If 2024 was the year the best lip liners went mainstream, 2025 was the year they evolved. Amid the splashy makeup innovations that saw everything from foundation to eyeliner get a revamp in recent years, lip liner had largely remained the same. Finally given the attention it deserves, a slew of brands are reimagining this humble pencil as a trusted companion to the latest takes on lip glosses, balms, and lipsticks. Rhode started the year with its Peptide Lip Shape debut, beloved for its contouring effect. Merit followed suit later with a Signature Lip Liner which delivers “sheer” pigment meant to fade naturally throughout wear. It was a phenomena I coined the “no-liner lip liner”—making enhancing and defining one’s pout enviable to even the makeup minimalist.
Vogue’s Favorite Lip Liners
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Some of us though, resonate with a classic approach to lining—taking inspiration plus generations of Black women known to sport black or dark brown liners found at the beauty supply store, a look popularized by from nineties supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Iman. A similar story can be told of Mexican-American chola culture—punctuated by an etching of black liner paired with a pinkish gloss.
For subtle definition or full glam volume, there’s a liner for every look. Today, lip liner formulas are better than ever, offering refined, natural-looking shades designed to complement a wide range of skin tones, along with long-wearing performance that prove remarkably versatile. “It can take the place of lipstick—line your lips all over and swipe a lip balm on top—enhance the shape of your lips, or create a crisp, defined lip line,” celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles tells Vogue.
Its adaptability is something I can attest to—I always have one on hand, at minimum. The fruits of my years-long tests of every formula below to curate this edit of the absolute best lip liners to shop, plus more insight on how to apply them and make the pigment last.
In This Story
- What is lip liner?
- Who should use lip liner?
- What to Look for in a Lip Liner
- How to Apply Lip Liner
- How do you make lips look fuller with lip liner?
- How We Tested
- Meet The Experts
Best Long-wear: Chanel Le Crayon Levres Longwear Lip Pencil
- Why We Love It: As with most Chanel makeup products, this lip liner stands out for its impressive longevity and rich color payoff. It’s a red-carpet regular—Margot Robbie’s wear of shade 156 Beige Natural at the Met Gala being a prime example—and a staple in many celebrity makeup artists’ kits. For those with richer skin tones or a preference for brown-leaning liners, 194 Rouge Noir is an easy choice—a hue that Stiles describes as “a deep rich burgundy that looks great on all skin tones. When you want to wear a statement lip, this color is it.” Best of all, the dual-ended pencil features a built-in flat brush for seamless blending.
- Editor’s Note:“After a glowing recommendation from my beauty editor, I gave Chanel’s lip liner a try in the shade Pivoine (a muave-y rose). In the midst of my maid of honor duties druing my best friend’s wedding, six hours post-touchup and two meal courses later, this long-wear lip liner hadn’t moved an inch. I couldn’t belive I didn’t need to reapply.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, cotton seed derivatives
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 19
- Waterproof: Yes
- Size: 0.04 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Rich color-payoff | Can slightly pill if overly applied without blending |
| Dual-sided design with built-in blending | |
| Long-wearing waterproof formula |
Best for Contouring: Merit Signature Lip Liner
- Why We Love It: Anyone who hates a more waxy, scratchy lip pencil will love Merit’s. Thanks to a moisturizing jojoba seed oil complex, the pencil glides on tug-free to a semi-sheer finish that acts like an impossibly natural contour for your lip line. “It doesn’t pull or crumble like a traditional liner, but glides smoothly and fades out naturally throughout the day, which makes it so easy to use,” Merit’s chief marketing officer Aila Morin previously told Vogue. “It’s also buildable: sheer for someone who is new to lip liner or wants something natural, but can be built into higher coverage for more payoff if that’s what you’re after.”
