Best lip liners for 2024: Jump Menu
The list in brief ↴ 1.
2. Best budget: NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil
3. Best waterproof: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil
4. Best multi-tasker: NARS Powermatte High Intensity Lip Pencil
5. Best for pale skin: MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil
6. Best for olive-medium skin: Kylie Cosmetics Lip Liner
7. Best for dark skin: Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Plumping Lip Liner
8. Best luxury: Dior Lip Contour
9. Best cult classic: Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil
10. Best long-wearing: KVD Everlasting Lip Liner
11. Best matte: Nudestix Intense Matte Lip and Cheek Pencil
12. Best demi-matte: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Lip Pencil
13. Best shade range: Barry M Lip Liner
14. Best versatile: REFY Lip Sculpt
15. Best subtle: Rare Beauty Kind Words Lip Liner
How we testedHow to chooseFAQs
The best lip liners will promise to prevent lipstick from bleeding, whilst defining the natural shape of your pout - whether you’re matching your lipstick or using a contrasting shade. Depending on how soft and blendable the formula is, lip liner can also act as a substitute for lipstick on days when you want a hint of colour, making the perfect pairing alongside a lip balm, oil or gloss.
Adding a liner to your makeup bag will make your go-to long-lasting lipstick easier to apply and last even longer. Why? Because the best lip liners are a great base, elevating the pigment and boosting longevity. Not only that, but they also prevent your lip colour from any annoying bleeding, fading and feathering, whilst creating the illusion of a fuller, more voluminous 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 colour.” From cult classics like Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat to brilliant drugstore finds, we've tried and tested the best lip liners on the market to create this need-to-know guide.
Hannah Holway
Hannah is the UK Shopping Writer for woman&home and has written about everything from period pants to wine subscriptions. She is especially interested in sustainable alternatives to well-known products, as well as books and homeware accessories.
Warren Dowdall
Warren Dowdall is a Senior Pro Artist for 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.
The best lip liners reviewed by our beauty team
Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best lip liner overall
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1. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
Best lip liner overall
Specifications
RRP: £21
Shades: 23
Texture: Creamy
Extras: 100% vegan
Reasons to buy
+ Glide-on formula Sleek and durable gold exterior Vast shade palette Vegan
Reasons to avoid
- Product runs out quickly Might be too subtle for some people
Charlotte Tilbury's eponymous makeup line has achieved cult status in recent years – and so has the brand’s bestselling Lip Cheat Liner. We found its narrow yet creamy tip, in combination with its luxurious formula, easy to manoeuvre and layer underneath lipstick. This liner's texture is akin to plush silk, AKA dense yet breathable, which is ideal as we found it didn't dry out our lips.
It also boasts a waterproof formula that, 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 frequent reapplication with this liner. While it is a fairly matte pencil, meaning it would work best with matte lipsticks over silky or glossy products, it's still very buildable yet subtle enough to be worn alone, accentuating the natural shade of our lips.
There are also an impressive 23 shades to choose from here. Whether you're looking to pair this pencil with one of the best pink lipsticks, from rosy nudes to suedes, or wear deeper colours more often, such as warm reds and plums, Lip Cheat has it all. Its buildable and long-lasting colour payoffs suit every skin tone, and dare we say it could even replace our favourite lipstick or stain for good...
Best budget lip liner
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2. NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil
Best budget lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £4
Shades: 14
Texture: Creamy
Extras: Coconut oil
Reasons to buy
+ Hydrating Tiny tip No product transfer Cruelty-free, PETA certified
Reasons to avoid
- Not as long-lasting as others Not as many neutral or nude shades to choose from
Alongside a huge number of industry awards under its belt, NYX Professional Makeup's Slim Lip Pencil has a slender shape and a fine tip, making it easy to accentuate the appearance of your pout. Arriving in a wide spectrum of shades, with classic reds and fuchsias as well as less-often seen options like orange and auburn, the pencil features a buttery-soft formula that glides on easily and stays put.
When testing, we found that it resists bleeding well - the term for when lipstick creeps its way outside of the natural lip line. Whilst we also appreciated the inclusion of hydrating coconut oil to condition lips, intensify colour and increase the lifespan of this liner; this definitely makes all the difference when applying this pencil, as the sharp tip still feels super-soft and is all the nicer to use. All this for the same price as your daily coffee? We can't think of many better ways to spend money.
