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The best lip crayons deserve a permanent spot in your makeup bag this year. Why, you ask? They pair the glide of lip balm with the polish of a traditional lipstick and the precision of a chubby lip liner. Unlike the fleeting glimmer of lip gloss or the crackle of a liquid lipstick, lip crayons offer a refined versatility that makeup artists swear by.
The Best Lip Crayons on Sale for Prime Day
It’s no secret that Amazon is the ultimate hub for all things beauty, from skin-care essentials to the makeup must-haves, like lip crayons—not quite a lipstick, and not quite a balm, these chubby pencils moisturize and impart color. Below, the best lip crayons to shop on sale this Amazon Prime Day 2025.
- Best Multi-Stick: Live Tinted Huestick Multistick,
$26, $20 - Best Lip Oil Crayon: Ogee Tinted Sculpted Lip Oil,
$28, $22 - Best Lip and Cheek: Clio Butter Balm Crayon,
$16, $9 - Best Soft Matte: Glo Skin Beauty Suede Matte Lip Crayon,
$27, $20 - Best Hydrating: Julep It
s Balm,
$14, $10
Of course, the category is varied. Some formulas lean soft and creamy, melting into lips with a high-shine sheen, Others are firm, matte, and long-wearing, making them the understated heroes of all-day wear. And the best part? Whether you reach for a high-end favorite or a drugstore gem, there’s a crayon for every mood and moment.
Ahead, two celebrity makeup artists decode everything you need to know about lip crayons, plus the standout shades and textures worth shopping now.
Vogue’s Favorite Lip Crayons:
Featured in this article
In This Story
- What is a lip crayon?
- Are lip crayons better than lipstick?
- How do you make lip crayons last longer?
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Best Overall: Ilia Lip Sketch Hydrating Lipstick + Lip Liner Crayon
- Why We Love It: “I love this soft, hydrating, and velvety matte formula," celebrity makeup artist Sean Harris says. "It’s a perfect balance of precision and color payoff.” Lip Sketch is available in 15 modern shades—from a deep, blue red to a pinkish mauve—each enriched with a host of hydrating agents from hyaluronic acid to rosehip oil, which keeps lips soft, smooth, and chap-free. Plus, the soft-matte finish imparts a your-lips-but-better look.
- Key Ingredients: Sea succulent, hyaluronic acid, seaweed extract, rosehip oil
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 15
- More To Know: Cruelty-free, clean formula
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating, clean formula | Despite up to 12 hours of wear, some say this fades quicker after eating or drinking |
| Rich, long-wearing pigment | |
| Neutral-toned shade range is flattering across most skin tones |
Best Gloss: Sisley Paris Phyto-Lip Twist
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- Why We Love It: As precise as a lip pencil, pigmented as a lipstick, and shiny as a gloss, Sisley’s Phyto-Lip is the versatile formula to know. “The texture is ultra-creamy, and this crayon is twist-up, so no sharpening is required,” Harris notes—giving it his stamp of approval. And, thanks to a hydrating blend of plant-based active ingredients, your lips will remain supple, smooth, and just a tad glossy. Go for shade Litchi for daily wear, or True Red for a night out.
- Key Ingredients: Commipheroline, phytosqualane
- Finish: Glossy
- Shades: 17
- More To Know: Cruelty-free, dermatologist tested, paraben-free
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ultra smooth application | Not the most long-wearing |
| Glossy finish like a lip balm | A pricier option |
| Fragrance-free and dermatologist-tested formula is safe for sensitive skin |
Best Nourishing: Clinique Chubby Stick
- Why We Love It: Millennials and Gen Z may remember Clinique’s iconic Chubby Stick as a intro to buzzy lip products, but it earns its place here for more than just nostalgia. This cult-favorite lip crayon remains a timeless staple—effortless, moisturizing, and endlessly wearable. As Harris notes, “The ultra-hydrating formula feels more like a balm, delivering a soft wash of color like a lip tint.” With nourishing mango and shea butter woven into the mix, it leaves your pout supple and hydrated from morning to night.
- Key Ingredients: Mango butter, shea butter
- Finish: Sheer
- Shades: 14
- More To Know: Dermatologist-tested, allergy tested, fragrance-free
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Buildable color payoff | Some report the product can cling to dry patches |
| The dermatologist- and allergy-tested formula is safe for sensitive skin |
Best Sheer: Laura Mercier Petal Soft Lipstick Crayon
- Why We Love It: For those who crave a “sheer kiss of color,” celebrity makeup artist Monika Blunder swears by this Laura Mercier lip crayon. The lineup spans 20 versatile shades, each delivering a delicate, stain-like wash that feels effortlessly chic. Unlike some fleeting lippies, this formula stays put for up to 12 hours—even through coffee breaks and late-night cocktails. What makes it truly irresistible, though, is its nourishing blend of raspberry seed oil and mango butter, cocooning lips in comfort so weightless you’ll forget you’re wearing anything at all.
- Key Ingredients: Raspberry seed oil, mango butter
- Finish: Sheer matte
- Shades: 20
- More To Know: Cruelty-free, fragrance-free, mineral oil-free
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Widest shade range | Not the most moisturizing option |
| Long-wearing, soft-focus finish |
Best Matte: NARS Powermatte Lip Pencil
- Why We Love It: If the NARS’s matte lipstick of the same name is a bit too dry for you, Harris suggests the brand’s crayon, which offers a luxe and long-wearing “creamy-to-matte texture.” Blunder is just as enamored, keeping it in her professional makeup kit at all times, insisting, “If you want bolder, richer pigment, this is the one.” The payoff is plush and comfortable—never drying—whether you’re channeling a moody ’90s brown or making a statement with a siren red lip.
