Lipsticks have come a long way. The concept first appeared in the 1920s but really took off in the 1990s. While the popularity of lip liners faded slightly in the 2000s, they have since complete a big (and we mean big) comeback this year. Now you can once again see ’90s-inspired lip liners on stars like Megan Thee Stallion, Kim Kardashian, Lizzo, and Storm Reid, among others, on the red carpet.
Whether or not to line your lips every time you apply makeup is a personal preference, but even if you reserve this technique only for special occasions, you need a good lip liner (or three) in your makeup bag. You can use them in different ways. The first and most subtle method is to outline the shape of your lips before applying lipstick to prevent the color from bleeding. Other people prefer to highlight the area above and around Cupid’s bow to give the illusion of fuller lips. Then, more nuanced techniques were developed by different makeup performers. Mario Dedivanovic of Makeup by Mario, for instance, went viral once he shared his “lip flip” method.
In terms of color, it is good to have a nude lip delineator in a neutral tone with a natural tone of your lips, although a brown lip delineator has a nostalgic aspect from the 90s. If you are not a fan of the complete color, also you can do it. Opt for a lip liner and lip gloss combo, which is a TikTok favorite.
Best Precision Lip Liner
“In my last ten years as a beauty editor, I’ve tried somewhat like 6,924 neutral lip colors (but who’s counting?), and I’ve yet to find a competition as perfect as the Lune+Aster PowerLips I lip liner. No. To put it lightly, it made me want to love lip liner again. Not only do I love all the shades (there are four in total, from nude to mauve pink) to wear without gloss or premium lipstick, but it also changes—the formula itself after applying it: Kelsey Castañon, Senior Content Director.
Best Neutral Lip Liner
“Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat Lipstick in Pillow Talk paired with the iconic Cushion Talk Lipstick, now a duo. (Ask Meghan Markle and Amal Clooney, who wore it at their respective weddings.) It’s the perfect neutral shade for contouring my lips without To make them look too much. I use this lip liner with everything.
Best Red Lip Liner
For an iconic Taylor Swift-approved red lip, I turn to this mega lipstick from Pat McGrath Labs. The lip liner is an upgraded version of the brand’s Swift lipstick and features a creamy composition that glides on smoothly and provides a long-lasting color—pendant all day. J’adore the vibrant orange red dye of the product and j’ai même détaillé mon expérience de son utilisation dans this revue du rouge à lèvres Mega Dramatique de Pat McGrath Labs.
Best Budget-Friendly Lip Liner
My favorite lipliner has to be BFF 3’s ColourPop. It’s the perfect brown that’s not too dark to overpower the appearance of your lips completely but also not too light to be unseen. It’s literally my ideal shade. I have backups for my backups, so I certainly don’t plan on running out of them anytime soon, but if I do, for $7, it doesn’t hurt to get more.
Best Moisturizing Lip Liner
I recently purchased Rare Beauty’s Kind Words Lipstick for two reasons: 1) I loved everything I’ve tried from Rare Beauty, and 2) was it affordable and reliable? Nothing could go wrong. And nothing has done so until now. With its surprisingly creamy texture, this liner is more like a lipstick, perfect for my naturally dry lips.
Best Lip Liner For Deep Skin Tones
MAC Lip Pencil in Chestnut is a must-have for a reason. It stopped black women when there weren’t many options on the market, and to this day, it’s still one of the best brown lipsticks I’ve ever used. I can achieve my super deep 90s lip looks, as well as my every day “barely there” lips, with just this pencil. If you’re observing for a foolproof lip liner, try this one.
Best Creamy Lip Liner
Since my daily makeup routine lasts two and a half minutes, lip liner isn’t usually my thing. But when I’m doing a full look, I always outline and fill in my lips, and these days, I find myself attainment for the Dibs Beauty No-Pressure Lipstick. It’s super silky and balm-like and lasts all day, even when I apply different glosses and lipsticks. The shade On the Rose is my favorite “my lips but better” color, and if I want to line it too much, it works wonders.
Best Drugstore Lip Liner
For $5, it doesn’t get much better than the NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil Long-Lasting Creamy Lipstick. It’s also available in over 30 shades, so you’re sure to find your perfect match. The ultra-fine tip makes it easy to trace the precise contour of your mouth, and the rich pigment won’t smudge or fade.
Best Full Coverage Lip Liner
I’ll tell you right now: Lip liner formulas don’t get any creamier than The Lip Bar’s Straight Line Lipstick. This is probably partly because it contains all kinds of powerful moisturizers like jojoba oil, aloe vera, and coconut oil, but the best. Part of the reason is that you don’t need to sacrifice color. It glides on effortlessly, and the color is super soaked deprived of any of the usual drying effects.
Best Matte Lip Liner
If you are a lip gloss lover, don’t let the name About-Face Matte Fix Lipstick scare you. This pencil is so creamy that I barely notice the matte finish. Vitamins C and E, along with hyaluronic acid, keep the formula hydrated even after more than eight hours of use. Another plus: it doesn’t move, so you won’t have to worry about reapplying it through the day. My favorite shade is Happy Finishes because it goes with all my favorite neutral lipsticks.
Best Lip Liner For Over-Lining
If you’re looking to line your lips (and it’s an art of illusion, I’m telling you), do it with Lawless Forget The Filler Definer Lip Pencil. The pencil remains pigmented but has a soft, powdery finish that blends into the skin and looks completely natural. It’s also a perfect canvas for a clear lip gloss, but I sometimes wear it without it, too.
Best Plumping Lip Liner
Thrive Lip Filler Long-Lasting + Volumizing Lip Pencil is simply a fantastic and versatile lip liner. In fact, this may have been the first lip liner I really committed to using years ago, before pencils came back into fashion. The Jesse shade is what I use when I don’t want full lips. This pink tint around my lips, plus my favorite lip gloss, and here we go. Quick and easy.
Best Multi-Tasking Lip Liner
I don’t go anywhere without my Make Up For Ever Artist Colored Pencil: Eye, Lip & Brow Pencil in Wherever Walnut. It’s the faultless 90s brown that goes with all the lipsticks I own. There is nothing better than that”.
Best long-lasting lip liner
If you haven’t had the chance to try Refy’s Lip Sculpt lipstick yet and you’re a fan of long-lasting makeup products, I suggest you add it to your cart as soon as possible. This lip liner comes with a “lip fixer,” a clear serum that goes on over the liner and makes it last all night. It is completely stain-resistant.