Best waterproof lip liner
3. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil
Best waterproof lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £16
Shades: 16
Texture: Creamy
Extras: Vitamin E, jojoba oil, cottonseed oil
Reasons to buy
+ Cruelty-free Rich pigment Doesn't run, fade, or creep outside lip lines Glide-on formula
Reasons to avoid
- Difficult to remove
Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil is stubborn – a quality that's not so great in relationships, but desired in makeup, especially lip liner. Its waterproof formula will not move, resulting in fewer smears, better definition and cleaner lines - tick, tick, tick!
A budge-proof formula isn't its only redeeming attribute, we also love this lip pencil’s silky texture and the array of vivid colours to choose from, spanning deep reds and creamy nudes. Throughout our trials, we didn’t notice the liner drying out or looking cakey over time, largely thanks to a moisturising trio of vitamin E, jojoba oil and cottonseed oil - a powerful combination that quickly soaks into lips, making them soft and supple.
We have to note the only downside to this staying power is that it can be tricky to wipe off. However, this is a small price to pay for such longevity and, thankfully, there are quick solutions that will get the job done, such as Vaseline, the best micellar waters or oil-based removers.
Best multi-tasking lip liner
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4. NARS Powermatte High Intensity Lip Pencil
Best multi-tasking lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £24
Shades: 10
Texture: Matte
Extras: Vegan
Reasons to buy
+ Emollient-based formula Vast shade range Applies smoothly
Reasons to avoid
- Thick tip may hinder precise application Packaging is a little clunky
NARS' Powermatte High Intensity Lip Pencil has the silhouette of a retro crayon but, while this design is cute, its formula is the real champion. The lipstick-pencil hybrid is matte without looking matte – in other words, it's not at all patchy or flaky, even after long-term wear, thanks to its 12 hour staying power. With a creamy texture, this liner acts as a hydrating, tinted base that sits nicely under stains or vinyl-shine lip products, if you prefer glossy lips.
Its impact and colour payoff is something you'd normally see in a rich lipstick, meaning you can easily use it to fill in your whole lip if you wish - which is reinforced by its chunky wide tip. As for shades, all bases are covered, offering a number of versatile nudes and pinks, plus deeper brown tones alongside bolder and vibrant oranges.
Testing this lippie whilst sipping on drinks and eating food, proved that the colour is definitely long-lasting. However, we also found that the creamy consistency of this liner (especially when applied fully over the lips) does lend itself to a little fading. To avoid this, we recommend dabbing at or rubbing the product a little after you first apply for a more natural look.
Best lip liner for pale skin
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5. MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil
Best lip liner for pale skin
Specifications
RRP: £20
Shades: 30
Texture: Creamy
Extras: Mica
Reasons to buy
+ Smooth texture Applies quickly Complements a variety of lipstick shades Convenient container included Long-lasting formula
Reasons to avoid
- May feel a little drying
This top-rated lip pencil from MAC is loaded with pigment, delivering impressive colour in just one swipe. From nudes, browns, and soft pinks to bolder and brighter hues, there is a huge range of shades to choose from. If you’re on the hunt for a lip liner that is especially flattering on paler skin tones, fan-favourite option 'Oak' is a go-to pick due to its soft beige hue. This muted brown colour is perfect for everyday wear, as well as more statement party makeup looks.
Shades aside, we also found that this lip liner boasted an impressive staying power that does not budge. Its pigment-packed formula stays put for hours on end (trust us). Whilst we love wearing it on its own, we also love scribbling it all over our lips, as well as under lip gloss for a going out glam look. It is also the perfect liner candidate 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 we’ve tried.