- Key Ingredients: Power pigment complex
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 13
- More To Know: Paraben-free, full coverage, phlates-free
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Highest color payoff | Some find this pick becomes a bit drying by end of day |
| Comfortable, all day where |
Best Cream: Monika Blunder Kissen Lush Lipstick Crayon
- Why We Love It: If heavy lipsticks aren’t your thing, this formula is a breath of fresh air—lightweight, soft, and infused with skin-loving jojoba and marula seed oils, plus shea butter and squalene for lasting comfort. “I wanted to create a lipstick that feels like your most comfortable jeans,” Blunder explains—and the result truly lives up to the promise: effortless, wearable, and flattering. Harris echoes the sentiment, adding, “This crayon delivers a soft whisper of color with a smooth, buttery finish.”
- Key Ingredients: Orange peel oil, jojoba seed oil, marula seed oil, meadowfoam seed, shea butter, rose flower wax
- Finish: Creamy
- Shades: 9
- More To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Anti-oxidant rich, hydrating formula | Some say the online swatches aren’t quite as accurate as trying IRL |
| The most lightweight feel |
Best Pigment: Pat McGrath Labs Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil
- Why We Love It: At first glide, Pat McGrath Labs’s lip crayon feels decadently creamy, but “dries down to a velvety matte for all-day wear,” says Harris. It’s the kind of formula that keeps pace with a packed schedule, from early meetings to late-night soirées. The shade range is unapologetically pigmented, offering everything from a daring red that commands attention to a whisper-soft coral rose that plays effortlessly into the no-makeup makeup mood.
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, synthetic and natural wax blend
- Finish: Velvet matte
- Shades: 12
- More To Know: Long-wearing
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Long-wearing formula doesn’t feather | Requires a specific sharpener |
| Smooth texture |
Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon
- Why We Love It: Quite the claim, celebrity makeup artist Amrita Mehta calls this one of her “favorite lip crayons” and “great for bold, long-lasting color.” “If you’re looking for color that won’t budge, the Superstay Ink Crayon is your girl,” she adds. It’s easy to apply and even has a built-in sharpener on the bottom, so you don’t have to remember to pack one when traveling, or worry if you don’t own one at all. Plus, it comes in an extensive range of shades—from reds to mauves to browns—so there’s something for everyone and every occasion.
- Key Ingredients: Isododecane, dimethicone
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 15
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ultra-precise tip | Wears away quickly |
| Smudge- and transfer-resistant |
Ere Perez Coco Crayon
- Why We Love It: Not all lip crayons are hydrating, which is why we’re fond of the Ere Pérez Coco Crayon, formulated with a blend of coconut oil, vitamin E, and baobab seed oil. It’s perfect for drier lips or anyone seeking a natural, nourishing formula.. “It’s a multi-use product that can also be used as a cheek color, making it very versatile and great for on the go,” says Mehta. “If soft, natural color is your vibe and you want a comfortable flush, you’ll love this product.”
- Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, vitamin E, baobab seed oil
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 8
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating | Can feel heavy or waxy |
| Repairs skin | |
| Eco-friendly |
Everything You Need to Know
What is a lip crayon?
According to Blunder, a lip crayon combines the benefits of lipstick, lip liner, and, if the formula is balmy, even a lip balm. Its angled shape makes it easier to use than traditional lipstick, giving you more control and allowing you to line your lips precisely.
Are lip crayons better than lipstick?
Lip crayons aren’t necessarily better than lipstick; it comes down to personal preference. Blunder prefers a crayon over lipstick, saying, “It feels a bit more modern, fresh, and easier to use.” Lip crayons often contain moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E, making them ideal for those with dry or sensitive lips. “A traditional lipstick is usually more pigmented, so it’s great for someone who wants a bolder lip look,” she adds.
How do you make lip crayons last longer?
Blunder suggests choosing a formula with a matte or satin finish and layering the crayon with a lip liner for extra longevity. Harris, on the other hand, recommends the blotting method: apply a layer of matte lip crayon, gently blot with tissue, and then apply a second layer for the most powerful pigment.
How to Apply Lip Crayon?
Mehta recommends starting with proper lip prep. “Gently exfoliate with a lip scrub or soft brush to remove any dead skin, then moisturize with a lip balm or mask to restore hydration,” she says. Blot off any excess product if needed, then sharpen your crayon if necessary before carefully lining your lips to create your desired shape. Next, fill in your lips, working from the center outward. “Press your lips together gently to evenly distribute the color, blend, and make sure everything is fully filled in,” Mehta explains. “If needed, use a small Q-tip or angled brush to clean up your lip line and perfect any imperfections.”
How We Tested
In curating this lip crayon edit, we approached the process with the same rigor as we would to mascaras, eyeliner, and primers. Each formula was swatched and worn to see how it held up through coffee runs, long days, and late-night events. We looked for the qualities that matter most: ease of application, comfortable wear, pigment payoff, and that elusive balance between bold impact and subtle polish. Of course, we also tapped the trusted advise of pro makeup artists to cosign any products recommendations we or they had. Now all you have to do is add to cart, and checkout.
Meet The Experts
- Sean Harris is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Lori Harvey, Lala Anthony, and Laura Harrier.
- Monika Blunder is a Los Angeles–based celebrity makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty.
- Amrita Mehta is a New York-based celebrity makeup artist who s worked with Aoki Lee Simmons and Sophia Culpo.
