Are you frustrated by feathering, fading, smudging, or creasing lip colour? Or does the possibility of one of those things make you avoid lipstick entirely [1]? Well, it's time to recruit your first in command: lip liner. This leader helps you set some actual boundaries to shape up unruly lipstick [2] and get it in line. (Like, the actual line and shape of your lips' edges.) Starting with an outline keeps colour exactly where it belongs, even with a liquid lipstick [3] that may have a mind of its own.
We decided to take a look at all the liners at Sephora to see which are getting this job done [4], and here are the bestsellers [5] you'll want backing you up. Oh, and every single one of these has a rating of at least four stars from other shoppers, too.
Find Sephora's most-popular, top-rated lip liners ahead (and maybe even a new lipstick [6] to match when you're done).
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
The waterproof Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner [7] ($22) keeps colour on (and from feathering off), and its outline can last for up to six hours. These liners — including two new shades in the new Pillow Talk collection [8] — have also earned an average 4.5-star rating and nearly 103,000 loves from other Sephora shoppers.
Sephora Collection Rouge Gel Lip Liner
The bestselling Sephora Collection Rouge Gel Lip Liner [9] ($12-$13) is a gel-cream liner that includes its own sharpener to ensure you get the most precise line possible. Each of the 30+ colours match Sephora Collection's lipsticks, but they glide on so smoothly you'll likely want to find a match for other lipsticks, too.
Make Up For Ever Artist Colour Pencil: Eye, Lip and Brow Pencil
Let your imagination run wild because you can find a colour to use on your eyes, lips, and brows with this Make Up For Ever Artist Colour Pencil: Eye, Lip and Brow Pencil [10] ($18) — and there's quite the range of colours to choose from turquoise to crimson.
Lancôme Le Lipstique - Lip Colouring Stick with Brush
The special thing about this Lancôme Le Lipstique - Lip Colouring Stick with Brush [11] ($27) is that there's a pencil for lining on one side and a brush for blending on the other, perfect for when you want a less visible outline on your mouth.
KVD Vegan Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner
You'll find highly pigmented colour whether you choose a soft shade or something bold with this bestselling KVD Vegan Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner [12] ($8-$19). Each pencil glides on smoothly but quickly dries so that outline stays on when you are ready to add in lip colour.
Melt Cosmetics Allday Everyday Lipliner
The Melt Cosmetics Allday Everyday Lipliner [13] ($17) has a near-perfect rating from other Sephora shoppers who've purchased this lasting, opaque liner.
Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil
There are over 1,300 5-star reviews for this Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil [14] ($20). With nourishing vitamin E inside, each one is so water-resistant that it can outline and fill in your lips for all-over colour that really lasts.
Sephora Collection Lip Liner To Go
Grab a mini Sephora Collection Lip Liner To Go [15] ($6) and you can resize and reshape your lips no matter where you may be.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Poutliner Longwear Lip Liner Pencil
Each Marc Jacobs Beauty Poutliner Longwear Lip Liner Pencil [16] ($26) is made with collagen so fine lines on your lips are filled in, while their shape is better defined and ready for colour.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil
The Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil [17] ($21) can get lips ready for lipstick, gloss, or be worn all on its own. The moisturising vitamin E, jojoba oil, and cottonseed oil keep lips soft and colour safe from feathering — and the pencil has more than 1,000 5-star reviews from other shoppers.
Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
Stay in bounds with a Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil [18] ($28) which holds a 4.6-star rating from Sephora shoppers. It doesn't immediately dry and settle onto lips so there's time to smudge out the colour (as desired) before it sets into a transfer-resistant line.
Hourglass Panoramic Long Wear Lip Liner
This Hourglass Panoramic Long Wear Lip Liner [19] ($30) has an average 4.5-star rating from other Sephora shoppers for its outlining work and water resistance. Each shade is smudge- and feather-free, especially when the blender brush tip is used to even out the colour distribution.
Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment - Precision Lip Crayon
The soft, emollient-rich Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment - Precision Lip Crayon [20] ($26) glides smoothly on and stays a while even if you outline and fill in your whole lips with colour. Plus, 92 percent of Sephora shoppers who bought this would recommend it to you, too.
Nars Precision Lip Liner
This top-rated Nars Precision Lip Liner [21] ($24) can help reshape lips with a rich, budge-proof colour that really sticks. It's got silk powder and mango seed oil inside for soft lips — and a 4.5-star rating from other Sephora shoppers.
BareMinerals Under Over Lip Liner
The top-rated BareMinerals Gen Nude Under Over Lip Liner [22] ($16) or BareMinerals Statement Under Over Lip Liner [23] ($16) get that name because each can be worn under or over the lipstick of your choosing, be it a bold colour or something more flesh-toned. Either way, you start priming and defining lips, and then refine the shape after you've applied lipstick so everything stays in bounds.
Clinique Quickliner for Lips
The top-rated Clinique Quickliner for Lips [24] ($19) and Clinique Quickliner for Lips Intense [25] ($19) both offer bold colour that won't dry out lips, but the intense version is creamier and more pigmented than the original formula.
Givenchy Lip Liner
The top-rated Givenchy Lip Liner [26] ($29) is packed with oils and waxes to protect and moisturise lips as it outlines, along with antioxidant-rich vitamins A and E. It can contour your mouth with one colour, or you can combine two different ones for a totally unique look.
Tom Ford Lip Sculptor
The Tom Ford Lip Sculptor [27] ($47) has a matte finish for all colours but if you're struggling to match your lipstick shade exactly, the clear hue ("Lick") helps sculpt and contour lips and leave them with a glossy finish.