Style Beauty The Best Lip Liners for a Smooth, Defined Pout in 2023 Make your lipstick last way longer. By Southern Living Editors Updated on August 1, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Getty Images/LightFieldStudios When you're young, lip liner seems like one of those beauty products that only your grandmother loves and that you'll never actually need to use. Wrong. The subtle magic of lip liner is universal, no matter if you're planning to wear lipstick or lip gloss. Nothing primes lips for a long-lasting, smooth look quite like a flattering neutral lip liner or a shade that perfectly matches your lipstick. It can even boost the appearance of a more defined, poutier lip silhouette for those who want a little more natural oomph. When shopping for a lip liner, you want a formula that won't bleed as time progresses or feather into fine lines. Secondly, you want one that lasts all day and isn't difficult to apply. Lastly, you'll want a generous shade range, within which you can find a versatile nude that goes with everything. From there, it gets really fun, such as choosing one to match our recommendations for The 10 Best Lipsticks to Wear Fearlessly in 2023. Here, the best lip liners to lock in your lip color. Our Top Picks Favorite Overall: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil at Ulta Jump to Review Favorite, Runner-up: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Budget: NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil at Amazon Jump to Review Most Precise: Makeup by Mario Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil at Sephora Jump to Review Best With Built-in Sharpener: REVLON ColorStay Lip Liner at Amazon Jump to Review Best Long-Lasting: KVD Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner at Sephora Jump to Review Favorite Overall Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil Urban Decay View On Ulta View On Sephora View On Urbandecay.com What do you get when you combine a creamy glide-on formula, an all-day long-lasting finish, and an impressive color range? Urban Decay's shopper-loved lip pencil. Invest in one of the versatile neutral colors to keep in your regular rotation, and you won't be sorry. Pair it with tinted lip balm, lip gloss, or your best statement-making lipstick alike. It's water-resistant and helps to prime lips for a flawless look. Our two favorite nude shades? Naked and Uptight. Though, you really can't go wrong. Favorite, Runner-up Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner 4.3 Sephora View On Nordstrom View On Sephora View On Charlottetilbury.com You can't escape the mesmerizing clutches of this iconic velvet matte lip liner, and why would you want to? Choose from more than 15 shades, but you'd be sure to regret not snagging the brand's signature Pillow Talk to match the tube of lip gloss or lipstick you undoubtedly should have in the same color. (Iconic Nude makes another great everyday shade option.) It glides on easily for a transfer-free finish and can be blended towards the middle of your pout for a super subtle, almost blurred look. Best Budget NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil Walgreens View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Target While we're at it, we'll award this drugstore lip pencil as having the best color range, as well. It boasts a whopping 35 shades, which has you covered for nudes (for all skin tones), berries, and reds. It goes on more buttery smooth but dries down into a more matte finish that won't feather. The ultra-fine tip makes lining, contouring, and filling your lips quick and easy, and the compelling price point means you can rack up shades to match all of your lip glosses and lipsticks. Shopper-favorite shades include Nude Pink, Peekaboo Neutral, and Hot Red. Most Precise Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil Sephora View On Sephora View On Kohls.com View On Makeupbymario.com Thanks to a unique applicator including a dual-ended brush, you can contour your lips with perfect definition, especially around the Cupid's bow—and an emollient blend makes it creamy and dreamy when applying. The product line also boasts one of the best ranges of neutral colors. Invest in two neutrals—one true nude and one pinky-nude—and you're set for almost any scenario. Best With Built-in Sharpener REVLON ColorStay Lip Liner Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Ulta This budget-friendly lip pencil makes life even simpler by coming equipped with a built-in sharpener, so you can travel with it wherever you go and never risk a dull line. Revlon's ColorStay collection is notoriously long-lasting, and this lip pencil is no exception. Choose from a shade range that's small, but makes up for it by being composed of versatile colors that will match many lipsticks. The long-wear pencil also has an ultra-fine, easily maneuverable tip that makes it a great start for those just getting into lip liner for the first time. Best Long-Lasting KVD Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner Sephora View On Sephora View On Ulta KVD Beauty doesn't mess around when it comes to makeup that literally will not budge. So much so that the brand's Lock-It Foundation is used often by makeup artists to cover up scarring and tattoos. Needless to say, this lip liner is called "everlasting" for a reason. Every stroke delivers super saturated, full-coverage pigment, which immediately dries down into weightless definition. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit