 oz
What to Keep in Mind
Formula: If you want to get the most out of your lip liner, formula matters. Pimentel advises to look for smooth, waterproof formulas. “This will help you avoid bleeding or feathering throughout the day, but also don't dry out the lips,” she says. "Liners with great pigmentation makes it easy to define your lips with precision.”
When it comes to different types of formulas she believes that drier formulas often have better staying power and resist transfer more than creamier formulas. “This would not be great for flaking dry lips but more for oily skin types individuals,” says Pimentel, adding that hydrating formulas provide more moisture to the lips, resulting in a “comfortable and nourishing feel.”Dry Lips: Foundation is key when it comes to anything makeup and skincare related. A good moisturized base allows for a “smooth application, improved comfort, enhanced color payoff, prevention of flaking and long wear time,” says Pimentel.
Staying Power: “Waterproof formulas are also known for their staying power,” says makeup artist Ashley Gomila. Prepping lips first is nonnegotiable when it comes to maintaining lip liner for long-lasting wear, she says. Start with a lip scrub followed by a moisturizing balm. For liners, Gomila "typically prefers a softer, moisturizing formula for long-wear to create a supple look for the lips."
However, some of us, no matter what we do or how careful we are, find our beautiful lip look fading as the hours tick, and for these clients, Gomila taps a different technique. "For clients with a history of getting lipstick on their teeth, I generally stick to matte or drier formulas," she says. “Setting the lip with powder is a trick us makeup artists do for a longer-lasting wear and helps absorb excess moisture and locks the color in place.”
Your Questions, Answered
Should lip liner be lighter or darker than lipstick?
“Lip liners should be slightly darker or bolder than the lipstick when creating depth and dimension,” says Gomila. To nail a natural look, she says to look for a liner that matches your lip color. But "if you want to create more intrigue, wear something slightly darker."
Are you supposed to put lip liner all over your lips?
Pimentel recommends filling in the lips if you want maximum staying power. “You can blend the edges to create a seamless transition between the lip and the liner, as this softens the harsh lines and ensures a more natural-looking finish,” she says.
Why Shop With Us
Jamie Wilson is a freelance beauty editor and writer. She collaborated with InStyle editors who tested each product for six weeks, and interviewed two makeup artists—Lisa Pimentel and Ashley Gomila—for their guidance on how to find your perfect lip liner formula, color, and texture, and how to make it stay all day.
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Read the original article on InStyle.
