What Is Lip Liner?

Lip liner is a pencil, retractable crayon, or pen used to define, shape, and color the lip border before applying lipstick or gloss. Beyond defining the lip shape, lip liner serves as a base that improves lipstick longevity by providing grip and preventing feathering (color bleeding into fine lines around the mouth). Filling the entire lip with liner before applying lipstick creates a stain-like base that shows through as lipstick fades, maintaining color throughout the day. Matching lip liner to your lipstick shade is the classic approach, but using a universal nude-pink liner works with most shades. Overlining — drawing slightly outside the natural lip line — is a popular technique for creating the appearance of fuller lips when done subtly.