14 Long-Wearing Lip Liners on a Dime (2024)

TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Shade Range: 8 | Size: 0.04 oz |Cruelty-Free: No

What we love most about this lip liner is its versatility—and it's super easy to wear with any lip color. It comes in eight versatile hues, so you'll have no problem finding a shade that matches your favorite matte lipstick or gloss. Plus, it easily sharpens, though it doesn't come with a sharpener. Due to its matte finish, it can dry the lips, so make sure you apply a touch of lip balm before using it.

Shade Range: 8 | Size: 0.04 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Milani’s intensely pigmented lip liner is essential if you love a bold, statement lip. It has a gorgeous matte finish that glides onto the lips easily without tugging the skin or leaving any feathering. The hardest part is choosing between the eight stunning shades. When you land on a shade, the matte finish is perfect or gorgeously pairs with other lipsticks or glosses.

Shade Range: 9 | Size: N/A | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you want to spend only a few dollars on a truly incredible lip liner, this one's for you. Highly pigmented and composed of skin-flattering neutral hues, we love how these liners pair well with literally every lip color—regardless of how bold or sheer. Bonus: The silky formula is both smudge-proof and long-lasting. Like many lip liners, the classic shades tend to be more popular, so we recommend stocking up before they inevitably sell out.

Shade Range: 10 | Size: 0.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Few things are comparable to the perfect matte lip liner—and this one is remarkable. Use it to outline, define, or fill in your pout for a pristine look every time. Its hydrating formula infuses aloe vera and jojoba oil to keep your lips moist and soft. One of the downsides to its very hydrating texture is that it breaks pretty easily, so you need to be quite gentle when applying it.

Shade Range: 14 | Size: 0.01 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Looking at your lips after a couple of hours and seeing the color bleed outside the lines is the worst, so you always need a foolproof liner handy. Revlon's ColorStay will literally lock in your lip shade and prevent any of that from happening for hours. We love its tug-free application, but it does break easily if you press on too hard, so go easy. However, if you need to get more out of the product, there’s a built-in sharpener.

Shade Range: 8 | Size: 0.005 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For some people, applying lip liner can be tricky. That’s why having little helpers—like the angled tip on this liner—can make a big difference. It's easy to achieve precise lines on areas like a narrow cupid’s bow or tight corners. Plus, the liner is smudge- and crease-proof, so you’ll have a clean look for longer.Just don't expect this one to last all day or all night; you'll likely need to reapply after sipping a beverage or eating a meal.

Shade Range: 20 | Size: 0.01 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Maybelline's lip liner truly lives up to its name—sensational. Its wide array of neutral shades is exactly what you think of when looking for a nude lip liner, and the applicator ensures a smooth, controlled glide that is ideal for shaping the lips. Creamy and smudge-proof, it won't move a single centimeter when worn. We also love its buildable coverage, allowing you to go from understated to statement with one product. Our top tip? Add a touch of lip balm to your lips before applying it to counteract its dry, matte finish.

Shade Range: 5 | Size: 0.04 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Say goodbye to smudging; this is the best lip liner you could wear for a swim. Silky and non-sliding, this intense formula glides around your lips effortlessly. Wear it alone for a natural, accentuated lip or underneath your favorite lipstick to make it pop. We found that the colors in the online images were slightly different while still being super pretty.

Shade Range: 42 | Size: 0.035 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Super pigmented and long-wearing, this high-intensity lip pencil applies beautifully with little to no effort. The liner comes in 42 colors, making it impossible to choose a favorite. Whether you're seeking something bold or natural and undetectable, this range surely has something for all makeup aesthetic preferences and skin tones. Also nice: Accomplishing clean lines with zero feathering has never been easier with the liner’s tug-free application.

Shade Range: 8 | Size: N/A | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s something so sophisticated about a bold, red lip. This liner offers a long-lasting pigmented red that won’t smudge. If you love this red shade, you’ll want to check out the other offerings, like “Eternal Pink” and “Boundless Berry.” Another bonus? It’s a retractable liner, so you won’t have to sharpen it.

Shade Range: 7 | Size: 0.01 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sometimes, you just don't want to deal with sharpening a lip pencil (or an eye pencil, for that matter). There's nothing worse than pulling out your lip liner for a touch-up and discovering you left the sharpener at home—the liner is useless. That's where retractable liners come in. These babies roll up or down and can be tossed in your bag for reapplication anywhere or time. This liner in particular comes in seven shades, so there's bound so be one in the lineup that complements your skin tone or lipstick.

Shade Range: 30+ | Size: 0.03 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you want to use a liner without needing to reapply, NYX Professional Makeup has you covered. The liner is long-lasting, so you can eat, drink, and chat the day away without worrying about reapplying. Another bonus: Their slim pencil liner comes in over 30 highly pigmented shades, so you can buy the whole collection and never get bored.

Shade Range: 6 | Size: 0.04 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re keen to try a couple of different lip liners but don’t want to spend a lot of money, Wet n Wild’s range is ideal. You can buy a couple of different lip liners for under $5, making it easy to experiment with a few different looks. This range is especially great if you love that ‘90s brown lip, and the creamy texture is super easy to apply.

Shade Range: 9 | Size: N/A | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for a super-pigmented lip liner that’s also vegan, then look no further than Mented. We love its range of deep shades—from “LaLa” red to its sultry berry-hued “M5”—that will instantly impact an everyday makeup look. Mented lip liners are also long-wearing and great for creating natural definition.

FAQ

• How should you prepare your lips for liner?

  As we’ve seen in many of the products tested, the strong pigment in lip liners can be a little drying. So, start by buffing and cleaning your lips to remove any dry skin.

  You can do this with an exfoliating lip scrub or by gently rubbing a tissue back and forth across your mouth. Then, add a little lip balm to hydrate the lips without making them too oily.

• How should I apply lip liner?

  To enhance the natural shape of your lips, start from the cupid’s bow to create that defined shape. Then when drawing along the corners of your mouth, start from the corners and go up to meet the cupid’s bow. This will help to create a volumized look.