Lip liner has made a full comeback. Thanks to the nineties-inspired brown liner and gloss trend, liners now outsell many lipsticks, and Amazon’s makeup best seller list is full of creamy pencils and peel-off stains. Whether you want to define your natural shape, stop lipstick from feathering or create a fuller-looking pout, the best lip liners make it easy. This guide covers the current best sellers, from tiny-price drugstore heroes to luxury icons.
You will find a quick comparison, a closer look at each pencil, a buying guide to shades and formulas, and simple techniques for a defined, long-lasting lip.
Best Lip Liners at a Glance
- Best Overall: e.l.f. Cream Glide Lip Liner
- Best Shade Range: NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil
- Best Long Wear Classic: Revlon ColorStay Longwear Lip Liner
- Best Gel Formula: wet n wild Perfect Pout Gel Lip Liner
- Best Peel Off Stain: Sacheu Lip Liner Stay-N
- Best Luxury: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat
- Best Fragrance Free: Clinique Quickliner for Lips
- Best Matte Precision: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner
The 8 Best Lip Liners to Shop Now
All of the best lip liners below appear on Amazon’s current Makeup or Luxury Beauty best seller lists, or are the best-known liner from their brand.
1. e.l.f. Cream Glide Lip Liner
The e.l.f. Cream Glide is one of the top-selling lip products on Amazon, and its low price is only part of the appeal. The brand describes a creamy pencil that glides on without tugging, with highly pigmented color and a smooth semi-matte finish that works alone or under lipstick. It comes in a curated range of shades and is vegan and double-certified cruelty-free.
Who it is for: anyone trying the liner trend for the first time, and anyone who likes to own several shades without spending much.
- Creamy, highly pigmented pencil
- Semi-matte finish
- Wear alone or under lipstick
- Vegan and cruelty-free
2. NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil
The NYX Slim Lip Pencil has been a makeup artist favorite for years, partly because of its huge shade range, from nudes and browns to pinks, mauves and reds. NYX says the buttery-soft formula is long-wearing and resists bleeding. Espresso, a deep brown, is a cult shade for the brown liner and gloss look.
Who it is for: anyone who wants a perfect shade match and a reliable, classic wooden pencil.
NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil
- Huge range of nude, brown and bold shades
- Buttery, long-wearing formula
- Resists bleeding
- Cruelty-free
3. Revlon ColorStay Longwear Lip Liner
Revlon’s ColorStay liner is a cult classic designed to help lipstick stay on longer and lips look fuller. The brand says it gives up to eight hours of color without reapplying and prevents bleeding and feathering. It has a built-in sharpener, which makes it ideal for handbags, and comes in 12 shades.
Who it is for: anyone whose lipstick tends to feather into fine lines around the mouth.
Revlon ColorStay Longwear Lip Liner
- Up to 8 hours of color
- Helps prevent bleeding and feathering
- Built-in sharpener
- 12 shades
4. wet n wild Perfect Pout Gel Lip Liner
wet n wild’s Perfect Pout is a retractable gel liner made with a special polymer and ester complex. The brand describes a formula that glides on with no tugging or dragging and delivers color that stays put, whether you wear it alone or under lipstick. It is one of the most affordable best lip liners on the chart.
Who it is for: anyone who wants long wear and a retractable, no-sharpening pencil on a tight budget.
wet n wild Perfect Pout Gel Lip Liner
- Retractable gel liner
- Smooth, no-tug glide
- Long-lasting color
- Budget-friendly
5. Sacheu Lip Liner Stay-N
Sacheu’s Stay-N went viral as the peel-off lip liner hack. You trace your lip line with the precision applicator, leave it for five to seven minutes, then peel it away to reveal a long-lasting stain. The brand infuses it with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, and offers shades designed to flatter all skin tones.
Who it is for: anyone who wants a defined lip line that lasts through meals, and fans of trending makeup hacks.
- Peel-off lip liner stain
- Long-wearing tint
- Hyaluronic acid and vitamin E
- Shades for all skin tones
6. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat
Lip Cheat is one of the most famous luxury lip liners in the world, and the nude-pink shade Pillow Talk is an icon. Charlotte Tilbury says the waterproof, smudge-proof formula resists feathering and transfer for up to six hours, and it is enriched with jojoba seed oil to keep lips feeling soft. Outline just on or slightly beyond your natural line for a fuller-looking pout.
