Let’s keep it real, your lipstick is only as good as your lip liner. If you’re trying to achieve a fuller pout or clean, defined edges, the right lip pencil can be a game-changer.
With countless options crowding the beauty aisle, it can be tough to pinpoint the best lip pencil that’s just the right combination of buttery smooth, stay-put, and very you.
No worries; we’ve found 20 winners that work for every color and complexion. From value finds to splurge-worthy discoveries, this list has all your lips need, and then some.
20 Best Lip Pencils You Need
Let’s dive in and find the best lip pencil that deserves a spot in your beauty bag.
1. MAC Lip Pencil – Spice
It’s no secret that my all-time favorite lip pencil is MAC “Spice”. This gives a smooth texture that lines and applies easily. Perfect for that natural look, it works for all skin types.
It’s the ideal lip pencil for adding fullness to the lips without a harsh line. It is long-wearing and won’t be smudged, and your lipstick stays put all day. And it plays very nicely with nudes, pinks, or browns.
It’s a staple if you’re building a lip wardrobe. Yes, “Spice” By MAC Is Good, but MAC isn’t just good–it’s the best lip pencil to start your collection with in the name of timeless elegance and perfect definition.
2. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat – Pillow Talk
Charlotte Tilbury’s “Pillow Talk” isn’t just popular; it’s one of the most beloved lip pencils in the world. Famed for its velvety texture, it applies like a dream and imparts a pop of colour to your lips.
Want a fuller look that is natural? This is the ultimate lip pencil for faking it flawlessly. This pink nude shade is great for everyday glam and will become your go-to liner to complete any look.
It looks stylish and finished even when it’s worn alone. No wonder it’s the best lip pencil for women who just want that soft, romantic pout without the fuss.
3. NYX Slim Lip Pencil – Nude Truffle
If you don’t have a lot of money to spend but want something good, NYX has you and the best lip pencil in the game. “Nude Truffle” offers high performance at a drugstore price.
It’s super blendable and great for layering between different lipstick shades. This best lip liner stays in place, never bashes, and defines your lips.
It’s known as the best lip pencil for everyday wear to several beauty junkies. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and it makes it through coffee dates and lunch meetings what more can you ask for?
4. Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 – Pinky Brown
Huda Beauty is no stranger to slaying a pout and this is no different. It’s the best lip pencil for anyone who adores a bold matte finish that sticks around.
The formula is waterproof and transfer-resistant, so you have hours of perfect lips. This best lip pencil also has a convenient twist-up tip for a no-mess application.
You don’t have to retouch frequently, so it’s perfect for long days. It’s widely considered one of the best lip pencils among beauty bloggers for its accuracy and staying power, and we just can’t argue that.
5. Maybelline Color Sensational – Dusty Rose
Maybelline makes the greatest lip pencil in the drugstore universe with their “Dusty Rose” hue. It provides a smooth texture and rich color payoff at a great value.
This liner defines lips and helps hold color in place, preventing color bleeding and feathering. As an affordable lip liner, it is arguably the best lip pencil there is, hence, it is also of great quality.
It should be in your toolkit every day. Plus, smooth, wearable color in the best lip pencil for someone new to liners or restocking without dropping too many dimes.
6. Pat McGrath Permagel – Bloodlust
Craving luxury? The best lip pencil for high-end makeup fans Why you’ll love it: Pat McGrath’s “Bloodlust” is to die for. It’s highly pigmented and is applied smoothly with an intense, rich color payoff.
The bright burgundy hue is ideal for a night out or a celebration. The best lip pencil, its push-up projection creates full lips with a single stroke.
You’ll love how it accentuates your pout and smoothes your skin. As for statement lips, this is the perfect lip pencil for jaw-dropping results.
7. Revlon ColorStay Lip Liner – Mauve
Mauve is one of Revlon’s hidden gems. This top lip liner delivers long-wearing, smooth-glide texture that is both waterproof and non-feathering. Great for everyday lip looks!
Whether you’re wearing it with a glossy or matte lipstick, it doesn’t compete. The ultimate lip pencil for women on the go that maintains a neat look of made-up lips all day long.
You’ve got a built-in sharpener and the ability to make it retractable. It is very reliable and has a great price.
8. Rare Beauty Kind Words – Talented
Dan + Shay get the job done with Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty. It’s the ultimate lip pencil if you adore soft mattes with a contemporary finish.
It goes on creamy, without any pulling or lip-drying. Rare Beauty’s best lip pencil is its best lip pencil it blends like a dream, stays on for hours.
It’s beloved by fans for its neutral colors and for how cleanly it goes on skin. It is the most effective lip pencil, but Talented is the ultimate lip pencil for lazy beauty and everyday glam.
9. Dior Contour Lip Liner – Grège
From Dior, beauty doesn’t get much better than Grège. It’s the ideal lip pencil for someone who is looking to buy into luxury makeup that delivers.
There are smooth lines and a brush is included so that one can blend beautifullly also as well other pencils which give the same result. The perfect lip pencil for that highly finished, runway look.
Grège is subtle, chic and universally wearable. When sultry sophistication is the name of the game, Dior has the best lip pencil to finish off that deal.
10. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche – Always Toasted
Always toasted by L’Oréal is that perfect neutral lip pencil. It’s creamy, convertible, and pairs beautifully with numerous lip products.
