We've found the 9 best lip liners for a lasting, defined and smudge-proof pout – complete with pictures
We put dozens of lip liners to the test – consider this your go-to detailed guide to finding your perfect match
Lining your lips creates a sharp edge for any lip colour and even make them look fuller. But the best lip liners? These pencils offer excellent colour payoff, glide on easily and create crisp, lasting definition – without feathering into fine lines or fading quickly. And after testing most of the lip pencils on the market, our detailed guide is here to help you choose one of top buys.
Acting as a perfect base for the best long-lasting lipsticks or best red lipsticks (for which precision is key), lip liner is a beauty staple. After all, it accentuates your lips with more precision than a tint or balm alone, as well as elevating your signature lipsticks for no bleeding or feathering. But more than that, lip liner is particularly useful for re-defining our natural vermilion border – that slightly raised line around our lips' edges – which, as we age, becomes less defined. See what we mean? A staple.
All that said, the sheer amount of lip liners available today can make it feel difficult to know which ones are worth the spend. Fortunately, we tested and re-tested dozens of the market's top contenders to create this ultimate list of the top-performing lip pencils in existence – complete with detailed reviews and pictures. Here are the woman&home beauty team's top nine lip liners, so you can shop with confidence.
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The 9 best lip liners, reviewed by our beauty team
RRP: £22 | Number of shades: 23 | Texture: Matte
Reviewed by: Hannah Holway
Charlotte Tilbury's eponymous brand has achieved cult status since it launched back in 2013, and so has her bestselling Lip Cheat Liner. While testing, I found its narrow-yet-creamy tip easy to manoeuvre and layer under lipstick. It also boasts a waterproof formula that, on testing, did stay put for close to the promised up to eight hours of wear. I didn't need to worry about smudging, product transfer or frequent reapplication.
This one is a fairly matte pencil, so I think it would work best with similarly matte lipsticks or layered under glossy products. There are an impressive 23 shades to choose from, with buildable and long-lasting colours to suit every skin tone. I daresay it could even replace my favourite lipstick for good...
Pros
- Great colour payoff
- Decent wear time
Cons
- Fairly pricey
RRP: £4 | Number of shades: 9 | Texture: Creamy
Reviewed by: Naomi Jamieson
To say that I was impressed by this lip liner is an understatement. The formula is so lightweight and creamy, gliding on (as the name promises) with total ease and adding shape, definition and pigment to my lips in a flash.
Alas, the shade range is very limited, with just nine options ranging from warm pinky nudes and soft neutrals to bold reds. The price, though, is what makes this lip liner a contender on this list, as it costs just £4 (yes, seriously, only £4). And yet, its formula feels so luxurious, plus it lasted very well through eating, drinking and lots of conversation on my part.
Pros
- Extremely reasonably priced
- Lightweight and creamy feel
- Impressive staying power for price
Cons
- Shade range is somewhat limited
RRP: £18 | Number of shades: 9 | Texture: Matte
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim
Now, this liner looks a little different to your average lip pencil. The sturdy base, combined with a pointed, twist-up nib (which was firm enough to remain tapered after several uses), created the perfect conditions to steadily over-line my lips for a plumper-looking pout.
The texture of this liner is fairly matte, and feels like it, but I didn't find it dragged particularly on my lips or that it was tricky to apply. This is likely due to the inclusion of coconut oil and vitamin E, which take care of your lips while the formula lays itself down and sets. It's as long-lasting as anything I've tried – which is exactly what you want when creating a more exaggerated, defined shape.
Pros
- Tapered tip makes for easy application
- Twist-up case
- Matte, but not too dry, thanks to skin-caring ingredients
Cons
- Others have bigger shade ranges
RRP: £4 | Number of shades: 14 | Texture: Creamy
Reviewed by: Hannah Holway
With several industry awards under its belt, this Nyx Professional Makeup pencil has a slender shape and a fine tip, making it easy to accentuate the appearance of your pout. Available in a wide spectrum of shades, with classic reds and fuchsias as well as orange and auburn, the pencil has a buttery-soft formula that glides on easily and stays put – and it's another that costs just £4.