Best lip liner for olive-medium skin
6. Kylie Cosmetics Lip Liner
Best lip liner for olive-medium skin
Specifications
RRP: £16
Shades: 9
Texture: Matte
Extras: Vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free
Reasons to buy
+ Glide-on formula Rich color Boosts pigment of a lipstick Inexpensive
Reasons to avoid
- Limited shade range Doesn't deliver a particularly subtle look
If a creamy and easy-to-blend formula is what you’re after, then look no further. This Kylie Cosmetics liner effortlessly glides on for a more defined and plumper-looking pout. For the best results, we recommend using short strokes working from the outer corners inward. This pick works particularly well as a lipstick, blended all over, or underneath Kylie’s Matte Liquid Lipstick, which delivers a stamped-on, velvety soft lip.
Out of all the lip liners we tested for this roundup, we found that this was the most comfortable liner for all-day and night wear – by midday, we almost forgot we were wearing lip liner. It’s lightweight yet it stays put, defining lips without smudging, feathering, or flaking. FYI: we've found that the shade 'Smitten' is the perfect warm neutral for tan and olive skin tones.
Best lip liner for dark skin
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7. Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Lip Shaper Plumping Lip Liner
Best lip liner for dark skin
Specifications
RRP: £20
Shades: 6
Texture: Demi-matte
Extra: Mineral Oil, Vegan
Reasons to buy
+ Long-wearing Wide spectrum of colors Soft texture Water-resistant formula
Reasons to avoid
- Quite a thick, matte feel
Love a bold lip look and known for wearing the boldest, best red lipstick? Say hello to Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Lip Shaper Plumping Lip Liner. Offering up to ten hours of wear time, the creamy, water-resistant formula stays put in all weather conditions and will not budge throughout the day.
With a smooth, demi-matte texture that makes application a total doddle - forget feathering, transferring and drying. The liner is infused with the brand's widely-loved Lip Injection technology, which not only boasts full-coverage colour but also creates a fuller appearance to your pout.
Out of the versatile shades to choose from, we highly recommend Espresso Shot for darker complexions. This rich chocolate brown is super flattering and can be dialled up for evening wear as part of a smoky eyeshadow look. It's so plumping and natural-looking that, with clever shading, you could easily fool onlookers into thinking you've had lip tweakments with this creamy, blendable pick.
Best luxury lip liner
8. Dior Rouge Dior Contour Lip Liner
Best luxury lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £25
Shades: 20
Texture: Creamy
Extras: Shea butter, peony, pomegranate flower extracts
Reasons to buy
+ Long-wearing formula Features angled-bristle brush Comfortable Great shade range
Reasons to avoid
- Pricey
With 20 shades available, Dior's luxury lip liner imparts saturated colour and longer-lasting coverage than many of its competitors - offering up to eight hours of wear. We tested the claims and can confirm you'll be sure to enjoy rich pigment all day long, minus any feathering or settling into fine lines. Impressive, right?
Thanks to its cocktail combination of shea butter, peony and pomegranate flower extracts, this lip liner has a supple and velvety texture. With shea butter helping to condition and protect lips from the elements, while peony and pomegranate flower extracts moisturise and hydrate your pout. Alongside its fine tip, this liner also features an angled bristle brush that guarantees precise application, cleaning up any colour outside of the lip lines. The addition of this brush feature helps you create that professional quality finish.
Best cult classic lip liner
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9. Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil
Best cult classic lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £27
Shades: 9
Texture: Velvet matte
Reasons to buy
+ Reduces feathering Velvet matte finish Comes with sharpener
Reasons to avoid
- Not as creamy as other formulas Very subtle in color
Although not new to the beauty scene, Bobbi Brown’s iconic Lip Pencil is unquestionably one of the best buys and has been a mainstay of our makeup bags for years. This no-nonsense product gets the job done and does it well. It’s a classic pencil liner that comes with a professional sharpener, so you can ensure that the tip is always sharp for a more precise line. However, if you’re after a softly diffused finish you can wear it down to a blunter edge.
In total, there are nine shades to choose from, spanning deep browns through to pale pink. All can be worn alone, under lipstick or, as the brand recommends, over lipstick. For the latter, we’d recommend blotting on your chosen lipstick before defining your lip line with your pencil. If lip liner is new to your routine, this is a great way to experiment with it and master 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 certainly stays put all day.
