10 Lip Liners to Take Your Lip Look to the Next Level
December 26, 2024
What To Look for When Shopping for Lip Liner
There are countless lip liners on the market, from splurge-worthy options to affordable lip liners you can snag at your local drugstore. If you’re having trouble finding the best lip liner for your needs, here are a few things to consider:
Wear time: It almost goes without saying, but longevity is an important factor to consider when choosing a lip liner. If you’re looking to minimize mid-day touchups, you’ll want to find a lip liner that stays on. Look for terms like “waterproof,” “smudge-proof,” or “transfer-proof” on the label—these formulas tend to provide the most durable wear.
Shade: For a classic lip look, you’ll typically want to select a lip liner that closely matches or is slightly (and we mean slightly) darker than your lipstick. A darker lip liner, meanwhile, will provide more contrast, which is ideal if you want a more defined lip look. If you’re unsure which color to choose—or want a liner that you can use with a wide range of lip products—you may want to snag a nude lip liner that matches your natural lip color.
Finish: Just like lipstick, lip liner comes in a variety of finishes. Matte lip liner is very popular since it’s typically long-lasting and holds up well against smudging. Matte liners can also help prevent feathering and bleeding. There are also more satiny formulas, which create a softer look than matte formulas and pair well with satin lipsticks, tinted balms, and lip glosses.
Package type: Most lip liners look a bit like your classic number two pencil, but that’s not the only type of lip liner out there. If you don’t have a pencil sharpener—or simply want to buy a lip liner that doesn’t require sharpening—you may want to consider reaching for a twist-up liner instead. While these don’t require sharpening and are convenient for on-the-go touch-ups, the tips can get dull, so they may not provide as precise a line as standard lip pencils.
Our 10 Top Lip Liner Suggestions for 2025
1. Urban Decay Cosmetics 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil
This classic lip liner ticks all the boxes: It’s waterproof, smudge-proof, and long-lasting; feels comfortable on the lips; and boasts a gorgeous, creamy finish. The lineup includes a wide range of pigment-packed shades, including classic reds, moody browns, soft pinks, and more. There’s even a clear universal lip liner that you can use to help lock in your lip look without any added pigment.
2. NYX Professional Makeup Line Loud Vegan Longwear Lip Liner
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to find a lip liner that lasts. This stay-all-day lip liner clocks in at under ten dollars, and you can snag it at your local drugstore. Choose from one of 25 high-voltage shades and trace the creamy, no-tug pencil along your lip line to define your lips and help prevent your lipstick from smudging, fading, or feathering.
3. Maybelline New York Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liner
This affordable lip liner from Maybelline New York is another excellent pick for those who don’t want to shell out a ton of cash to score a long-lasting lip look. The mechanical pencil format eliminates the need to keep a sharpener on hand, and the thin tip makes it easy to define your lip lines with precision. The smudge-proof lip liner helps prevent lipstick from feathering and bleeding, and the range of 12 shades makes it easy to find a match for nearly any lip color.
4. Lancôme Lip Idole Lip Shaper
Inject a little luxury into your lip routine with this long-lasting lip liner. The creamy formula contains a caring mix of ceramides and jojoba oil and delivers a pigmented matte finish without feeling dry on the lips. Trace the outline of your lips with one of the 12 shades, then blend it out with your fingers and top with clear lip gloss for a soft yet striking everyday lip look.
5. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner
If you’re a fan of L’Oréal Paris’ iconic Colour Riche lipsticks, you need to add this lip liner to your collection. The creamy twist-up pencil comes in nine rich vibrant shades made to pair with the brand’s beloved satin lipstick, so you can secure a seamless lip look with practically zero effort.
6. Maybelline New York Lifter Liner Lip Liner
Define, shape, and sculpt your lips with this hydrating lip liner from Maybelline. The sharpenable pencil boasts a moisture-locking formula with hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil, and it glides on effortlessly, leaving nothing but long-lasting pigment in its wake. Pair it with your favorite lipstick or create a glass lip look by topping it off with a sheer, high-shine lip gloss.
7. NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil
If shade range is your main priority, it’s pretty tough to beat this lip liner from NYX Professional Makeup. The collection includes a whopping 31 shades, and each pencil has a color-matched end (so you don’t have to sift through an endless pile of pencils to find your match). The buttery-soft, long-lasting lip liner is easily sharpened, and the formula applies easily and resists bleeding. Bet you can’t buy just one.
8. Sacheu Peel Off Lip Liner STAY-N
Unlike the other lip liners on this list, this TikTok-viral option is a lip stain rather than a classic pencil. To use, simply trace the outline of your lips with the doe-foot applicator, then allow the product to dry into a rich, glossy-looking lacquer. Peel it off to reveal a long-lasting stain that the brand says won’t fade or smudge for the entire day.
9. Natasha Denona I Need A Nude Lip Liner
If you’re looking for your perfect nude lip liner, you’re bound to find it in this range. The collection includes eight wear-anywhere nude shades, from soft pinky nudes to chocolatey browns. Per the brand, the non-drying pencils deliver all-day wear with a comfortable matte finish. Swipe it on to sculpt and define your pout for the perfect barely-there nude lip look.
10. Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 Automatic Matte Lip Pencil
Use this matte lip liner to define and contour your lip shape and prevent your lip color from feathering. Per Huda Beauty, the non-drying formula glides onto the lips with ease drying down to a soft matte finish that stays in place for up to nine hours. It also comes equipped with a mini sharpener that you can use to keep the point sharp no matter where you are.
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