I found this liner resisted bleeding well and I appreciated the inclusion of hydrating coconut oil to help condition lips; this makes all the difference when applying, as the sharp tip still feels super-soft and is therefore all the nicer to use. And all this for about the same price as a coffee? I can't think of many better ways to spend a few pounds.
Pros
- Very reasonable price tag
- Creamy and easy to apply
- Ergonomic slimline design
Cons
- Not as premium-feeling as others
RRP: £21 | Number of shades: 8 | Texture: Sheeny
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim
If your lips tend to get a bit parched in the summer and chapped in the winter, then MERIT's ultra-hydrating liner could be for you. When I tested this twist-up pencil, I couldn't believe how different it felt from the matte liners that I usually wear. It's sheeny and comfortable thanks to the inclusion of a jojoba complex, with a satin finish.
The downside? As with moisturising lipstick, it doesn't last as long as its matte counterparts. These are just the rules; if a lip product is creamy and comfy, expect the need to reapply. That said, as it glides on so nicely, it was really no trouble to redraw a couple of times a day. Of the eight shades available (I tested Beverly Hills), every one is gorgeous, grown-up and subtle.
Pros
- Moisturising, comfortable formula
- Slightly sheer finish for a lived-in feel
- Wearable shades
Cons
- Doesn't last as long as matte options
RRP: £20 | Number of shades: 36 | Texture: Matte
Reviewed by: Hannah Holway
A go-to for makeup artists, these pencils are loaded with pigment, delivering impressive colour in one swipe. As you'd expect from a makeup artistry brand, the shade range is excellent. From nudes, browns and soft pinks to bolder and brighter hues, almost everything is covered – with 36 options, to be precise. As for performance, I also found it had impressive staying power that doesn't budge; trust me when I say that this pigment-packed formula stays put for hours on end.
I loved scribbling it all over my lips, as well as under lip gloss for a going-out glam look. It is also the perfect liner when teamed with a deep nude lipstick for a sophisticated finish. A great all-rounder, this is without a doubt one of the best lip liners I’ve ever tried.
Pros
- Huge range of shades
- Creamy-yet-matte finish
- Great staying power
Cons
- Cheaper options are available
RRP: £26 | Number of shades: 10 | Texture: Satin
Reviewed by: Hannah Holway
If you're after a dreamy, creamy lip liner that is a total joy to apply, choose this one from Estée Lauder. The formula contains hyaluronic acid, which makes it super moisturising and comfortable enough for all-day wear – which, if you know anything about the Double Wear range, is just what we hoped for. I found that this hydrating formula creates the perfect base, extending the wear of lipstick without any feathering or bleeding.
But the real hero here is the integrated lip brush, with a pointed bristle tip, adding to the pencil's value for money. I found it easy to blend out this liner for a seamless pout, mixed with my favourite shade of lipstick. I also think it works well as a stand-alone lip product, made all the more subtle by using the soft, feathery brush.
Pros
- Ultra moisturising formula
- Built-in lip brush
- Lasts well
Cons
- Very premium price point will be prohibitive to some
RRP: £27 | Number of shades: 15 | Texture: Velvety matte
Reviewed by: Hannah Holway
A legendary brand, Bobbi Brown’s iconic Lip Pencil has been a mainstay of my makeup bag for years. It’s a classic pencil liner that also comes with a professional sharpener, so you can always ensure a precise line. However, if you’re after a softly diffused finish, you can wear it down to a blunter edge for something more blurred.
There are 15 shades on offer here, spanning deep browns through to pale pink. All can be worn alone, under lipstick or, as the brand recommends, over lipstick. For the latter, I’d recommend blotting on your chosen lipstick before defining your lip line with your pencil. My only gripe with this one is that it’s not as creamy as some other (newer) lip liners, but it certainly stays put all day.
Pros
- Good colour payoff
- Fairly good number of shades
- Comes with a sharpener
Cons
- Other options are creamier
RRP: £25 | Number of shades: 15 | Texture: Creamy matte
Reviewed by: Hannah Holway
Most of us love a multi-tasking makeup bag buy, which is why we love that this chubby lip pencil can be used it as lip liner, lipstick and blusher – in 12 neutral, pink and red shades. For the latter, I simply scribbled it onto the apples of my cheeks before blending with my fingertips for an instant, perky complexion that rivals some of the best cream blushers.
