8 Lip Liners That Won’t Smudge, Fade or Bleed
July 07, 2023Lip liner is meant to enhance and define the shape of your lips while also prolonging the wear of your lipstick and preventing it from feathering. But what’s the point if it comes off with the first bite of lunch? That’s why it’s key to find a budge-proof lip liner formula. We’ve tested tons of formulas 一 from the most popular options to those you’ve never heard of 一 and we’re sharing the best of the best.
The Best Long-Wearing Lip Liners
Urban Decay Cosmetics 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil
It’s no wonder this lip liner has been popular for years 一 it’s creamy, waterproof and comes in 25 pigmented shades. It’s also formulated with vitamin E, jojoba oil and cottonseed oil to ensure that it hydrates the lips. We love that the packaging is shade matched, so if you have the collection (which you’ll likely want after trying one), you can easily grab the color you’re looking for without having to read the label of each pencil.
NYX Professional Makeup Line Loud Vegan Longwear Lip Liner
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to find a lip liner that lasts. This one is only $8, and it comes in 18 creamy, high-voltage shades, from soft nudes to a moody black. The long-lasting formula hydrates the lips with vitamin E and jojoba oil.
Maybelline New York Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liner
Another great drugstore lip liner is this pick from Maybelline New York. The mechanical, self-sharpening pencil means you won’t need to keep a sharpener on hand, and the precise tip makes it easy to define your lip lines with precision. The formula is excellent at preventing lipstick from feathering and bleeding, and the range of 16 shades makes it easy to find a match for any lip color.
Lancôme Le Lip Liner
If you’re looking for a lip liner that’s comfortable to wear and can double as a lipstick, this one is for you. The smooth and creamy formula feels like nothing on your lips, and the dual-ended pencil with an attached lip brush makes it easy to blend out the color.
Sacheu Lip Liner STAY-N
Unlike the other lip liners on this list, this TikTok-viral option is a lip stain rather than a classic pencil. To use, simply trace the outline of your lips with the doe-foot applicator, then allow the product to dry into a rich, glossy-looking lacquer. Peel it off to reveal a long-lasting stain that won’t fade or smudge for the entire day.
Pat McGrath Labs PermaGel Ultra Lip Pencil
If sculpting your lips is what you’re after, you’ve met your match with this option, which has 26 shades to choose from. The formula is creamy, making it easy to blend before it dries — but once it does, your lip is locked in place. The formula remains comfortable and doesn’t budge throughout the day.
Natasha Denona I Need A Nude Lip Crayon
Like the name suggests, if you’re looking for your perfect nude lip liner, you’re bound to find it in this range. Not only is the formula incredibly soft and long-wearing, the shade offering is full of warm, cool and neutral-tone nude shades in a variety of depths.
Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 Automatic Matte Lip Pencil
This matte lip liner is perfect for defining your lip shape and preventing your lip color from feathering. The non-drying formula glides onto the lips with ease and eventually dries and stays in place for hours at a time. It provides one-swipe pigmentation, and the twist-up mechanical pencil makes it a completely fuss-free option.