Best long-wearing lip liner
10. KVD Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner
Best long-wearing lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £18
Shades: 14
Texture: Matte
Extras: Vegan
Reasons to buy
+ Unique shades Feels weightless Great staying power Cruelty-free Vegan
Reasons to avoid
- Applicator could be more durable
We can safely say that this KVD liner almost lives up to its title, thanks to its water-resistant and lightweight formula, that delivers a budge-proof finish. Whilst the brand promises 24 hours of coverage without reapplication, based on our tests we'd argue this claim is slightly overinflated, but we found that the formula stayed put for up to an impressive nine hours. That aside, this duration is still considerably longer than most others on the market and will certainly get you through the day. Who needs lip liner on for 24 hours straight most of the time, anyway?
We adore the ultra-thin tip that perfectly outlines and reshapes your natural lip contour, if so desired. We know many matte-based products are annoyingly dense and dehydrating, but luckily, this matte liner is anything but, yielding a velvety soft finish. That said, if you prefer a more nourished base, we'd recommend beginning with your best lip balm and letting it absorb fully before applying this lip liner. Hydrated lips will also reduce the chances of cracking and drying over the course of the day.
Best matte lip liner
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11. Nudestix Intense Matte Lip and Cheek Pencil
Best matte lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £21
Shades: 15
Texture: Creamy matte
Extras: Shea butter and vitamin E
Reasons to buy
+ Can be used on the whole lip and for cheeks Creamy texture easy to blend Sharpener included
Reasons to avoid
- Thick applicator may hinder precise application
Many of us love a multi-tasking wonder in our routines and this chubby lip pencil offers just that, with the ability to use it as lip liner, lipstick and blusher. With 12 neutral, pink and red shades to choose from, for the latter, simply scribble your favourite colour onto the apples of your cheeks before blending with your fingertips for an instant perky complexion - rivalling some of the best cream blushers around.
For the lips, we recommend using the pointed tip to outline your lip line first and then, if you want to fill in lips, use the slanted edge to saturate your pout. Its pigment-rich colour has impressive staying power, making it a handbag essential for when you want to dial up your look on the go. As for shades, we like Entice, a muted pink, for the daytime and Raven, a deep burgundy, for the night. What’s more ,the velvety matte finish looks ultra-chic.
Best demi-matte lip liner
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12. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencil
Best demi-matte lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £26
Shades: 10
Texture: Cream
Extras: Synthetic wax, sodium hyaluronate, silica
Reasons to buy
+ Includes integrated lip brush Long-wearing Lightweight, creamy color
Reasons to avoid
- May transfer after long-term wear
For a dreamy, creamy lip liner that is a total joy to apply, opt for this Estée Lauder number. The formula contains sodium hyaluronate (a derivative of hyaluronic acid), which makes it super moisturising and comfortable enough for all-day wear. What’s more, we found that this hydrating formula creates the perfect base, extending the wear of lipstick without any feathering or bleeding.
Of course, the real hero here is the integrated lip brush, with a pointed bristle tip that’s designed to be used hand-in-hand with your go-to lipstick or lip gloss to complete your look. Expect a perfectly defined, natural pout with a demi-matte finish that will stay put for hours. We found it easy to blend out our liner for a seamless pout, mixed with our favourite shade of lipstick. On the contrary, we also think it works well as a stand-alone lip product, which is made all the more subtle by using the soft, feathery brush.
Best lip liner shade range
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13. Barry M Lip Liner
Best lip liner shade range
Specifications
RRP: £3.49
Shades: 14
Texture: Cream
Extras: 100% vegan
Reasons to buy
+ Creamy, non-tuggable formula Brilliant value for money Wide shade range Goes on smoothly
Reasons to avoid
- Doesn't have the lasting power of some other lip liners on this list No frills packaging
It's no surprise that Barry M leads the way when it comes to producing a diverse array of pigmented colours. After all, the brand rose to popularity with its glittering array of dazzle dusts, available in every shade you could dream of. While the drugstore brand has expanded significantly since, now stocking an impressive, cruelty-free range of affordable cosmetics, in our opinion, its strengths still lie in its vast colour selection and sheer useability. This lip liner is a perfect example – it boasts a creamy, easy-to-apply and impressively pigmented formula. Even if it retailed at double the price point, we'd be happy with its performance. We applied it at the start of the day and by lunchtime our lips still looked defined, plus our lipstick hadn't bled at all.