It contours and prevents lipstick from bleeding all day. That’s why it’s frequently referred to as the ultimate lip pencil for everyday wear.
It’s inexpensive and easy to get your hands on, a staple in many a beauty kit. If you’re looking for the best lip pencil without shelling out tons of dough, this one’s for you.
11. Sephora Collection Lip Liner To Go – Deep Beige
Small but mighty, this is the best lip pencil for on-the-go and touch-ups. It’s small for going in a purse or any bag you carry.
The formula refuses to thin out despite its size. It’s also creamy, doesn’t fade, and blends well. This could be the perfect lip pencil to tote in your everyday handbag.
Deep Beige is a great wearable for natural nude with a layer of nudes or browns. It is the best on-the-go lip pencil for everyday ease and no-fuss beauty.”
12. KVD Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner – Lolita
The “Lolita” of KVD Beauty is a force to be reckoned with. It’s the ultimate lip pencil for high drama without sucking all the moisture out of your lips. Think vibrant, creamy, and super pigmented.
The shade is flattering on everyone, which is what’s so great about the “your lips but better” look. And it is frequently cited as the best lip pencil by both makeup pros and fans.
It’s smudge-proof and hard-wearing, staying in place through mealtimes. For work, for the weekend this is the best lip pencil to keep your lips in line all day.
13. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil – Naked2
Nudge-nudge, Urban Decay does not play. Naked2 is the top lip liner to look for if you want to enjoy waterproof wear and glide-on application.
The creamy formula won’t pull or crack, so it’s suitable for ultra sensitive pouts. This best lip pencil is silky and stays in place all day long.
Wear it over gloss or lipstick it works with either. This is by far the best lip pencil to rely on when you care about its durability and its comfort.
14. Essence Soft Contouring Lipliner – Big Proposal
Looking for value? Essence has the best lip pencil on a serious budget. “Big Proposal” is creamy and super pigmented.
It lasts and doesn’t feel dry. For the price, it performs as well as, if not better than, the best lip pencil in a luxury brand.
It is the beginner’s and the student’s liberty. If quality without a price tag is your jam, this is the best lip pencil to start with.
15. Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil – Cocoa
Bobbi Brown gives us a rich and timeless look in Coca. The ultimate lip pencil for deeper skin tones or fall-like shades.
The texture is soft and easy to control, to handle lines freely. It’s the best lip pencil to go with bold lipsticks, according to many beauty enthusiasts.
It’s formal, it’s elegant, it’s always in style. If you’re going out and want some drama, Cocoa is the lip pencil to snag.
16. Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner – Eastend Snob
This twist-up Rimmel gem is the ultimate lip pencil for lazy beauty lovers. No sharpener? No problem!
“Eastend Snob” is a nude that looks great on many skin tones. It’s buttery, buildable, and our favorite lip pencil to wear solo or under a gloss.
If you’re a fan of liner that pulls double duty, you’ll dig this. For color, coverage, and convenience, it’s the best lip pencil to throw in your beauty bag.
17. Bite Beauty Power Move Lip Crayon – Nonino
All right, so it’s a crayon, but stay with us: It’s also the best lip pencil substitute. Notino, yes!~” Nonino: This red is the most pigmented of the bunch, but applies with ease.
Great for lining and filling, it streamlines. It’s what many beauty enthusiasts would refer to as the best lip pencil in disguise.
Hydrating and high-performing. If you’re on the hunt for multitasking makeup, Nonino could be the best lip pencil with bonus features.
18. Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Pencil – Uncuffed
Rihanna knows lips, and Fenty “Uncuffed” is the ultimate lip pencil for a dramatic, sculpted style. This liner was created to complement their blockbuster Stunna lip paints.
Super-matte but not drying. Pigment and precision are paired in this best lip pencil that won’t fade in the midday sun.
A little goes a long way, and your lips are going to look flawless. Want power and pop? This is the ultimate lip pencil for high impact.
19. Milani Color Statement Lipliner – True Red
Red lips require a solid foundation, and Milani provides the go-to lipstick pencil for getting your scarlet shades to pop.
True Red lines and defines your lips, preventing bleeding and fading. It’s hailed as the best lip pencil for fans of classic red.
Creamy, colorful, and budget-friendly you can’t beat it. When in doubt, this is the best lip pencil to whip out for nights with all the glams.
20. NARS Precision Lip Liner – Vence
Want sharp, clean edges? Best image of the pencil for lips with the precision of a laser and bold, lasting color: NARS Vence Lip liner for laser-like precision and all-day, budge-proof wear.
Its formula is creamy but not soft enough to waver off to draw exact lines. There’s no smudging or feathering, so it’s the perfect lip pencil for precision work.
Suitable for either editorial or everyday use, Vence deserves its spot. In terms of quality and sophistication, this is the best lip pencil for the win.
Must Read:
Conclusion:
So there you have it 20 of the best lip pencils that fit every style, budget and mood. If you love a nude shade, a demure pink, or a fierce red, you’ll find the perfect lip pencil or crayon to take your lip game from so-so to vibrant.
The secret ingredient is finding one that mixes well, has staying power, and pairs well with your lipstick or gloss. So, hold the swipe on the fave lippie and pick one of the best lip pencils from this list and draw your pout like a pro.
Because, you know, it all starts with a good lip or liner. What are you waiting for? It’s time to make the line beautiful!