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Lip liner is used to lock in and set your lipstick, preventing feathering and ensuring it stays put all day long! This handy guide reveals the main features to look out for when selecting the best lip liners for your needs, such as the format, ingredients, shade, and whether it's long-lasting. Plus, we'll share the best products available to buy online at leading UK retailers like Amazon, John Lewis, as well as cheap drugstore options from Boots and ASOS.
We'll also include options for mature skin and those with dry lips. With top brands like NYX, Charlotte Tilbury, and MAC in our list of recommendations, there’s a lip liner to suit all skin types and budgets! Moreover, we have partnered with Makeup Artist Marie Dancer for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver the best information to our users. Moreover, we have partnered with Makeup Artist Marie Dancer for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver you the best information.
As a professional make-up artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all her clients she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
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As a professional makeup artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK, working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all of her clients, she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.
Find out more about Marie and what are her favourite makeup products are through her Instagram! She even shares some industry tips on makeup application too. And if you're interested in getting your makeup done by Marie, you can contact her via her email found at the top of her page.
When most people think of lip liners, the traditional pencil format comes to mind. If you want clean, crisp lines that really define your lips, then a sharp lip pencil is definitely the way forward. This format is all about definition so it'll give you the perfect pout!
In addition, lip liner pencils are suitable for applying all over your lips to give you a matte base that your lipstick can stick to. As this format gives you better control than a crayon, it's a great all-rounder that you can rely on! However, it's worth mentioning that this type of liner can be a bit drying on the lips, unless it has added hydrating ingredients - so it might not suit those with mature, dry skin.
Explore our favourite lip masks to prevent dry, chapped lips.
Sharpening your lip liner can be a bit of a nuisance, particularly when you’re on the go. Retractable lip liners save you any fuss as they simply twist up when you want to use them and then twist back into the barrel afterwards - no sharpening required! They also tend to have a slightly creamier consistency than a pencil, making them a good option for those with dry lips.
The downside of this type of lip liner is that it's more difficult to get crisp lines, as the tip isn't particularly sharp. Still, they're handy for applying colour to the whole lip as a foundation or for wearing alone without lipstick on top.
Lastly, make sure you don't twist it up too much as you run the risk of snapping your lip liner and losing valuable a product. This form of the pencil is often slimmer and doesn't include as much product as a standard lip liner.
We all know of the power of vitamins in our diets for overall health, but they can also pack a punch as part of cosmetics when it comes to looking after our skin! Lip liners that includes these additional ingredients are especially helpful if you're prone to sensitive lips.
Vitamin E is full of antioxidants and can help to prevent sun damage. When added to a lip liner, it protects the delicate skin on your lips. Similarly, Vitamin C reduces signs of ageing while improving skin tone and texture.
Most of us suffer from dry skin from time to time, especially on our lips. Many lip liners now contain moisturising ingredients, which can be especially helpful in the winter. No matter the cause, it’s all too easy for your lips to dry out and become flaky.
So, look for ingredients like cottonseed oil or myristic acid which lock in precious moisture - these will give your lips a little boost without the hassle of having to layer yet another product on during your morning routine. Cottonseed oil is also an antioxidant that naturally contains Vitamin E, so you just know it'll keep your pout looking gorgeous.
Speaking of moisture, check out our best lip balms for chapped lips!
Jojoba has been a highly valued ingredient in skincare products for some time now as it has a similar structure to that of human sebum (the oil protecting your skin). Not only can it help rejuvenate mature skin, but it can also relieve sun damage and add hydration.
Jojoba is full of powerful antioxidants, making it a popular addition to anti-ageing products. Besides this, its addition gives lip liners a creamy texture, helping the product to glide on smoothly and easily without dragging, while supplying your lips with adequate hydration.
A highly oil-based lipliner may not be the best choice if you have oily skin or are prone to sweat as it won't be able to adhere to the skin.
Lip liners are typically available in a variety of colours. Professional makeup artists recommend that you wear a liner that's one shade darker than your skin, or one that's slightly different than the lipstick you are wearing, to create definition.
To help you find the right shade whether you're going for a darker or bolder look, always try to look for products in the same shade family as the lipstick you will be using as the top coat. If you're still unsure, try out 'invisible' liners which are more versatile, but will still do a good job at preventing unwanted feathering. By choosing a slightly deeper shade, you'll give the appearance of a fuller lip and define the shape.
This also means you can enhance your natural shape without detection as the liner will cover your lip line. Often referred to as a 'non-surgical lip filler’ as you can increase and even out the size of your lips with one stroke. Clear lip liners are also available, this is to stop the lipstick 'feathering' or 'bleeding' without adding a harsh line to the perimeter.
Looking for your new favourite red lipstick? Explore our top picks!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil | £16.00 High Mid | Waterproof, Long-Lasting and Packed Full of Skincare Goodness | ||
2 | MAC Lip Pencil | £16.00 High Mid | World-Class Performance and Control From MAC | ||
3 | Rimmel London Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Liner | £3.06 Low Mid | A Hydrating Pencil That's Amazing Value for Money | ||
4 | Barry M Lip Liner | £2.99 Low Mid | Bold and Versatile for Outlining, Overlining or Filling | ||
5 | Stila Stay All Day Lip Liner | £9.99 Mid | A Semi-Matte Crayon That Really Does Stay on All Day | ||
6 | Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat | £17.00 High Mid | A Cult Liner That's Rich, Moisturising and Vegan-Friendly Too | ||
7 | Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil | £20.00 High Mid | Takes You From Day to Night With a Smudge-Proof, 8-Hour Formula | ||
8 | NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner | £4.00 Low Mid | A Drugstore Must-Buy Available in an Amazing 64 Shades | ||
9 | Clinique Quickliner for Lips | £16.00 High Mid | A Silky, Non-Drying Pencil Ideal for Sensitive Skin | ||
10 | L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner | £4.00 Low Mid | A Creamy Liner for a Natural Look |
Whether used as a primer for your lipstick, a liner to define your pout, or a lip colour in its own right, the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil stays put throughout the day. With a magical 32 shades to choose from, there’s bound to be something to suit your favourite lipstick!