Who it is for: anyone who wants a luxurious, universally flattering nude liner and a beautiful gift.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
- Iconic nude-pink shades
- Waterproof and smudge-proof
- Up to 6 hours of wear
- Enriched with jojoba seed oil
7. Clinique Quickliner for Lips
Clinique’s Quickliner is a twist-up automatic pencil, so you never need a sharpener. The brand describes a non-drying, silky formula that helps keep lipstick from feathering, in a wide range of shades. In line with Clinique’s dermatologist-guided approach, it is allergy tested and 100% fragrance free.
Who it is for: sensitive lips and anyone who wants a polished, no-fuss luxury liner.
- Twist-up, no sharpening
- Non-drying, silky formula
- Allergy tested and fragrance free
- Wide shade range
8. Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner
Anastasia Beverly Hills is famous for precision, and its lip liner brings the same approach. The brand describes a full-pigment, professional-grade formula with a creamy velvet texture and a matte finish. The traditional wooden pencil sharpens to a fine point for detailed work, and the shades are designed to pair with ABH lipsticks and glosses.
Who it is for: anyone who wants sharp, sculpted lip lines and an intense matte finish.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner
- Full-pigment matte formula
- Sharpens to a fine point
- Long-wearing and smudge-proof
- Pairs with ABH lip colors
How We Chose the Best Lip Liners
We reviewed Amazon’s live Best Sellers lists for Makeup and Luxury Beauty, then read each product page for formula, finish, wear and shade range. We included pencils, gels and a peel-off stain at price levels from budget-friendly to luxury. We did not test these products ourselves; see our editorial policy for how we research.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Lip Liners
A lip liner is a cosmetic pencil used to outline the lips, fill them in as a base and keep lipstick from bleeding. Here is how to pick the right one.
Pick the Right Shade
For everyday wear, choose a nude lip liner one shade deeper than your natural lip color. To match a lipstick, pick a liner in the same shade or a touch darker. Brown liners create the popular nineties look with clear or nude gloss.
Choose a Formula
Creamy pencils (e.l.f., NYX) are comfortable and blendable. Long-wear and gel formulas (Revlon, wet n wild, Charlotte Tilbury) resist smudging. Stains (Sacheu) last the longest but are less forgiving if you make a mistake.
Wooden or Twist Up
Wooden pencils sharpen to a precise point for detail. Twist-up and retractable designs (Clinique, wet n wild) are faster and better for travel.
Consider Comfort
If your lips get dry, look for formulas with oils or hyaluronic acid, such as Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat or Sacheu, and always prep with balm.
How to Apply Lip Liner for Fuller Looking Lips
Start with smooth, moisturized lips, then blot away excess balm. Mark the center of your cupid’s bow and the center of your lower lip, then draw short strokes from the outer corners toward the center. To make lips look fuller, line just on the edge of your natural line rather than far beyond it. Fill in the whole lip lightly with the same pencil so your color lasts even as lipstick fades.
Finish with lipstick, gloss or balm. If you want to pair one of the best lip liners with a luxury bullet, our guide to the best luxury lipsticks has plenty of ideas.
Tips for a Long Lasting Lip Look
- Exfoliate gently. Smooth lips help liner glide; a sugar scrub or soft towel works.
- Use concealer to sharpen. A tiny brush of concealer around the edge makes lines crisp.
- Layer and blot. Apply lipstick, blot with tissue and reapply for longer wear.
- Keep pencils sharp and clean. Sharpen before each use for hygiene and precision.
- Carry a liner, not a lipstick. A long lasting lip liner can touch up color all day on its own.
FAQ: Best Lip Liners
Should lip liner be darker than lipstick?
It can be the same shade or slightly darker. A darker liner adds definition and dimension, while a matching liner gives a seamless look.
Can I wear lip liner alone?
Yes. Fill in your lips completely with a creamy liner for a long-wearing, semi-matte color. Many of the best lip liners, such as e.l.f. Cream Glide, are designed to be worn this way.
How do I stop lip liner from looking harsh?
Choose a shade close to your natural lip, blend the edges inward with a lip brush or fingertip, and add a gloss or balm over the top.
Which lip liner lasts the longest?
Peel-off stains like Sacheu Stay-N last the longest, followed by gel and long-wear pencils such as wet n wild Perfect Pout and Revlon ColorStay.
Final Thoughts on the Best Lip Liners
The best lip liners make every lipstick look more polished and last longer. e.l.f. and NYX are unbeatable everyday picks, Revlon and wet n wild excel at wear, Sacheu is the viral stain, and Charlotte Tilbury, Clinique and Anastasia Beverly Hills deliver luxury performance. Choose a nude lip liner for daily wear and add a bold shade when you feel brave.
For more lip care, browse our edit of the best luxury lip balms and our guide to celebrity beauty brands.
