The best lip liners will do two things well: prevent lipstick from bleeding and define the natural shape of your pout. And depending on how soft and blendable the formula is, lip liner can even replace lipstick on those days when you just want a smidge of color.
Add one to your makeup bag and your go-to long-lasting lipstick will become even more effortless – and last even longer. Why? because the best lip liners act as a base that boosts pigment and longevity, preventing your lip color from bleeding, fading, and feathering. The right lip liner also means your lippie won't crease or settle into lines, and if you like, it'll create the illusion of a fuller pout too.
“To create a fuller lip shape, choose a shade in the same family as your lipstick,” says Warren Dowdall, Bobbi Brown Senior Pro Artist, “or, if you’re after something soft, find a lip pencil that’s close to your natural lip color.” From the iconic Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Liner to brilliant drug store buys, we've tried, tested and rounded up the best lip liners in the business.
The best lip liners, as chosen by our beauty team
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Charlotte Tilbury's eponymous makeup line has now attained cult status, and so has the bestselling Lip Cheat Liner, a luxurious formula that we found easy to layer and maneuver with its narrow but creamy tip. The liner's texture is akin to plush silk, dense yet breathable – which is ideal, as we found it didn't dehydrate our lips.
Its formula is also waterproof and on testing, stayed put for up to eight hours, much like Tilbury's best mascara. We didn't need to worry about smudging, product transfer, or constant reapplication with this liner. While it is a fairly matte lip liner - meaning it would work best alongside matte lipsticks, rather than silky or glossy products - it's still very buildable, and subtle enough that we found it looked great as a sole lip product to accentuate the natural shade of our lips.
There are also an impressive 17 hues to choose from. If you're looking to pair it with one of the best pink lipsticks, we love the rosy nudes and suedes, but if deeper shares are more your thing, there are plenty of warm reds and plums too. Basically, Lip Cheat has it all: a buildable and long-lasting color payoff for every skin tone. We daresay it could actually replace our favorite lipstick or stain for good.
NYX Slim Lip Pencil boasts a slender profile, along with a huge number of industry awards under its belt. It also comes in a wide spectrum of shades – with classic reds and fuchsias as well as non-traditional options like orange and auburn. All this for the same price as your daily coffee? We can't think of many better spends.
Economics aside, the pencil features a buttery-soft formula that glides on easily and stays put. We found that it resists bleeding well, which happens when lipstick creeps its way outside of the natural lip line. It also has a fine tip that's super easy to sharpen, making it easy to accentuate the appearance of your pout, too.
We appreciate the addition of hydrating coconut oil to condition lips, intensify color and increase the lifespan of your liner; this definitely makes all the difference when applying, as the sharp tip still feels super-soft and makes it all the nicer to use. Tick, tick, tick!
NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil has the silhouette of a retro crayon, and while this design is cute, its formula is the real champion. The lipstick-pencil hybrid is matte without looking matte – i.e. it's not at all patchy or flaky, even after long-term wear. We found the texture impressively creamy, courtesy of hardworking vitamin E and emollients. The liner acts as a hydrating, tinted base that sits nicely under stains, or vinyl-shine lip products if you prefer glossy lips.
What's more, it delivers the impact and color payoff you'd normally see in rich lipstick, meaning you can easily wear it to fill in the whole of the lip if you wish. The wide tip reinforces this and allowed us to sweep a layer of the product across our pout. As for shades, NARS sticks to a palette of versatile nudes and pinks which we found range makes for the perfect lipstick wardrobe, with enough variety to mix, match, and experiment. The liner also comes in two handy sizes: standard and mini (which is ideal for travel).
While the color is definitely long-lasting, lasting us through hours spent sipping on drinks and eating food, we also found that the creamy look of the liner (especially when applied all over the lips) actually lends itself to a little bit of fading. So we definitely recommending dabbing at or rubbing the product after applying, for a more natural look.
