The Ultimate Beauty Guide

We’re not here to point fingers, but over the past several years it seems someone has been bad-mouthing a tried and true friend of ours: lip liner. Well, we’re here to put all the rumors to rest. The truth is the notion that lip liner is outdated is well…outdated. Celebrity makeup artist Tiffany Hall-Scarmana is with us on our crusade to this fantastic product’s name. In case you’ve been avoiding this little wonder for your lips, let us fill you in on what you’ve been missing.


Lip liner adds definition to the lips.

Who doesn’t want full, defined lips? Lip liner is the ticket to the perfect cupid’s bow. Hall-Scarmana also finds that “pairing your lip pencil with a lighter, highlight pencil will keep the lip line clean and can create lift and definition to the lip.” (This trick works wonders on thin upper lips.) “Apply the lighter pencil in bow of the lip, right above your lip liner shade to lift and highlight that area. And when gravity takes a toll we start to see the corner of our lips turn down, use the lighter pencil or concealer to highlight those corners creating a lifted and sculpted look.” Try Cargo Reverse Lip Liner or a concealer pencil one shade lighter than your skin, like Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil.

The right application makes a big difference.

For a smooth gliding application and a fluid line, Hall-Scarmana recommends prepping lips with a light lip balm first. Part your lips slightly (this will keep your lips closest to their natural shape) and apply the liner using light, short strokes. Always follow your natural lip shape–overdrawn lips are not a good look. If you start to draw the pencil across your lips and it tugs the skin, then the pencil is too hard. Try sharpening the pencil and warming the point between your thumb and index finger to soften it.

Lip liner prolongs the wear of any lip color.

Applying lip liner before your lipstick or lip gloss helps prevent the color from bleeding or feathering–making it a dream for dark lipstick lovers. Hall-Scarmana suggests using lip liner as a base. Simply lining and filling in your lips with a pencil will give your lip color something to adhere to, thus increasing its staying power. If all that lip liner seems a little daunting, start with a clear lip pencil, like Laura Mercier Lip Pencil in Clear or Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Liner in Clear. Clear pencils do the same job as all the other shades.

Even the lipstick averse can appreciate lip liner.

Lip liner is not just for the red lip loving set. Hall-Scarmana notes, “Even if you’re not a big lip wearer, you can still benefit from lip liner. Pick a nude shade that is close to your natural lip color and lightly trace the natural lip line to define the shape. Buff out the edges into the center of the lip with a brush and layer with a clear gloss.” Hall-Scarmana loves the long wear of L’Oréal Infallible Never Fail Lipliner in Nude. It’s the no muss no fuss solution to a pretty pout.