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Lip liner is one of those omnipresent cosmetic items that we always seem to keep on top of our nightstands or occupy prime space within our makeup bags. We already know that it works well as a barrier to protect lipstick from bleeding and that it can also be used as a lip color on its own. But, until recently, we haven’t been persuaded to make lip liner a part of our everyday regimen.Â
We’ve researched the best lip liner styles that you can achieve, we also include tips and tricks, some of the best brands for lip liners, and the benefits of using a lip liner. Let’s dig in!
How To Put on Lip Liner
Lip liner is most commonly used to create a fuller effect on the lips or to give the lipstick a more defined appearance. But you may be asking, ‘how do I put it on?’ Well here’s how to put on liner.
Step one: Exfoliate and Hydrate
Before applying lip liner, make sure your lips are moisturized and free of any dead skin. You won’t obtain a smooth finish otherwise. To keep your lips moisturized, apply lip balm all over them. Brush away dead skin carefully with a gentle toothbrush. After that, dab your lips with tissue paper to remove any dirt and excess balm.
Step two: Laying the Base
It’s now time to add the foundation. To make it seem natural, use a lip liner that is similar in color to your lipstick. Natural tones such as rose pinks or light mocha might be used for daytime wear. Try an edgy color like siren red or scorching pink for the evening.
Step Three: Outline
There are a variety of techniques to shape your lips, but novices should stick to the basics. Begin with your cupid bows, which are located in the center of your upper lip. Slowly and carefully draw an ‘M’ shape just above your natural lip line. Make sure you don’t overdraw!
Now proceed to the lower lip and begin outlining from the center, working your way out to the sides. To obtain the ideal finish, keep your mouth wide open and your lips tightened while sketching.
Step four: Fill It In
Once you’ve completed the outline, use small strokes to fill in the top and lower lip lines. Then, using the same lip liner, fill in the lips. Carry it out with ease.
Once you’ve done this, apply your choice of lipstick or lip gloss.
Neaten up the edges with a q-tip or a tissue.
Tips and Tricks to Applying Lip Liner
When applying liner, it can be a bit tricky as keeping smooth and straight lines is difficult. So we’ve found a few nifty tips and tricks to help you apply lip liner as smooth and neatly as possible.
Using a Nude Color
Use MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Subculture or Stripdown for fast lip definition; both hues have a natural tone and provide the illusion of larger lips. Try to draw a delicate line exactly on the edge of your lips. This will aid in the addition of volume.
Angles
Hold your lip liner at a 45-degree angle and use quick, gentle strokes to apply it. When your lipstick or gloss goes off, you don’t want a sharp line since it will look horrible. Second, if you have to use a strong hand to pull any color out of your pencil, it has dried out and you will need to replace it.
It’s all good and well to apply lip liner, but if it’s not straight, it won’t look as beautiful as it might. Put your chin to your neck and gaze in the mirror when you think you’re finished. You’ll view the upper lip line from a new angle, nearly in three dimensions, which will help you smooth out any edges.
To check the bottom lip line in the mirror, raise your chin to see your neck, then check the bottom lip line in the mirror. It’s a useful trick that I employ on a regular basis.
Lipstick First, Then the Liner
You’ll be able to see precisely where you need to line up. And as your lipstick starts to fade, your liner fades with it. You won’t have a ring around your lips this way.
The Tip of the Liner Pencil
I choose a pencil that is somewhat dull so that it does not produce a harsh line and blends into the lips. You can also have a little more control with a flat tip. To do this, take a tissue, wrap it around the tip and press down. This is an easy, mess-free way to create a flat tip.
Make sure to always wipe off the pencil after each use, this will prevent any build-up from occurring and will allow your pencil to stay clean. If any white film starts to build on your pencil, it’s time to toss it and buy a new one. The white film means that the pencil has expired.
Best Lip Liners
When it comes to buying the perfect lip liner, it seems almost impossible, between finding the right texture, a solid pigment, and the right color. But good thing for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best lip liners according to their textures, pigments, and color.
Revlon ColorStay Lip Liner
This lip liner will make you feel a lot more costly than it is. The pencil’s pointed tip makes it simple to apply precisely and flawlessly. Furthermore, the SoftFlex technology allows the recipe to last all day. If that wasn’t enough, it’s a real bargain.
Our ColorStay Lip liner provides long wearing color and definition, helps lip color last longer, and helps prevent feathering and bleeding. Rich color. Long wearing definition.
L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Matte Lip Liner
Think of it as lip plumper without the tingling or stinging. Add definition, fill up your lips, or select your favorite matte lip liner with ease. The variety of bright to neutral colors allows you to choose the ideal match, and at such a low price, it’s definitely worth a go.