MAC’s top-rated lip pencil is loaded with pigment to deliver impressive color in one swipe. There’s a huge range of shades to choose from, varying from nudes, browns, and soft pinks to bold and bright hues. Fan-favorite option Oak, a soft, nude-like beige shade, is one of our personal go-to picks that’s especially flattering for fair skin. The color is a muted brown that’s perfect for everyday wear as well as party makeup looks.
Shades aside, we found that this lip liner does not budge. The impressive staying power and the pigment-packed formula stay put for hours on end (trust us). We love wearing it alone, scribbled all over lips, as well as under lip gloss for going out glam. It can also be teamed with deep nude lipstick for a sophisticated finish. A great all-rounder, this is one of the best lip liners we’ve tried.
If you’re looking for a creamy, easy-to-blend formula, look no further. This liner from Kylie Cosmetics glides on effortlessly for a more defined, plumper-looking pout. For the best results, we recommend working from the outer corners inward using short strokes. This pick works well as a lipstick, blended all over, or underneath Kylie’s Matte Liquid Lipstick that delivers a stamped-on, velvety soft lip.
Out of all the lip liners we tested for this guide, we found that this was the most comfortable liner for all-day and night wear. It’s lightweight yet it stays put – and by midday, we almost forgot we were wearing lip liner. Of course, one look in the mirror and you’ll be reminded just how good this product is, defining lips without smudging, feathering, or flaking. FYI: we've found that Souffle is the perfect warm neutral for tan and olive skin tones.
Love a bold lip look and known for often wearing the boldest, best red lipstick? Say hello to Pat McGrath’s Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil. The water-resistant formula stays put in all weather conditions and will not budge, seriously. It boasts a smooth, satin-like texture which makes application a total doddle, and its main selling point is something called permagel technology, which is exclusive to the brand. Essentially, this tech prevents the lip liner from feathering, transferring, or becoming dry ( and after testing this, we can attest to all three claims).
Out of the many versatile shades to choose from, we highly recommend shade Ground Control for darker complexions. The rich chocolate brown is super flattering and can be dialed up for evening wear when paired with a smoky eyeshadow look. It's so plumping and natural-looking, with clever shading you could easily fool onlookers into thinking you've had lip tweakments with this creamy, blendable pick.
Available in 20 shades, Dior's luxury lip liner imparts saturated color and longer-lasting coverage compared to its competition. While most brands promise six hours of staying power, Dior Lip Contour provides a prolonged eight hours of wear. We tested the claims and can confirm you'll enjoy even, rich pigment all day long that won't feather or settle into fine lines. Impressive, right?
Thanks to shea butter, peony, and pomegranate flower extracts, Dior Lip Contour has a velvety and supple texture. Shea butter conditions and protects lips from the elements, while peony and pomegranate flower extracts moisturize and hydrate. In addition to its ideal fine tip, the liner features an angled-bristle brush, which cleans up color outside of lip lines and guarantees precise application. This brush is a great feature that gives you that professional quality finish.
The Be Legendary Line & Prime Pencil formulation starkly deviates from many of the best lip liner's glossy and waxy textures – two formula types that often fade and smear after a few sips. This is due to the brand's signature primer oil complex, a compound that magnifies its staying power and soft, non-chapped feel.
Additionally, the liner includes a fine tip for defining and reshaping lips to your liking. This design promises pinpointed and leveled application, which also prevents feathering. Still, it's wide enough to cover enough surface area, making it a great lipstick substitute, if required. A factor to consider is its packaging, though; we found that it was initially tricky to figure out, but once you get the knack, you'll find not only a twistable end but also a tip that will need to be sharpened with continued use.
Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil is stubborn – a quality that's not so great in relationships, but appreciated in makeup, especially in lip liner. When applied, its waterproof formula will not move. As a result, you'll enjoy fewer smears, better definition, and cleaner lines.
Obviously, the budge-proof formula isn't its only redeeming attribute. We love that this lip pencil has a silky texture and lots of vivid colors to choose from, spanning deep reds and beige nudes. Based on our tests, it won't dry out or look cakey over time, which is largely due to a moisturizing trio of vitamin E, jojoba oil, and cottonseed oil. This combination quickly soaks into lips, making them soft and supple.
