Whether you're into over-lining or not, it's no secret that a good lip liner can make the biggest difference to anyone's makeup look. After all, lips are the centrepiece of your face, and what better way to ensure that they pop than with the help with one of the best lip liners?
I know, I know, lipsticks work great on their own too, but outlining your lips first can not only add more dimension and definition but it's also a great way to ensure that your lip makeup stays on all day long without budging. That's right, quality lip liners should withstand the greasiest of pizza bites and stay on even after slurping hot chocolate with an absurd amount of whipped cream.
Not to mention, you can also play around and create the cutest lip combos too. Sure, the traditional way is to match your lip liner to your lip gloss or lipstick, but who's to say you can't mix and match? After all, makeup is all about having fun and experimenting. For example, you can use a darker brown liner to outline your lips, add a lighter shade of lipstick in the middle – and you've got yourself the trending Pam Anderson-inspired lips (Halloween makeup idea, anyone?). Or you can always go for an ombre-like look and seal everything together with your trusty gloss. Seriously, when it comes to lip liners, the world is your oyster.
And if you don't take our word for it, we spoke with Jess Hunt, founder of REFY Beauty, a brand behind one of the best long-lasting lip liners on the market. According to Jess, a lip liner can make her “instantly feel really pulled together and ready to go.” One of her go-to hacks also involves applying it further on the lips and blending it out to create an ombre-like effect. “It definitely makes the lips appear fuller and gives a natural finish,” she shares.
Jess also revealed that her very first go-to lip liner was from MAC Cosmetics in shade “Whirl," an extremely popular shade that's also been approved by none other than the lip icon herself, Kylie Jenner. But since releasing REFY Lip Sculpt, Jess has been practically swearing by the product: “It is part of my routine pretty much every day, I wear Taupe in the day mostly and Fawn for a night-time look,” she shares.
Best lip liners at a glance: our top 5 picks
If you need a little bit more guidance on other great options on the market, we've got you covered. Below, we've put together a full edit of the best lip liners right now, including viral bits, cult favourites and affordable options as well as our personal go-tos from the GLAMOUR beauty desk.
Scroll to view the best lip liners for every budget and makeup look…
Best lip liner for a glam lookCharlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Pillow Talk MediumWhy we love it: At this point, the trending Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat lip liner can be considered a must-have. Thanks to its long-lasting and transfer-resistant formula, it's ideal for adding a seamless stroke of colour without having to worry about its staying power. You can use it to create dramatic night-time looks or more natural everyday finishes – either way, your lips will look plumper and fuller when paired with a matching lipstick or lip gloss. Perfect if you want to spice up your look.
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Best cult-favourite lip linerMAC Lip PencilWhy we love it: An easy-to-use ultra-smooth lip liner that's a classic among makeup artists thanks to its soft and creamy texture that glides over your skin. This product comes in a wide variety of colours for any occasion, from muted nudes to eye-catching pink undertones. And the best part is that you can even wear it on its own or pair it with your favourite lipstick - it looks just as good either way.
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Best matte lip linerRare Beauty Kind Words Lip LinerWhy we love it: Rare Beauty's Kind Words Matte Lip Liner has a soft matte finish that stays in place without smudging. It also has a creamy and waterproof formula that applies almost like a lip balm and provides long-lasting colour throughout the day. In fact, it's sooo comfortable to wear that you'll hardly know it's there in the first place. Thanks, Selena!
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Best long-lasting lip linerREFY Lip SculptWhy we love it: A dual-ended lip liner that's perfect for creating the perfect neutral lip. It has a one-of-a-kind long wear formula that was developed to feel incredibly lightweight while smoothing over any unwanted fine lines. It's also smudge-proof, which will make your life a lot easier since you won't need to reapply it throughout the day. Comes in six different shades. According to Jess, the inspiration behind the lip liner was the passion to create a long-lasting product that doesn't dry out the lips. “I found it hard to get a liner that ticked all the boxes which is why we spent so long developing the REFY Lip Sculpt,” she shares.
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Best trending lip liner - approved by Hailey BieberMake Up For Ever Artist Color PencilWhy we love it: Looking for a versatile lip pencil that's great for your brows and can even double as eyeliner? We've got just the thing. This colour pencil comes in a rich, matte finish as well as five different highly pigmented shades that can be worn individually or layered together for a more multi-coloured look. Plus, this lip liner also went viral on TikTok, after none other than Hailey Bieber herself used it for her multiple lip combos.
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Best lip liner with a diverse shade rangeNYX Professional Makeup Suede Matte Lip LinerWhy we love it: As one of the most affordable options on the market, this NYX lip liner is available in a range of different shades, all of which are highly pigmented and delivers medium to full coverage. It glides onto lips smoothly, providing the perfect base for your favourite matte lip colour.
Best transfer-proof lip linerDIOR Contour Lip Liner PencilWhy we love it: Dior's lip liner pencil has a comfortable and long-lasting formula, thanks to several lip care ingredients such as shea butter as well as peony and pomegranate flower extracts. It provides up to 8 hours of comfortable wear while also limiting feathering and preventing it from settling into your lip lines. Perfect for soft and supple lips.