This product contains vitamin E, cottonseed oil, and jojoba, meaning it's super-moisturising and will protect your lips from both sun damage and ageing. It’s the best lip liner around as far as we're concerned!
You can't go wrong with MAC! This lip pencil has a smooth, creamy texture that effortlessly glides on, providing world-class coverage and control. Plus, if you keep the tip sharpened then you can achieve really precise lines without feathering.
There are 12 shades available, many of which are globally renowned thanks to endorsements by celebrities. The high colour payout and performance of this lip pencil mean that it has earned its place in every woman’s makeup bag!
No makeup bag is complete without at least one or two bits from Rimmel. The 1000 Kisses lip liner offers 8 hours of continuous colour so there’s no need for constant touch ups. In addition, the pencil format means that (with a little sharpening) you can get a chic, clean line exactly where you need it.
The velvety smooth texture and the addition of vitamin E mean that not only will your lips look lush all day, they’ll be soft and hydrated too. Rimmel has done it again with this lip liner that gives you a whole load of bang for your buck!
Barry M is a British brand that's known for its colourful cosmetics, offering quality products at a low price. This liner pencil is no exception, garnering rave reviews for its effectiveness. Whether you’re outlining, overlining, or using it as your main colour, this formula simply glides on.
There are 13 shades to choose from and, priced affordably, you can collect them all if you want to! Plus, as this is a proper pencil, you can sharpen it to get a nice crisp line or keep it blunt and rounded for soft coverage.
Built to last, this retractable crayon-style lip liner is part of Stila’s Stay All Day range and it really does what it says on the packaging! It has a waterproof semi-matte finish that works well under or over lipstick - or even by itself!
If you have dry lips or are worried about tackling the signs of ageing, this liner is a great option as it contains Vitamins E and C to improve skin tone and texture. The downside? It's only available in 8 shades so it won't work for everyone.
From top makeup brand Charlotte Tilbury comes Lip Cheat, a nourishing liner that helps to lock on your lipstick, making it last all day. Containing Vitamin E and jojoba, this hardworking product keeps your lips looking sensational.
There are 13 stunning shades on offer. Wear it alone or with one of the many lipsticks or glosses available from the brand. As it's vegan, free from parabens, and sulfate-free, this is a good choice for those who prefer to avoid animal products or harsh chemicals. The only reason it's so low in our ranking is the high price tag!
When it comes to makeup, everyone knows Bobbi Brown products, and with good reason. This fab lip liner comes with a sharpener to ensure you can achieve a perfect pout without feathering or smudging. This creamy, moisturising liner glides on nicely too due to the added Vitamin E.
It's not the cheapest product around but if you want a lip liner that will last up to 8 hours without needing a touch-up, this one is hard to beat. It’s also available in 16 amazing shades, so you should be able to find your ideal hue!
This matte lip liner by NYX is easy to apply and versatile. You can apply it all over the lip as a base for your lipstick or just to the outer edges of your lip for a more defined look. With 64 amazing shades available, this liner offers unparalleled options for overlining, outlining, and general lip gorgeousness.
The colour payout on these lip pencils is great and at such an affordable price, they won’t break the bank either. However, some users have reported that this liner can dry out the lips. So if you have chapped or dry lips, you must make sure to adequately moisturise before applying.
Clinique's "quickliner" makes light work of defining your pout, with a silky, non-drying formula that stays on all day. As it's retractable, it doesn't need sharpening, making application even simpler!
Although we love the fact that this product is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, it sadly doesn't have any added ingredients to provide hydration or rejuvenate the skin. This is surprising when you consider how much it costs!
The L’Oreal Colour Riche Lip Liner is an incredibly affordable pencil that's available in 7 shades. Thanks to the added myristic acid, this lip liner has a soft, creamy consistency that makes it easy to apply.
The colour payout with this lip liner is unfortunately not as vibrant as some of the other options on our list, so those who are after a bold look will be disappointed. If you want a natural look, though, this one's just the ticket!
As a basic guideline, you should use a lip liner that is one to two shades darker than your lipstick color. However, make sure to stay within the same color family and undertones. Alternatively, you can also go with an 'invisible' or nude liner to avoid mismatching.
Traditionally, liner is used to outline the lips and create definition, while also preventing feathering of your lipstick. In recent years, people have started to use it to create a matte base, applying lip liner all over the lips first, like a foundation. Doing this will help your lipstick to last even longer without smudging.
Apply the liner by drawing along both sides of the top lip line. Then, connect the area between your Cupid's bow. For the bottom lip, overline the center of the lip for a plump, heart-shaped effect. Lastly, apply your desired lipstick or top coat on top to complete the look!
Written and researched by Sonata Winchester
No. 1: Urban Decay|24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil
No. 2: MAC|Lip Pencil
No. 3: Rimmel London|Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Liner
No. 4: Barry M|Lip Liner
No. 5: Stila|Stay All Day Lip Liner
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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