For lips, I recommend using the pointed tip to outline your lip line, then using the slanted edge to saturate your pout. Its pigment-rich colour has impressive staying power. As for shades, I like Entice, a muted pink, for day and Raven, a deep burgundy, for night. The velvety matte finish looks ultra-chic, too.
Pros
- Is a lip pencil, lipstick and blush all in one
- Good range of shades
- Velvety matte texture
Cons
- Very matte finish won't appeal to all
How we tested the best lip liners
A selecton of the lip liners tested by our digital beauty writer, Naomi Jamieson, for this guide.
To whittle down the best lip liners on the market, we tested a range of options from both budget-friendly brands to high-end, luxury names. We also tried various applicators, from classic pencil liners and more modern twist-up options.
To judge each product fairly, we assessed each lip liner on its ease of application, paying attention to how well the formula glided across our lips, as well as the colour payoff and how comfortable they felt once applied.
Each contender was worn for at least one whole day, eating and drinking normally, to see how well it lasted, as well how well the liner prevented our lipstick from bleeding and feathering.
Price was also taken into account; liners can cost as little as £3 or have prices exceeding £30, the performance and price of each one had to be considered together to determine its value for money. We also looked at packaging from both a design and user experience perspective, considering each liner's ease of sharpening and if they came with added extras, such as a built-in brush or blending tool.
How to choose the best lip liner for you
Finding the right lip liner for you is somewhat subjective, Some people will hate the feel of a very matte formula on their lips, while others want exactly that: a waterproof pencil that will not budge.
That's your first consideration – but there are a few other things we recommend looking out for while you shop.
- Formula: Creamy, sheeny and slighlty velvety textures will glide on easily, stay put and don’t feel overly drying. It's wise to consider hydrating ingredients too – for example, glycerin and coconut oil.
- Shades: Shades close to the colour of your lips will work under any lipstick in your collection, so you don't have to match it exactly to your lipstick. Look out for broader shade ranges to find your perfect match – a close match will give your lips a fuller appearance.
- Versatility: Our favourites can do it all – worn alone like a full-cover lipstick (perhaps with a tiny smidge of lip balm if they are super matte), as an outline, or layered underneath lipstick or gloss to boost their pigment.
- Applicator: Precision is key, so choose an ultra-fine tip that’s easy to manoeuvre and won’t drag on the delicate skin around your lips to avoid smudging. Twist-up options offer speed and convenience, but are slightly less precise than a traditional pencil.
- Colour matching: “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 colour.”
FAQs
Are lip liners necessary?
It's definitely possible to achieve a full, gorgeous pout without it – a crisp, richly pigmented lipstick can still create a solid edge – but the best lip liners make this a sure thing. They can enhance and define the natural shape of your lips and provide a solid base for adding your lip colour, too.
"I would definitely consider lip liner an essential in your makeup bag," says Dowdall. "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?
While choosing a liner colour, you may be wondering whether you should go for darker or lighter hue. But close to your natural lip colour and a little darker is usually best, our expert confirms. “As we are aiming to create definition on the vermillion of the lip, it’s best to go darker with your liner," Dowdall says. "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.”
Our expert panel
Naomi is woman&home's Digital Beauty Writer and specialises in all things makeup, fragrance, skincare and nail trends. She tests cult-favourite products and new releases, sharing her expertise in reviews, buying guides and evergreen features across the beauty channel – as well as writing both news and more long-form trend pieces. She was one of the main testers for this lip pencil guide, using her beauty expertise to inform her reviews.
Fiona McKim has been part of the woman&home beauty team for more than a decade. During that time her work has included interviewing countless experts, reporting from backstage at Fashion Week and judging the woman&home Beauty Awards. Having tested dozens of lip pencils over the years, she shared her testing insights on some of the very best performing ones on the market.
As woman&home's former UK Shopping Writer, Hannah Holway has tried, tested and written about everything from period pants to long-lasting makeup. She is especially interested in sustainable alternatives to well-known products, particularly in the beauty space.
Warren Dowdall is a Senior Pro Artist for makeup brand Bobbi Brown and has worked for the brand for 15 years. As well as a makeup artist, he is also a qualified brow stylist and has worked with some of Ireland's top models.