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Best lip liner with a vibrant colour rangeRimmel Lasting Finish 8HR Lip LinerWhy we love it: Take your lips to the next level by adding definition and outlining your pout with this lip liner. It has a long-lasting formula that's easy to apply and holds in place for up to 8 hours. It also comes in a range of vibrant shades as well as a pointed pencil tip that allows for more precise application. Everything you need for a bold and colourful look.
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Best affordable lip linerMaybelline New York Colour Sensational Lip LinerWhy we love it: Smooth, defined lips are just one easy step away, especially with this lip liner from Maybelline by your side. With an anti-smudge and anti-smear formula, this lip liner is designed to give you the perfect pout. And for an incredibly affordable price to boot? Where do we sign up?
Best lip liner with a non-drying formulaClinique Quickliner for Lips IntenseWhy we love it: Tired of sharpening your lip liner? Well, with this automatic liner from Clinique, you'll never have to worry about that ever again. Thanks to a non-drying formula that applies without any feathering or bleeding, this product is great for lining your lips with a silky, pigmented colour.
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Best waterproof lip linerUrban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip PencilWhy we love it: No more cakey or dry creamy lip pencils. Urban Decay's lip line contains skin-loving ingredients such as vitamin E, jojoba oil and cottonseed oil that moisturises and nourishes your lips while also giving them some killer colour. The best is that it's long-lasting and waterproof too, so you won't have to worry about it as you go about your day.
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Best 2-in-1 lip linerEstee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip PencilWhy we love it: Lightweight? Yes. Creamy formula? Of course. Long-lasting? Absolutely. This lip pencil from Estee Lauder glides on effortlessly and stays on your lips for up to 12 hours without the risk of feathering or bleeding. And if that's not enough, the double-sided pencil also has a lip brush that can be used to apply your lipstick or gloss perfectly. Perfect for mature skin.
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Best hydrating lip linerL'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lip LinerWhy we love it: ‘Drama’ is this lip liner's middle name. This lip pencil from L'Oreal Paris has a smooth formula that allows for easy application without any creating any unwanted cakey build-up. It also comes with pure colour pigments that help it stay vibrant for as long as possible. And it'll keep your lips hydrated too, thanks to skincare-like ingredients such as argan oil and vitamin E.
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Best lip liner for a satin finishRevolution Satin Kiss LiplinerWhy we love it: A super-smooth and richly pigmented lip liner that will coat your lips with a satin-like finish. You can find it in 12 different shades to suit every mood and skin tone, whether you're after a nude lip or a bright pop of colour. And it's very affordable too, which always a plus in our book.
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Best plumping lip linerMax Factor Colour Elixir Lip LinerWhy we love it: Reshape and plump up the volume of your lips with this handy little pencil. With its long-wear base, you can create the perfect pout by etching around the lip line before you apply your lipstick. It comes in a range of pigmented hues to help you create more bold or natural looks – whatever floats your boat.
Best creamy lip linerr.e.m. Beauty At The Borderline Lip Liner PencilWhy we love it: Fuller-looking lips are easier to achieve than you might think, thanks to Ariana's cosmetics brand r.e.m. Beauty. This highly pigmented liner pencil is formulated with cruelty-free next-gen waxes that give it a creamy feel as you glide it across your lips. Perfect for lining and defining, this product is a great addition to any makeup bag.
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Best lip liner under £10Max Factor Colour Elixir Moisturising Lip LinerWhy we love it: By now, we all know that the secret to lip definition is a good lip liner. And you can't go wrong with Max Factor. It's expertly designed to be firm yet gentle on the outer corners of your lips as well as your cupid's bow. All you need to do is to sharpen it, soften it with a tissue and you're ready to go.
Best lip liner with a built-in sharpenerHuda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0Why we love it: Looking for a lip liner with a velvety matte texture that applies effortlessly like butter? Huda Beauty's Lip Contour 2.0 comes in 12 inclusive shades, all of which are long-lasting and don't budge or smudge. This product also comes with a built-in sharpener as well as a twist-up bullet that makes application sooo easy.
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Best premium lip linerPat McGrath Labs PermaGel Ultra Lip PencilWhy we love it: This premium lip pencil has an incredibly weightless gel formula that glides on very evenly and allows enough time for you to diffuse it as much as you want (or not at all) before it sets with a feather-resistant finish. At this point, it's become a cult-favourite that's available in a range of neutral, deep and bold hues to suit every skin tone. Thoroughly recommended.
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Best lip liner for precise applicationNARS Precision Lip LinerWhy we love it: Richly pigmented, this NARS lip liner is great for helping you create your ideal lip shape and enhance the appearance of virtually any lipstick that you might have at hand. It's very easy to sharpen and even easier to apply, making it a solid choice for laser-focus precision applications.
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Best red lip linerSephora Collection Lip Liner To GoWhy we love it: Don't underestimate this mini lip liner. It's great for overlining your lips with a gorgeously red semi-matte finish. Each pencil also has a highly pigmented formula, which – along with its miniature design – makes it the perfect travel companion that you can carry around to contour your lips any time you want.
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