The 16 Best Lip Liners for Full, Defined Lips

Makeup by Mario's lip liner comes with a long-lasting formula, built-in brush, and a free pencil sharpener—what more could you ask for? "This formula strikes the perfect balance between creamy and long-wearing," makeup artist Caitlyn Dominic says. "It glides on effortlessly without skipping but sets to a soft-matte finish that stays in place." Makeup artist Kelli Anne Sewell agrees, noting the expansive shade range and blendability. The formula is impressively long-lasting and strikes the perfect balance between creamy and stiff. The opaque color payoff is buildable and layers well under a glosses, balms, and lipsticks alike. Favorite shades include Smokey Pink, Almond, and Daniel.

At just $2 a liner, e.l.f.'s lip liners glide across the lips with the ease of one eight times the cost. With a high-color payoff and semi-matte finish, the liner is surprisingly creamy and gloriously blendable. Plus, the pencil liner can easily be sharpened to a fine point for ultra-precise application.

This is exactly what you'd expect from a Pat McGrath lip liner: long-lasting, lip-sculpting, transfer-resistant, and precise, smooth application. The formula glides across the lips like butter and sets almost instantly, for a comfortable wear that lasts nearly all day long. Plus, each lip liner comes with its own sharpener, so you never have to worry about a dull tip. We're especially fond of the shades Buff and Nude Venus

Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat liners are iconic for a reason—they're seriously good. "The slightly waxy texture gives it a smoothing effect, helping to reshape and enhance the lips while preventing feathering," Dominic explains. The formula blends seamlessly with any product layered on top and has a rich, velvety texture that dries down and lasts for several hours. The four Pillow Talk shades (Pillow Talk Fair, Pillow Talk, Pillow Talk Medium, Pillow Talk Deep) are absolute standouts.

With a drier formula that allows for precision lining and impressive longevity, Make Up Forever's Artist Color Lip Pencils are some of the best multi-use pencils on the market. They're an "absolute must," according to Sewell, who says the shade Endless Cacao is the "holy grail of gray-tone cool liner products" while Anywhere Caffeine is "the best non-pink nude" around. Wherever Walnut is also a favorite for both Dominic and Sewell. The pencil format makes it easy to sharpen and create tight lines.

MAC's lip liners have been around for ages, and they've amassed quite the following over the years. With good reason—the formula is long-wearing and acts as a great buffer to prevent lipstick from bleeding or feathering. The stiff texture grips onto any lipstick or gloss layered on top, enhancing longevity. But what's perhaps most impressive is the 36-color shade range that includes everything from a true purple to a deep black. Sewell is a fan of Cork and Greige.

"These are for the minimalist," Sewell says. "It's super fool-proof and the soft dome offers a unique buffed, soft line." Rhode's latest launch, an ultra-creamy lip liner, makes it easy to enhance and shape the lips. The formula features skin-loving ingredients like peptides to soften and fenugreek extract to give lips a firmer appearance. The soft-focus finish makes even the sloppiest application look chic. We love shades Stretch, Bend, and Lean.

Glossier's lip liners give new meaning to the old wive's tale that your perfect lip color is the color of your nipples. With 11 nipple-matched shades, the liners are meant to enhance your lips' natural shape and tone—and they certainly deliver. The long-wearing formula is both transfer- and water-resistant, giving it impressive longevity with a subtle smoothing and blurring effect. Standout shades include hold, buff, and bit.

"I love this one from Saie for a more diffused, blurred lip effect," Dominic says. "It has a soft-matte, buildable formula that gives that effortless, lived-in lip look and glides on easily." Despite the matte finish, there's no tugging, tightness, feathering or dryness thanks to a host of nourishing ingredients including meadowfoam oil, jojoba seed oil, and shea butter.

If you're looking for a liner you can throw in your bag and go, Tower28's OneLiner is a no-brainer. The pencil works on lips, eyes, and cheeks, all without ever tugging on the skin or dragging. The thoughtful shades work across the face, and the formula is fairly long-lasting.

ILIA's chunky Lip Sketch crayons are perfect for those of us who prefer a one-and-done makeup experience. Think of it like a lipstick-liner hybrid; it has a surprisingly sharp tip despite its large size while delivering the creamy comfort of a traditional lipstick. The soft-matte finish is soft on the lips and delivers rich color that lasts for hours on end.

You don't need to spend a lot to find a great lip liner. NYX's liners boasts 32 shades, all with the same creamy, color-rich formula. "It does not budge," makeup artist Brazil Raine McElroy says. "Be ready to fix mistakes quickly before it dries down and sets." That translates to a some serious longevity.

REFY's Lip Blur makes lining lips a breeze—no softening or blending required. The wide-domed tip instantly blurs when applied, creating fuller, enhanced lips. The formula is super creamy without slipping off the lips, while leaving behind a blurred, soft-matte finish.

Another affordable option, Milani's Color Statement Lip Liners are ideal for detailing and precision, thanks to its ultra-fine tip. The formula is stiff, so you can use pressure to apply without fear of breaking the tip. It has a matte dry down that's nondrying and prevents feathering.

Urban Decay's 24/7 Lip Liner is just about the longest-lasting option on the market. The creamy gel formula has thousands of five-star reviews—and for good reason, the pencil prevents feathering and bleeding without ever feeling dry or cakey on the lips. No matter where your day takes you, you can be sure this won't budge.

This lip liner is great for on-the-go reapplication—no sharpener needed. It glides right onto the lip without tugging or pulling, and once set, it's fairly transfer-resistant. Juvia's Place's liners are easily blendable and surprisingly luxe for the price tag.