The best lip liners: long-lasting, precise, and with excellent reviews
by Kristina Mikulić GazdovićJanuary 9, 2026
Makeup
I don’t know if I’m the only one, but I believe a makeup look is never complete without a good lip liner. On the other hand, finding the perfect lip liner can be quite a challenge. Especially since many claim to meet that ideal standard of long wear, yet expectations often do not match reality. Many lip liner formulas promise both longevity and intense color, but often turn out to be insufficiently long-lasting or almost invisible.
After trying countless brands and shades, I finally found the ones that do not disappoint. These lip liners combine durability, precision, and a comfortable feel on the lips. What matters most to me is that they do not dry out the lips and do not smudge throughout the day.
In addition, these lip liners have rich pigmentation that truly reflects the color promised on the packaging. My enthusiasm is shared by others as well. While checking reviews, I saw that the results are impressive. Most users praise them for their long wear, color staying power, and ease of application. To avoid wasting time and money on testing, here is a list of the best lip liners you can rely on. Below, you will find out which products lived up to expectations and why they earned such great reviews.
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Best lip liners
The best luxury lip liner: Chanel Crayon à Lèvres
A precision icon in the makeup world, it comes in a long-lasting formula that is very comfortable to apply, available in 19 shades. The silky soft tip glides effortlessly, with a built-in brush for blending, allowing perfectly defined lips. The result is a clean, semi-matte line with lasting intensity that wears all day while feeling completely comfortable.
Key ingredient: jojoba oil
Average rating: 4.9
Packaging: 1.2 g
The best lip liner for dry lips: Huda Beauty Lip Contour
Lip Contour 2.0 proves why this independent brand has been thriving for years. Designed with real user experience in mind, this product is a hybrid of lipstick and liner, offering intense pigmentation, up to nine hours of wear, and a creamy texture that visually plumps the lips. Enriched with moisturizing ingredients and housed in a convenient twist-up packaging with a built-in sharpener, it is the ideal product for flawlessly defined lips.
Key ingredients: licorice extract, natural waxes
Average rating: 4.7
Packaging: 0.5 g
The best lip liner for sensitive lips: VIEVE Modern Lip Definer
Although a young brand, VIEVE breaks all boundaries with powerful, versatile, and simple makeup that suits everyone. The formulas are vegan, free of parabens and gluten, and the lip line is designed to match a modern lifestyle. The intensely pigmented Modern Lip Definer line beautifully enhances the lips with rich, creamy, and blendable formulas that last a long time.
Key ingredients: jojoba oil, cotton seed oil
Average rating: 4.9
Packaging: 1.2 g
The best for a silky lip look: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Liner
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat is many people’s favorite secret for flawless and seductive lips. It comes in a silky formula that prevents smudging and ensures long-lasting color. It perfectly outlines, primes, or fills in the lips for a soft finish. The formula is resistant to smudging and bleeding, even through kisses. This is a lip liner we will always keep on hand for perfect shaping.
Key ingredient: jojoba oil
Average rating: 4.8
Packaging: 1.2 g
The best serum lip pencil: RMS Beauty Go Nude Lip Pencil
RMS Beauty, founded by renowned makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift, combines skincare and intense pigments for a healthy, flawless look. The Go Nude Lip Pencil is a perfect example of how this combination works in practice. It defines and enhances the lips beautifully, offering a creamy, highly pigmented formula that applies easily. Enriched with apricot kernel oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil, the formula not only delivers long-lasting color but also nourishes and protects the lips.
Key ingredients: apricot kernel oil, shea butter, jojoba oil
Average rating: 4.6
Packaging: 1.08 g
The best lip liner for a fuller look: Kosas Hotliner Hyaluronic Acid Contouring Lip Liner
Kosas is a brand loved by many for combining plant-based ingredients that nourish and hydrate the skin while delivering intense, rich pigmentation. That is why the Hotliner Hyaluronic Acid Contouring Plumping Lip Liner not only offers rich color but also helps enhance the appearance of the lips thanks to hyaluronic acid. The pencil comes in convenient packaging that does not require sharpening and features a formula that glides easily over the lips.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, konjac extract
Average rating: 4.6
Packaging: 0.5 g
The best combination of lipstick and lip liner: Ilia Beauty Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon
Besides being one of the products that brought the pastel lip trend back, the Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon reminded us how well-formulated makeup can simplify a routine. This hybrid of lipstick and lip liner combines comfort and precision with a balm-like formula, while the color lasts all day in a soft matte finish. Each stroke is enriched with powerful skincare ingredients that hydrate, smooth, and enhance lip volume. The luxurious formula is clinically proven to strengthen the lips’ skin barrier and deliver a flawless look.
Key ingredients: marshmallow root extract, hyaluronic acid
Average rating: 4.5
Packaging: 2.3 g
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