Colour Riche® Matte Lip Liners create definition to give a plumped appearance while enhancing your creamy matte lip color. With our wide range of shades from nudes to bolds, you can find a matte lip liner to pair perfectly with any Colour Riche Matte Lipcolour. 
Victoria Beckham Beauty Lip Definer
This lip liner, which has been dubbed Victoria’s go-to for producing a fuller-looking pout, takes us one step closer to being Posh Spice. The consistency is smooth and creamy, allowing for flawless application with no feathering, skipping, or smearing. It also includes vitamin E, which helps to condition your lips while you’re using it. It’s well worth the money, we promise.
What it is: Lip Definer may be one of Victoria’s favourite products ever—a precise, waterproof pencil to line and define the natural shape of your lips. What it does: The smooth texture allows for tug free, impeccable precision for contoured lips without skipping or feathering. 
Beauty Bakerie Sugar Sticks
This lip liner is infused with castor oil and will keep your lips extremely smooth with no feathering. It’s also highly pigmented, long-lasting, and water-resistant. For on-the-go use, the retractable tip requires no sharpening.
Price: $15
Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
With Pat McGrath’s breakthrough product, you can say goodbye to fading lip liner. This formula avoids feathering, is waterproof, and effortlessly sculpts, tones, and defines thanks to Permagel Technology. It’s really smooth and great for smudging, filling, and diffusing to get the look you want.
The PermaGel Ultra Lip Pencil family, Nude Venus, a wondrously warm beige nude. With its creamy gel formula, this lip pencil glides on smoothly with no skipping, providing longwear and transfer-resistant finish.
Chanel Le Crayon Lèvres Precision Lip Definer
This liner dazzles with its taupey-mauve hue, which is especially flattering on medium skin tones. It’s made with a smooth, delicate glide on-tip. Cotton seeds, jojoba seeds, and vitamin E are included in the creamy composition, which glides on smoothly. It’s simple to keep your lips moisturized and perfectly shaped with this product.
A soft & gentle lip liner Greatly stay-put long-wearing benefit Helps outline & define the desired contour of lips Emphasizes or corrects the shape of the lips with its soft texture Offers a moisturizing & nurturing treat.
Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment
Patrick Ta is nothing short of becoming a famous makeup artist to owning a renowned beauty brand. The Monochrome Moment Precision Lip Crayon is our favorite lip liner from his collection; it’s a creamy lip crayon that goes on smoothly and lasts for hours without smudging. It’s also available in a variety of natural-looking neutral colors.
A creamy lip crayon that glides on with ease and wears for hours on end. Simply click toreveal the product and apply with the precision tip. For a more intense look, fill in the entire lip before applying lip color.
The Best Lip Liner Combinations
Because it functions as a basis for the goods, liners can extend the wear duration of lipstick or gloss. Because the pencil is dense enough to make skin texture match lip texture, it helps to create a new barrier for the lips and enables for a smooth application of lipstick or gloss. So we’ve compiled a list of the best lip combos to make your life easier when shopping for a new color.
Dark Skin Tones
For a dark skin tone, we recommend this combo from NARS: NARS Precision Lip Liner in Deep Mulberry & NARS Lip Gloss in Risky Business
Liner price: $24
Gloss Price: $24
Also, for a dark skin tone we recommend this combo from NYX: NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner in Leon & NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Dubai
Liner price: $4
Lipstick price: $6.50
Medium Skin Tones
For a medium skin tone, we recommend this combo from MAC: MAC Lip Pencil in Cork & MAC Lipglass in C-Thru
Liner price: $18
Gloss price: $18
Also, for a medium skin tone, we recommend this combo from Lime Crime: Lime Crime Velvetines Lip Liner in Fangs & Lime Crime Plushies in Jam
Liner price: $16
Lipstick price: $20
Fair Skin Tones
For a fair skin tone, we recommend this combo from Make Up for Ever & Anastasia Beverly Hills: Make Up for Ever Aqua Lipliner Pencil in Medium Natural Beige & Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Toffee
Liner price: $20
Gloss price: $16
Also, for a fair skin tone, we recommend this combo from Lancome & YSL: Lancome Le Lip Liner in Charme & YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick
Liner price: $27
Lipstick price: $39
How To Choose The Right Lip Liner
Lip liner is quite important. It’s the key to longer-lasting lipstick, color bleeding prevention, and a fuller-looking pout. You may totally transform the contour of your lips, add symmetry, and redefine them with a decent lip liner. But, as always, the issue is, “How do you pick the correct shade of lip liner?”
Finding Your Perfect Nude
Find your perfect nude tone if you’re new to lip liner but have a lot of various lipstick hues. Essentially, this means choosing a lip liner that matches your lips exactly. Examine your lips to see whether they have pink, brown, purple, or red undertones. Use a similar-looking lip liner as a basis for other lipsticks that aren’t too distinct to your natural color.