- Editor’s Note: “If a contour was a lip liner, it would be Merit’s pencil. Instead of a sharp line, this imparts more of a shadow, mimicking the shadow of a naturally voluminous lip. The semi-sheer color payoff makes it look even more natural; plus, the gel formula glides on with ease, never tugging.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, pomegranate flower extract, moringa seed oil
- Type: Retractable gel pencil
- Shades: 8
- Waterproof: No
- Size: 0.001 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Imparts natural definition | Though its not waterproof, color fades gradually for a natural look |
| Creamy, gel formula glides on with ease and never tugging | |
| Twist up packaging means you never need a sharpener |
Best for a Pillowy Pout: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
- Why We Love It: Since its launch in 2013, Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat Lip Liner has become one of the most popular formulas on the market. Its texture strikes the ideal balance—not too creamy, not too waxy—delivering a buttery glide with a soft-blurred finish. While the original lineup focused on a limited range of pink and mauve nudes, the collection has since expanded to 20 colors spanning browns, purples, and reds. Fan favorite shades include Pillow Talk (described as a pink nude), Foxy Brown (a rich brown), and Icon Baby (a warm pink)—all of which impart the illusion of a fuller pout (no plumping lip gloss needed).
- Editor’s Note: “In college, my Lip Cheat lip liner and I were truly inseparable. Back then, my favorite was shade Pillow Talk Medium (a pinky nude more suited to olive-toned to medium skin), though now I find myself reaching for Hot Gossip (a brownish rose) more often. This remains in constant rotation because it works so well on its own to give lips a subtle boost. I welcome the lip filler allegations!” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Synthetic wax, jojoba oil
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 20
- Waterproof: Yes
- Size: 0.04 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Creamy and blendable application | Some differ on longevitiy |
| Imparts a natural matte finish |
Best Multi-Use: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil
- Why We Love It: Make Up For Ever’s wooden pencil is small but mighty. Designed for use on the eyes, lips, or cheeks, it’s a true multitasker—you really never know when you need quick bit of eyeliner or to touch up your brows. (Did I mention even J.Lo is a fan?) Plus, the brand has recently introduced a more pigmented version—Artist Color Pencil Extreme—that ads more intense color when a statement lip is on the agenda. Standout shades include Endless Cacao, a cool taupe brown, and Bella Hadid’s favorite, Anywhere Caffeine, a warm nude.
- Editor’s Note: “One of my all time favorite lip liners, I truly adore shade Limitless Brown. I once lost it, nearly cried, and unsuccessfully searched for a new pencil for an hour in the beauty closet. When I finally acquired it, I stored it in my nightstand each day for safekeeping. Now, I keep one in virtually every bag.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Hydrogenated palm glycerides, synthetic wax, kaolin
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 12
- Waterproof: Yes
- Size: 0.04 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| High pigment and color payoff | Can feel a bit scratchy than creamy on more sensitive areas, like the eyes |
| Smudge-proof and long-lasting |
Best Understated: Westman Atelier Lip Shape Lip Liner
- Why We Love It: Westman Atelier’s lip liner is the definition of understated precision—perfect for anyone who wants added shape without obvious edges of a lined lip. The color palette is rooted in realism, featuring thoughtfully calibrated neutrals that echo the natural variations of lips, from gentle rose tones to warm beige and softly muted berry shades. Infused with skin-loving botanical oils, the formula stays supple while maintaining control, so it flexes comfortably with the lips instead of smudging or bleeding. Conditioning antioxidants support lip health, while natural waxes ensure a seamless glide with zero drag.
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, carnauba wax, squalane, candelilla cera, mica, tocopherol
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 8
- Waterproof: No
- Size: 0.03 oz/1.07 g
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Clean formula, enriched with hydrating ingredients | Not the most long-wearing |
| Natural, true to life shades |
Best Crayon: Ilia Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon
- Why We Love It: One of the less-talked-about uses of liner is that you could color in the lines across your entire lip if you wanted. Here, Ilia founder Sascha Plavsic set out to create a simple, no-fuss solution that took the guesswork out of accentuating your pout; or, as the brand puts it pair “the comfort of a lipstick with the precision of a lip liner.” It’s earned celebrity makeup artist Sean Harris’s stamp of approval for its hydrating and velvety composition. “It’s a perfect balance of precision and color payoff,” he previously told Vogue. The formula is enriched with a host of hydrating agents from hyaluronic acid to rosehip oil, which keeps lips soft, smooth, and chap-free.
