What To Look for When Shopping for Lip Liner

There are countless lip liners on the market, from splurging options to affordable ones you can pick up at your local pharmacy. If you can't find the best lip liner for you, consider the following:

Time of use: This almost goes without saying, but life is an important consideration when choosing a lip liner. If you want to minimize mid-day touchups, you'll want to look for a lip liner. Look for terms like "waterproof," "dirt-proof," or "transfer-proof" on the label - these formulas tend to provide the most lasting wear and tear.

Shade: To create a classic lip look, you usually need to choose a lip line that is close to the color of the lipstick, or slightly darker (and by that we mean slightly darker) than the lipstick color. At the same time, dark lip liner will provide more contrast, which is ideal if you want a sharper lip shape. If you're not sure which color to choose, or want a lip liner that works with a variety of lip products, you may want a nude lip liner that matches your natural lip color.

Finishing touches: Just like lipstick, lip liner can be finished in a variety of ways. Matte lip liner is very popular because it is usually long-lasting and does a good job of preventing smudges. Matte padding can also help prevent feathers from falling out and bleeding. There are also more satin formulations, creating a softer look than matte formulations that pair well with satin lipsticks, colored lipsticks, and lip glosses.

Wrap Type: Most lip liners look a bit like the classic No. 2 pencil, but that's not the only type of lip liner. If you don't have a pencil sharpener, or are just looking for a lip liner that doesn't require sharpening, you might want to consider buying a curly lip liner. While these lip pens don't need to be sharpened and are easy to touch up at any time, the nibs can become blunt, so they may not draw as precise a line as a standard lip pencil.