The downside? It can be tricky to wipe off. Thankfully, there are quick solutions that get the job done – like Vaseline, the best micellar waters, and baby oil.
Not exactly new, Bobbi Brown’s iconic Lip Pencil has been a mainstay in our makeup routine for years. A cult classic, this no-nonsense product gets the job done (and does it well). It’s a classic pencil-form liner that comes with a professional sharpener so you can always ensure that the tip stays on point. We find that the sharper the point, the more precise the line, but if you’re after a softly diffused finish, wear it down to a blunt edge.
There are 16 shades to choose from in total, spanning pale pink to deep brown. All the shades can be worn on their own, under lipstick, or, as the brand recommends, over lipstick. For the latter, blot on your chosen lipstick before defining your lip line with your pencil. This is a great way to experiment with liner if you're new to it and still mastering how to factor it in when applying lipstick. Our only gripe is that it’s not as creamy as some other (newer) lip liners. But it does stay put all day!
We can safely say that this lip liner from KVD lives up to its title (almost). The formula is water-resistant and lightweight, delivering a budge-proof finish in seconds. Though the brand promises 24 hours of coverage without reapplication, we'd argue this claim is overinflated based on our tests. We found that the formula stayed put for up to nine hours. Regardless, this duration is considerably longer than most, which will certainly get you through the throes of your day-to-day routine. Who needs lip liner on for 24-hours straight, anyway?
We adore its ultra-thin tip that outlines beautifully and allows you to reshape your natural lip contour, if so desired. Yes, it's matte, and we know many matte-based products are annoyingly dense and dehydrating, but luckily, this one is anything but—it lends the lips a velvety soft finish. With that said, if you prefer a nourished base, we recommend applying your best lip balm first and letting it absorb fully before applying this lip liner. Hydrated lips will also reduce chances of cracking and drying over the course of the day.
A true multi-tasking wonder, this chubby lip pencil can be used as a lip liner, lipstick, and a blusher. For the latter, simply scribble your favorite color (there are 12 nude, pink, and red shades to choose from) onto the apples of your cheeks before blending with your fingertips to instantly perk up your complexion. It rivals some of the best cream blushers around.
For lips, we recommend using the pointed tip to outline your lip line first, and, if you want to fill in lips, use the slanted edge to saturate your pout. Pigment-rich with impressive staying power, this is a handbag essential for when you want to dial up your look on the go. As for shades, go for Entice, a muted pink, for day, and Raven, a deep burgundy for the night. The velvety matte finish looks ultra-chic.
This creamy, dreamy lip liner is a total joy to apply. The formula contains sodium hyaluronate (a derivative of hyaluronic acid) which makes it super moisturizing and comfortable enough for all-day wear. What’s more, we found that the hydrating formula creates the perfect base – extending the wear of lipstick without feathering or bleeding.
Of course, the real hero here is the integrated lip brush. Featuring a pointed bristled tip, it’s designed to be used with your go-to lipstick or lip gloss to complete your lip look. Expect a perfectly defined, natural pout that has a demi-matte finish that will stay put for hours; we found it really easy to blend our liner out so that it seamlessly mixed with our favorite shade of lipstick. We also think it works great as a stand-alone lip product, which is made all the more subtle by using the soft, feathery brush.
It's no surprise that Barry M leads the way when it comes to producing a diverse array of pigmented colors - after all, the brand rose to popularity with its glittering array of dazzle dusts, available in every shade you could dream of. While Barry M has moved on from then, now stocking an impressive, cruelty-free range of cosmetics at seriously reasonable prices, in our opinion, the brand's strengths still lie in its vast color selection and sheer usability. This lip liner is a perfect case in point - it's creamy, easy-to-apply and impressively pigmented. Even if it was being sold at double the price point, we'd be happy with its performance. We applied it at the start of the day and our lipstick hadn't bled by lunchtime, with our lips still looking super defined.