- Editor’s Note: “The chubbiness of Ilia’s Lip Sketch is more appealing than I initially intended. Apt to define the lips, of course, but also to color fully in the lines—versatility that ensures you’ll always have a reason to reach for it. And because it features conditioning agents, it never dries out my pout.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Sea succulent, hyaluronic acid, seaweed extract, rosehip oil
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 15
- Waterproof: No
- Size: 0.04 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating, clean formula | Despite up to 12 hours of wear, some say this fades quicker after eating or drinking |
| Rich pigment | |
| Neutral-toned shade range is flattering across most skin tones |
Best Precision: Victoria Beckham Beauty Lip Definer
- Why We Love It: All the posh-est pouts will gravitate towards Victoria Beckham’s Lip Definer. “I’ve spent so much time in the make-up chair and have always been searching for my perfect nude liner so I knew exactly what I wanted,” Beckham previously told Vogue. A precision lip pencil available in seven contemporary hues—think pale pinks and velvety mauves—it delivers a long-wear, natural-looking pigment. When the pencil is sharpened, it’s easy to accentuate the cupid’s bow or trace around the lips edge for a fuller, plumper-looking finish. And despite its waterproof formula, it never tugs, gliding on smoothly thanks to an infusion of peptides and vitamin E.
- Editor’s Note: “For me, lining my lips involves going ever-so-slightly above the cupid’s bow and under the center of the bottom lip for subtle volume. While some liners deliver an undesirably smudge-effect, Victoria Beckham Beauty perfectly plumps. The waxy, not scratchy texture lines with superior precision, and I like to use the rounded back of the pencil to blend. It offers major staying power.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Palmitoyl tripeptide-1, vitamin E
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 7
- Waterproof: Yes
- Size: 0.04 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Long-lasting and waterproof | The waterproof formula sets quickly, so you have to blend fast |
| Imparts sharp lines no-matter where it’s drawn |
Best Classic: MAC Cosmetics Lip Liner Pencil
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- Why We Love It: Having earned its place in many editors’ and pro makeup artists’ kits since its ’90s debut, MAC’s lip liner continues to receive top marks. No matter how many competitor liners hit the market, some of fashion and beauty’s most famous faces still rely on this classic pigment. Model and Instagram chef Gabbriette keeps shade Stone in her bag. Singer Tyla uses a hue to create her go-to glam.
- Editor’s Note: “I’d consider MAC Cosmetics lip liner in Whirl (a dirty rose) in my shade hall of fame. In my opinion, it works better worn on its own than paired in a lip combo—it’s not waterproof so I find it fades easier with a juicy lip balm on top. This pencil reads more waxy than creamy, so I advise applying in gentle strokes so that it doesn’t feel scratchy. Nevertheless, it’s an undeniable classic.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Japan fruit wax
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 28
- Waterproof: No
- Size: 0.05 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Precision definition | Some find this formula a bit drying |
| Richly pigmented color payoff | |
| Huge shade range |
Best Creamy: Hourglass Shape Sculpt Lip Liner
- Why We Love It: Hourglass’s lip liner deserves far more hype. The ultra-creamy, transfer-resistant formula delivers rich, soft-matte color that holds its shape all day without smudging, feathering, or fading. Infused with conditioning jojoba oil, it glides on seamlessly, offering precise control while keeping lips comfortable and nourished. The shade range is thoughtfully curated, spanning sculpting neutrals in both warm and cool undertones.
- Editor’s Note: “When I spoke with Laura Harrier about her partnership with Hourglass, we bonded over our love of its Shape Sculpt—both of us agreeing that the lip liner is perhaps the brand’s most underrated product. This genuinely lasts for hours.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 7
- Waterproof: No
- Size: 0.04 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Super creamy, and easy glide formula | Some find it can get a bit patchy after wearing for a few hours |
| Transfer-resistent | |
| Vegan and cruelty-free |
Best Drugstore: NYX Slim Lip Pencil
- Why We Love It: Your local drugstore is certainly not lacking solid lip liner options—in fact, NYX is one of the best options you can find anywhere. For just $5, you get a pencil that delivers soft, slim definition to the lips—gliding on smoothly without dragging or pulling. And with 31 shade options to choose from, there is a hue (or two) for everyone.
- Editor’s Note: “My first-ever lip liner pencil was from NYX—the price is impossible to beat (and affordable for a then-high schooler. I remember crouching down in my local drugstore pulling out every nude shade trying to guess which one would be best. I landed on Soft Spoken, a soft nude. Given the lip pencil goes for less than a latte in New York, it’s a great option for experimenting with different colors. Albeit, it’s not the most long-wearing.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Candelilla wax, shea butter, jojoba oil, coconut oil
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 31
- Waterproof: No
- Size: 0.04 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Affordable price point | Some find this drying |
| Wide shade range | |
| Cruelty-free |
Best Buildable: Fara Homidi Smudge Contour Lip Pencil
- Why We Love It: Formulated with a cocktail of conditioning ingredients—such as sunflower seed oil, a plant-based wax blend, and squalane—this liner glides on effortlessly. It leaves behind a soft, velvety finish that complements both glossy and matte lip looks. For those who prefer a more pronounced outline, the formula is easily layered, allowing you to customize the level of definition.