With an expansive shade range and affordable price point (less than £4), Barry M is the brand we turn to if we're looking to match a lipstick that we don't wear all that often with a coordinating lip liner. Speaking of, we tested the dark pink shade with a bold fuchsia lipstick that we love, but simply don't wear regularly. Buying some of the more premium options on this list would feel a bit frivolous if it only got a few wears a year, but a Barry M one does the job well and we can justify the small expense.
Best versatile lip liner
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14. REFY Lip Sculpt
Best versatile lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £18
Shades: 7
Texture: Creamy
Extras: Cruelty-free and vegan, dual-product format
Reasons to buy
+ Vegan, cruelty-free formula Dynamic formula that includes a glossy "setter" as well as a liner Long-lasting
Reasons to avoid
- Very thick and soft tip might not be suited to some Not particularly buildable
Buzzy 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 Lip Sculpt is an equally impressive bit of kit. If you want to add definition to your pout but also opt for a glossy finish over a matte one, this liner is for you. Unlike the other products in this list, REFY’s liner offers a "setter" that acts as a clear, gloss-like formula, keeping your liner in place for hours. Whilst it is possible to wear the liner on its own with the setter applied on top, we preferred to add a nude shade of creamy lipstick as well.
The only downside we found with applying this liner was that the tip of the applicator is fairly thick, despite its contrary claims. This is a very different liner to, say, Bobbi Brown's subtle, crayon-feel option as it's definitely more intense and on the creamier side. However, this definitely works in the liner's favour if you are planning to use it as a standalone product as REFY recommends.
Best subtle lip liner
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15. Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner
Best subtle lip liner
Specifications
RRP: £15
Shades: 10
Texture: Creamy
Extras: Built-in sharpener
Reasons to buy
+ Smells delicious Long-lasting Great value
Reasons to avoid
- Will be too subtle and balm-like for some Not waterproof
As soon as we opened the Rare Beauty liner, the first thing we noted was its addictive scent; the vanilla-like smell compliments the claim 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 colour (we used the shade Lively).
As it leaves such a subtle finish, we found that this liner was versatile enough to be worn anywhere and we were happy to find that it lasted for hours. The buildable formula gave our lips definition when used alone, but was also easy enough to blend with another shade if desired. The only downside we came across, was that despite it claiming to be waterproof, the liner was very easy to remove and didn't have much resistance against water. Although this is a benefit if you want to be able to quickly remove your makeup, it is disappointing if you want your pencil to stay put, come rain or shine.
How we tested the best lip liners
In order to find the best lip liners available on the market, we tested a variety of products from both budget buys to luxury offerings. We also trialled numerous applicators, including classic pencil liners and modern twist-up options. Judging each product fairly, we assessed every liner on the ease of its application, making note as to how well the formulas glide onto lips. We also wore each one on our lips for a minimum of a whole day to see how well each one lasted and if the liner prevented our lipstick from feathering.
How to choose the best lip liner for you
- Formula: Opt for creamy, velvety textures that glide on easily, stay put, and don’t feel overly drying. It's wise to consider ingredients too, including today’s hydrating hero players such as glycerin and coconut oil.
- Shade range: A nude shade will work under any number of lippies in your collection, meaning you don't have to match your lip liner exactly to your lipstick. Seek out brands with large colour ranges to suit every skin tone to find your perfect match - the right one will give your lips a fuller appearance.
- Versatility: The best lip liners can do it all. Our favourites can be worn alone like a full-cover lipstick, as an outline or layered underneath lipstick or gloss to boost the 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 outside the lines. Both twist-up and sharpenable options are available, whilst twist-ups offering speed and convenience, they are slightly less precise than traditional pencils.
- Built-in extras: Several lip liners also include practical features, like built-in sharpeners and brushes for blending your chosen colour.
FAQs
Are lip liners necessary?
Whilst it's possible to achieve a full, gorgeous pout without it, the best lip liners can enhance and define the natural shape of your lips as well as provide a solid base for adding 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?
When it comes to choosing a lip liner, you may be wondering whether you should go for darker or lighter hue, 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.”