Lip liner is one of those products that can feel unnecessary (I can apply lipstick pretty well without one, ahem) until I remember how much of an impact they have. You don’t even have to spend a ton of cash—the best drugstore lip liners can easily accentuate one’s natural lip shape or, depending on how it’s drawn, deliciously exaggerate your lip shape. (I once got my lipstick done by a makeup artist who magically made my lips into a more defined, Rihanna-style Cupid’s bow.) Allan “Whitey” Snyder, makeup artist for Marilyn Monroe, knew the power of lip liner, having used darker shades along the edges of her lips to create a contoured effect.
When I was a teen, you’d always find lip liner in my vintage lunch-box purse—and more often than actual lipstick. This was the late ’90s, so I was either using a brownish lip liner with Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker (influenced by my chola classmates) or lining my lips with black eyeliner and filling it in with red lipstick. This was my perfectly witchy, Nancy Downs–inspired look. Hung Vanngo recently executed a similar look on Selena Gomez (using Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liners in Strong, $15, and Devoted, $15), but obviously way, way better than mine.
As I mentioned, you don’t have to spend much money to find high-quality lip liners that glide on like buttah and have an assortment of shades. While there are some incredible mid-priced or high-end lip liners (Refy Lip Blur Lip Liner, $24, and Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil, $24, I’m talking to you!), there are tons of drugstore lip liners that do the job just as well as, or even better than, pricier ones. To find the best drugstore lip liners, I tested a range of favorites and best sellers to see which ones delivered on precision, pigment, and staying power—without breaking the bank.
The Best Drugstore Lip Liners at a Glance
1. Best Overall: Nyx Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP
Slim Lip Pencil
Pro: Nourishing formula made with jojoba oil, shea butter, and coconut oil
Con: Requires a separate sharpener, which isn’t ideal for travel or a quick fix
Shades: 31
Back in my teen makeup era, pencil liners, both eye and lip, had stiffer formulas, so we’d have to take a lighter to soften them a bit. Today’s liners are creamy, pigmented, and packed with staying power—no Bic necessary. Nyx Slim Lip Pencil, an OG in the drugstore lip liner world, has the perfect consistency—it’s creamy but not too soft, making it easy to define your lips without tugging. Kind of like the Goldilocks of lip pencils. Oh, and if you want a celebrity cosign, Hailey Bieber is known to use the Nyx Slim Lip Pencil in Nude Truffle.
Customer review: “These lipliners glide on your lips so effortlessly and are so good for their cheap price. They also have great pigmentation. These are my go-to liners for any occasion.”
2. Best for Creating Definition: e.l.f. cosmetics Love Triangle Lip Filler Liner
e.l.f.
Love Triangle Lip Filler Liner, 2-in-1 Lipliner Pencil
Pros: Dual-purpose triangle tip makes lining and filling easy and effortless
Cons: Not a lot of shades!
Shades: 7
Lip liners are the only thing that can invoke the ultimate overlined pout à la the ’90s supermodel era. (Shout-out to Naomi Campbell!) Thankfully, we don’t necessarily need to be as talented as Kevyn Aucoin (RIP) to draw a perfectly defined liner. E.l.f.’s Love Triangle Lip Filler Liner has a triangle-shaped tip that is a game changer for precision—use the pointy edge for crisp lines or the wider side to fill in your lips. The formula is creamy but not too soft, ensuring it stays where it’s supposed to be without smudging all over. Plus, it’s $4!
Customer review: “I’ve never been excited about any lip liner as I am with Elf’s! It glides on the outline of your lips and is easy to shape your lips with it. I used it to fill in the lines on my lips, and it worked great! It stayed on until I took it off before bed. I used a nude-colored lipstick on top of the liner. I’ve never seen my lips look so full. I’m so happy with this product!”
3. Best Long-Lasting Formula: Revlon Colorstay Lip Liner
REVLON
Colorstay Lip Liner
Pros: Retractable design with a built-in sharpener
Cons: Tube can feel a little loose at times
Shades: 16
The low-key MVP of makeup routines everywhere, lip liners can double as lipstick, fix uneven shapes, or create ombré effects that make your lips look fuller in an instant (or in 10 steps, depending on which wild beauty TikTok you’re watching). True to its name, the Revlon Colorstay Lip Liner is all about its incredible staying power. This retractable liner doesn’t budge, feather, or fade, even during one particular breakfast burrito moment I had the other day. The built-in sharpener is also super handy for keeping your lines nice and precise and, quite frankly, saving time and less mess!
Customer review: “It’s in the name…long wear. It stays on. I like to use it all over as a lip color, too. I’ll line my lips, then smear the color with a lip applicator or my finger. It looks great and is a great price. Love it.”
4. Best for Overlining Lips: Maybelline Lifter Liner Lip Liner Pencil
MAYBELLINE
Lifter Liner Lip Liner Pencil With Hyaluronic Acid
Pros: Formula made of hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil enhances lip volume
Cons: There are a lot of neutrals—shade range could be more diverse
Shades: 10
In the mood to fake lip filler with a little bit of overline? The Maybelline Lifter Lip Liner Pencil is your secret weapon for a full, sculpted pout. Designed to complement the brand’s viral Lifter Gloss, this liner is creamy, pigmented, and long-lasting. The pencil glides on effortlessly, defining your lips with a smooth, velvety finish that stays put through the day. I’m a little obsessed with this one.
Customer review: “The hyaluronic acid makes these lip liners glide on with ease and don’t dry my lips out. I’m in love with the texture and super long-lasting color. I accidentally ordered two of the same shade and I am so glad I did because the color is a perfect pinky-nude shade a little darker than my natural lip color. I will be purchasing other colors in this line.”
5. Best Shade Range: ColourPop Lippie Pencil
Pros: A super-creamy formula that’s easy to blend
Cons: Not as long-lasting as other liners out there
Shades: 32
With an impressive shade lineup (there’s something for everyone, even black lip liner, so I don’t have to use eyeliner like teen me), ColourPop’s Lippie Pencil looks fantastic whether you’re pairing it with lipstick or gloss. It delivers creamy, blendable pigment in just one lil’ swipe, making it ideal for that glossy ’90s vibe or filling in the entirety of your lips when you don’t want to use anything else. The formula is super satisfying and creamy, so your lips always feel comfortable.
Customer review: “I really love this lip pencil. The color is dark enough to show up on dark skin, and it glides on the skin just beautifully; it’s the perfect shade of brown and the best lip pencil I’ve ever encountered. I have four of them.”