Going For a Bolder Look
It doesn’t have to be the same shade when it comes to picking a lip liner; it all depends on the style you’re going for. You may go one or two shades darker than your lipstick but still stay in the same color family for a more dramatic, defined, and seductive lip. This leads us to the second point.
Staying In The Same Color Family
If there’s one guideline we recommend following, it’s to use a lip liner that’s in the same color family as your lipstick. If your lipstick has purple undertones, for example, select a lip liner with purple undertones as well. Because a pink liner will clash with red lipstick, you should use a red lip liner instead. The liner and lipstick don’t have to be identical, but they should be in the same color family.
Why Should You Always Use Lip Liner?
Liners help your lipstick stay longer and avoid smearing when used correctly. Here are some reasons why you should include them in your basic cosmetic kit:
Smudging
Lips that are bleeding are a fashion no-no! Again, all you need is a decent lip liner to keep the lipstick from bleeding or smudging.
Fuller Lips
Lip liners may make your lips appear larger and thicker. If you’re going to use a lip liner to create beautiful lips, make sure it’s the same color as your lipstick. You may either use a liner to outline the lips and then fill in with lipstick, or you can use a liner to fill in the lips as well. Hide your lip lines with concealer after application for a stronger appearance. If your lips are thin and uneven, a lip liner can help you create a definition.
Long-lasting Lips
Outline your lips with a liner and then fill it in with lipstick to help them linger longer. On top of that, apply lipstick. Make it a habit, especially if you’re wearing bright colors. An excellent liner not only makes the color stay but also accentuates the real color of your lipstick by acting as a basis for the lipstick to adhere to.
Matte Look
A basic yet attractive matte appearance with a flawless finish may be achieved with just a lip liner. To get a matte effect, just outline and fill your lips with the lip liner.
What Not To Do When Using Lip Liner
When done poorly, lip liner is the one product that makes it clear that you’re wearing makeup. Overdrawn liner looks cheap and harsh, but delicate liner enhances your pout in a variety of beautiful ways, making your lips appear bigger, younger, and more defined. Most importantly, lip liner provides a surface for lip gloss and lipstick to cling to, enhancing staying power and reducing color bleeding. So we found what you shouldn’t do when using a lip liner.
Don’t Overdraw Your Lips
We all want Angelina Jolie’s pillow pout, but leave it to the professionals! Overdrawn lines are the epitome of “trout pout.” Trace your natural lip line, or draw just a little above it for a little more punch, to accentuate, but not overly exaggerated, your pucker.
Don’t Use a Darker Lip Liner Than Your Lipstick
Always use a liner that is one shade darker than your natural lip color, or a shade darker or lighter than your favorite gloss or stick. A neutral, natural liner with a creamy smoothness is your best bet.
Don’t Forget To Blend It Out
Even when using the exact same color as your lipstick, mixing is necessary. Simply take the liner and proceed to fill in your lips, working towards the center of your pout, once you’ve completed the first lip line. Apply lip liner to the outer part of your lips until they are barely coated.
Then rub it out towards the middle of your lips with your finger. Buff the outside but not the inside. The objective is to produce an ombré shade inside the lips while keeping the outer line clean and flawless.
Don’t Use a Heavy Hand
Begin drawing on the lip liner with a continuous motion and tiny strokes, using feather-light pressure. Rep until you’ve completed the whole lip line. Return to the areas that require a bit of extra pigment. Always remember to use tiny, delicate strokes! By the way, starting with a moisturizing lip balm as a primer will assist your lip liner and lipstick slide on more smoothly.
FAQs
Question:Â Is lip liner really necessary?Â
Answer: An excellent liner not only makes the color stay but also accentuates the real color of your lipstick by acting as a basis for the lipstick to adhere to. Lips that are bleeding are a fashion no-no! Again, a decent lip liner is all you’ll need to keep the lipstick from bleeding or smudging.
Question:Â What does clear lip liner do?Â
Answer: Use lipstick as a primer by lining and filling in your lips with it to extend the life of your lipstick. Your lipstick will apply smoothly and stay on throughout the day. You may also use it to draw a line around the outside of your lips, slightly outside the natural lip line.Â
Question:Â How can I choose the right lip liner?Â
Answer: Choose a lip liner that is a shade or two lighter than your lipstick. Just make sure the items are in the same color family, like a rose liner and a berry lip. If you’re only going to buy one lip liner, choose a shade that matches your natural lip color.Â
Lip liner
Lip liners are quite useful in a variety of situations. They may be used to increase definition, prevent feathering, act as a basis for lipstick, and even as a full lip color! Your lip-makeup regimen will never be the same once you learn how to correctly pick and apply a lip liner. Always remember the basics when it comes to picking out the perfect color for your lips.
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