- Editor’s Note: “Fara Homidi’s lip pencil is the dream. You can’t see a line with it even though it’s liner—it gives the intended effect of pretty, picture-perfect lips without going too balloon-y.” —Arden Fanning-Andrews, beauty editor at large
- Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, vegan wax blend, squalane
- Type: Sharpenable pencil
- Shades: 8
- Waterproof: No
- Size: .03 oz / 1.1 g
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Creamy, tug-free application | Some have mixed feelings about the longevity |
| Natural finish |
Everything You Need To Know
What is lip liner?
“A lip liner is a pencil that is used to achieve a defined edge to a lip and it often helps to add longevity to a lip,” celebrity makeup artist Amber Dreadon tells Vogue. Liners are also used to overdraw lips or as a shading tool to make lips appear larger and fuller.
Who should use lip liner?
“You should use a lip pencil if you want to achieve a sharp defined lip line,” says Dreadon. “A lip liner is also great to use if you want to make your lips look larger and fuller. Lip liners are especially beneficial for someone who might be maturing and losing color and shape definition to their lips.”
What to Look for in a Lip Liner
Choosing the right lip liner goes beyond finding a flattering shade—it’s also about understanding how color and texture work together to achieve your desired look. From enhancing a bold lipstick to subtly defining your natural lip tone, both the hue and the formula play a key role. Below, the experts break things down further:
- Shade: According to makeup artist Adam Burrell, the liner shade you use depends on your lip product color and end goal. “You may want to wear a bold lipstick so defining the edge will make your lips look sharp and neat, and make the lip color last longer. In this case I like to use a pencil one or two shades darker than the lipstick color to create a subtle ombré and to give dimension,” Burrell tells Vogue. “Or maybe you want to look for a lip liner just to enhance your natural lip color, find a neutral pink or brown tone that matches your lip color exactly.”
- Texture: How a lip liner feels on the lips is of equal importance to color, though the texture itself is a purely personal choice. “I really do like a smooth formula that sets,” says Stiles. “Nothing too dry; too dry tends to skip, too creamy tends to move.” Celebrity makeup artist Allan Avendaño agrees, it should feel smooth and glide-on seamlessly. “In general the formula should be easy to apply especially when you want to blend it easily through your lips,” he tells Vogue. “If your specifically looking to line your lips and want an obvious sharp lip line, then a harder not so blendable pencil would be okay.”
How to Apply Lip Liner
“I like to apply a lip balm when I start my skincare prep so that when it comes to lip application my lips are smooth and hydrated,” Dreadon begins. “Then I buff a little concealer along my lip line so when i draw my lip liner on I can get a nice clean even line.” Applying is really as simple as tracing the edges of your mouth to your liking. Per Stiles, you can also do lip liner first or lip liner second (after lipstick). “I have to say that it’s just a personal preference and there are no rules here”
How do you make lips look fuller with lip liner?
“In general, applying just above the natural lip line (with a lip liner of similar color) is the easiest way,” says Avendaño. “Then shading the other edges with that lip liner and using a lipstick that’s lighter shade in the middle can really create a fuller looking pout.” For something a bit more subtle, celebrity makeup artist Molly Greenwald recommends riding the edge of the lip with a thin etching of liner. “It’s the perfect balance without looking overlined.”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—professional makeup artists, many of whom have celebrity clientele—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to lip liners, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, finish, and finish. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet The Experts
- Allan Avendaño is a celebrity makeup artist who often works with Rachel Zegler, Isabela Merced, and Joey King.
- Amber Dreadon is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Lorde, Emily Bader, and Taylor Tomlinson.
- Molly Greenwald is a celebrity makeup artist who often works with Chloe Sevigny, Cynthia Nixon, and Hannah Einbinder.
- Fiona Stiles is a celebrity makeup artist whose clientele includes Gabrielle Union, Ashley Park, and Lily Collins.