The expansive shade range and affordable price point (less than £3 in the UK), mean that Barry M is the brand we turn to if we're looking to match a lipstick that we don't wear all that often but want to match our lip liner to. For example, we tested the dark pink shade with a bold fuchsia lipstick that we love, but simply don't wear all that often. Buying some of the more premium options on this list would feel a bit frivolous if it only got a few airings a year - but the Barry M one does the job (well) and we can justify the expense.
Cult beauty brand Refy is probably best known for its popular brow products for those wondering how to shape brows like a pro, but we found that the Refy Lip Sculpt is an equally impressive bit of kit. If you're someone that needs to add definition to your pout but you also love a glossy finish rather than a matte one, this is for you: the liner contains a 'setter' which acts as a clear, gloss-like formula that keeps your liner in place for hours. We found that depending on which shade you opt for, it's definitely possible to wear the liner on its own with the setter applied on top, but we preferred to add a nude shade of creamy lipstick as well.
The only downside to applying this was that the tip of the applicator is fairly thick, so we didn't find Lip Sculpt to be particularly buildable, despite its claims to the contrary. This is a very different liner to, say, Bobbi Brown's subtle, crayon-feel color, as it's definitely on the more intense, creamy side. However, this definitely works in the liner's favor if you are planning to use it as a standalone product like Refy recommends.
Upon opening the Rare Beauty liner, the first thing we noted was the addictive scent; the vanilla-like smell fits with the claims that this liner is more like a balm than anything else. It's soft, easy-to-use and produces a creamy, matte finish, which we found looked great against our natural lip color (we used the shade Lively).
As it's such a subtle finish, we found that this liner could be worn anywhere, and we were happy to find that it lasted for hours. The buildable formula gave definition to our lip line when used alone, but was also easy enough to blend with another shade if desired. There was one downside, though; despite claiming to be waterproof, the liner was very easy to remove and didn't have much resistance against water, which is a benefit if you want to be able to quickly take off your makeup, but disappointing if you're expecting a formula to stay put, come rain or shine.
How W&H tested the best lip liners
A selection of lip liners we tested for this guide
We tested dozens of products for this best lip liner guide, varying the price point to include budget buys as well as more luxurious offerings. We also tested a mix of applicators from classic pencil-form liners to more modern twist-up options. To judge each product fairly, we assessed them on ease of application, paying close attention to how well the formulas glide onto lips. We also wore each one on our lips for at least a day, to see how well it lasted and if the liner prevented our lipstick from feathering.
How to select the best lip liners for you
- Formula: Opt for creamy, velvety textures that glide on easily, stay put, and don’t feel overly drying. Consider ingredients too. Today’s top players are super hydrating with ingredients like glycerin and coconut oil.
- Color range: You don't have to match it exactly to your lipstick, a nude liner will work under any number of lippies in your collection. Obviously, nude is not one standard shade. Seek out brands with large color ranges to suit every skin tone. The right match will help your lips look fuller.
- Versatility: The best lip liners can do it all. Our favorites can be worn individually as saturated lipstick or as an outline or layer underneath lipstick or gloss to boost the pigment. Several include practical features, like built-in sharpeners and brushes for blending color.
- Applicator: Precision is key, so choose an ultra-fine tip that’s easy to maneuver and won’t drag on the delicate skin around your lips. This also means you won’t smudge outside the lines. Both twist-up and sharpenable options are available, with twist-ups offering speed and convenience but slightly less precision than traditional pencils.
Are lip liners necessary?
It's definitely possibly to achieve a full, gorgeous pout without lip liner, but the best lip liners can enhance the natural shape of your lips, as well as providing a solid base for adding lip color too. Warren Dowdall tells us that "I would definitely consider lip liner an essential in your makeup bag. They are a great way to not only give definition and structure to the lips, also to prevent feathering and give a longer wear to your lipstick."
Should I get a darker or lighter lip liner?
When it comes to whether you should go darker or lighter with your liner, Dowdall says: “As we are aiming to create definition on the vermillion of the lip, it’s best to go darker with your liner. For a softer look, try a liner one to two shades darker than your natural lip colour or go even richer and deeper with your liner for more drama or to create an ombré look.”