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E! illustration/Kylie Cosmetics
Lip liners might seem like an unnecessary step to your makeup routine—but that couldn't be farther from the truth. They're the secret to long-lasting lip color!
Your lip preference doesn't matter, either—we'd argue you still need a lip liner. Are you a full-coverage lipstick person? Use a lip liner underneath to make your lips look fuller. Are you a lip gloss or a tinted balm and out the door? Layer it on top of a lip liner, so it lasts longer.
No contest, lip liners are the hidden gem of makeup. It's the IYKYK kind of deal. And you don't have to spend a fortune to find an excellent one. We're on the hunt for one with a creamy texture, an interesting variety of shades, a smudge-proof formula, and buildable coverage. And we think we believe our mission was accomplished.
We've included everything from affordable drugstore favorites to prestige bestsellers—including celeb-loved picks like a viral peel-off liner and a top-rated one from Kylie Cosmetics.
So, keep scrolling to shop our picks for the best lip liners, according to thousands of reviewers and this beauty shopping writer.
Top Rated
e.l.f. Cream Glide Lip Liner
Rating: 4.6/5 stars with 12,331 reviews.
This e.l.f. lip liner promises smooth, creamy color that looks perfect under a gloss for way less. "It goes on in like a sort of soft “creamy” texture, but it actually does stay," writes a reviewer.
Celeb-Loved
SACHEU Peel Off Lip Liner STAY-N
Rating: 4.4/5 stars with reviews.
Made famous by a certain BIRDS OF A FEATHER singer, this lip liner stain might look dramatic when you first put it on—but mellows out to a subtle shade once you peel it off.
NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil
Rating: 4.3/5 stars with reviews.
We all know we can always rely on NYX for affordable lip care, and lip liners are no exception. This bestselling one promises creamy long-lasting color for an affordable price.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
Rating: 4.4/5 stars with 2,104reviews.
Charlotte Tilbury's cool pink shade Pillow Talk is iconic—and so is the brand's lip liner with its velvety texture and waterproof formula.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Color Pencil Long-Lasting Lip Liner
Rating: 4.5/5 stars with 1,470reviews.
Make Up For Ever is a hidden gem of a brand—especially now, with so many new brands at Sephora. This lip liner promises long-lasting color that enhances your natural lips.
Celeb-Loved
Kylie Cosmetics Precision Pout Lip Liner
Rating: 4.6/5 stars with 731reviews.
Made by the famous Jenner who's known for her pout, this lip liner has a waxy texture with even pigment and a blendable (then smudge-free once it dries) formula.
Milani Keep It Full Plumping Lip Liner
Rating: 4.5/5 stars with reviews.
Looking for something with a plumping effect? This Milani lip liner promises 8-hour pigment, a creamy texture, and a spicy tingle with chili fruit extract and ginger root oil.
Editor's Pick
Glossier Lip Line Enhancing Hydrating Longwear Lip Liner Pencil
Rating: 4.5/5 stars with 218reviews.
This beauty writer's personal favorite! I can't help but keep coming back to the Glossier lip liner with its long-lasting, buildable pigment that enhances anyone's natural shade.
How We Choose
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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