Lip Liner

Lip liner can serve several purposes, depending on how you use it. Traditionally, it’s used to—as the name suggests—line the lips (usually before applying lipstick). It helps give your lips a more defined appearance and, if you overline, can also make them appear bigger. However, that’s not all lip liner is good for. It can also be used in place of lipstick. For all-over, lasting color, try our creamy Line Loud Vegan Longerwear Lipliner.

While it’s true that not every look requires lined lips, lip liner can help amplify your lip look, extend the wear of your lipstick, and give your lip color a sharper finish. It’s also a great way to add a bit of color and definition to your lips when you’re wearing a sheer or clear lip gloss.

Good news: Applying lip liner is nice and straightforward. First, if you’re using a lip liner pencil, you’ll want to make sure that it’s sharpened. You can use our Sharpener to get a sharp, pointed tip ideal for drawing precise lines (a sharpener isn’t needed if you’re using a retractable lip liner that twists up). Then, starting at your cupid’s bow, begin tracing your lips, either drawing the line right on top of your natural lip line or slightly outside of it for a plumper effect. Once you’ve finished outlining your lips, use your fingers to blend the color ever so slightly so it’s not too harsh, then top with the lipstick or gloss of your choice (if desired).

Typically, using a lip liner that’s slightly darker than your lipstick is recommended to help give your lips a more defined look. However, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule you have to follow. You can choose a lip liner in the same shade as your lipstick or even a lighter one. Ultimately, there are few “shoulds” when it comes to makeup—following the rules isn’t as important as finding what works for you.

Choosing the right color lip liner for your needs depends on the look you’re after. For example, if you’re going for a nude lip, you’ll want to choose a lip liner that closely matches your natural lip color. After tracing your lips, you can add lipstick for color or gloss for shine.

If you’re pairing your lip liner with lipstick, you’ll generally want to make sure they’re close in shade (our Suede Matte Lip Liner and Suede Matte Lipstick collections feature a range of matching shades for the perfect lip look). There are exceptions, however—a darker liner paired with lighter lipstick can be great for creating ‘90s vibes, and a lighter liner paired with a darker lipstick can give your lips a fresh, popsicle-stained effect—so experiment and mix and match to your heart’s desire.

Yes, you can use lip liner as lipstick if you want to! Instead of simply tracing your lip line, you’ll use the pencil to fill in your entire pout for a one-and-done lip look. Leave it as-is or top with gloss for a shiny finish.