Diamonds are a girl’s best friend? More like lipstick is a girl’s best friend. It’s no secret that a good lip product can change your entire look, from a bold red hue to make a statement to a pretty, soft pink shade to make skin glow. But what’s lipstick without its partner in crime, lip liner? Lip liner not only helps to make the overall look last longer, but it also can make lips look fuller and more defined, making it the perfect lip product for women over 50. While lip liner itself is nothing new, there are new formulas on the market that last through your meals, sweat, long days at the office and more. That’s why we rounded up the best lip liners for women over 50 that will complete any lip look with a single swipe.
What to look for in a lip liner
There’s more that goes into choosing the best lip liner than just picking the color you like best (Although that definitely is important!). There are a few other factors to consider to ensure you’re choosing a liner you can rely on for your lip combo. There’s nothing worse than applying a liner that lasts approximately 10 minutes before fading away; To avoid that, consider these factors.
Look for lip liner that will have longevity
We’ve all used that lipstick or lip gloss that seems to wear off about as quickly as we put it on. It’s so frustrating to feel like you constantly need to reapply it throughout the day, and really, who has time for that? Thankfully, there are long-lasting lip liners that will make it through the day with little to no touch-ups. Make sure you look for labels that specifically say “long-lasting”, “long wear”, “waterproof” or “transfer-proof”. These formulas are all more likely to last than the standard lip liner (that doesn’t include these on the label).
Find a lip liner that’s non-drying
Next, look for lip liners that won’t dry out your lips, or make them feel chalky or cakey. You want a smooth, soft formula that still has some grip to it. Many prefer gel or cream liners because they are nice and smooth, and easily glide onto the pout—but make sure the liner isn’t too smooth that it’s easily wiped off. It should have a bit of grip to it.
Opt for a lip liner that has precision
Lip liners are intended to define your lip shape, make lips appear fuller and add dimension and color to lips. Hence, make sure you choose a lip liner that has a precise applicator. If you have thin/small lips, avoid anything with a thick applicator. A pointed tip is typically best for the most precision. A thinner width is also ideal to get every crevice.
Try a lip liner that will give lips more dimension
As mentioned above, lip liners can help add dimension to lips, which can make them look fuller, similar to how contour can make our face and features look more defined. And just like how with contour we choose a shade a little deeper than our skin tone, the same can be applied to our lip liner. Choosing a shade that’s slightly darker than your preferred lipstick or gloss will create the illusion of fuller lips, adding dimension and shape. Plus, it creates a beautiful contrast and color combo that’s pleasing to the eye.
14 best lip liners for women over 50
Now that you know what to look for in a lip liner, keep reading to see the best lip liners to pair with your favorite lipstick, gloss or lip oil for women over 50.
Best overall lip liner: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
By now, you’ve probably seen the hype over Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk lipstick, the beautiful nude-ish-pink color that seems to look good on everyone. But you might not have tried the brand’s lip liner, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner, which we think deserves just as much hype as their OG Pillow Talk lipstick. It’s waterproof and transfer-proof and claims to last up to six hours (pretty impressive for a lip liner!). This was my absolute favorite out of this list, and I only had to reapply once throughout my 8-hour work day. Even more, its shade range is impressive, with 19 hues to choose from from subtle and natural to bold and daring. Just line lips and top with your favorite lip color!
Best overall lip liner runner-up: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Lip Liner
Talk about long-lasting, it’s hard to beat Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Lip Liner, which claims to have up to 16 hours (!!) of wear. The brand is known for its 24/7 Setting Spray, which always keeps my makeup in place for hours, so it’s no shock their lip liner is just as long-lasting. It glides on smoothly but won’t glide off smoothly.
Best long-lasting lip liner: Pat McGrath Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
Starting off strong, Pat McGrath Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil is a fan-favorite, and for good reason. It’s both waterproof and transfer-proof, and reviewers rave about its staying power. It has over 100 5-star reviews on Sephora, and many say they’ve repurchased multiple times because of how much they love it. Plus, the creamy formula glides on smooth, and even comes with a sharpener.
Best lip liner pencil: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Longwear Lip Liner
We love that Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Longwear Lip Liner has “longwear” in the name—a green flag to look for when choosing the best lip liner—and we think the claim holds true. This one also has a cult following, and users swear by both its longevity and smooth formula, despite it being matte (which can sometimes feel drying). It also gets bonus points for its ultra-precise applicator and pointed tip, which will give you defined lips effortlessly.
Best glide-on lip liner: Sephora Collection Retractable Rouge Gel Lip Liner
For another option with an impressive shade range, turn to Sephora Collection Retractable Rouge Gel Lip Liner. With 18 shades, you’re sure to find a color that you love and pairs perfectly with your lipstick. It’s a creamy, gel formula, meaning it glides on smooth as butter and can help soften the appearance of fine lines. It lasts quite a while, but if you do need to reapply, the retractable applicator makes it easy. Our personal favorite shade is the TikTok-viral Sephora lip liner in “Hot Sauce”. Plus, it’s just $13.
@imgabriellahall this combo >> 💄✨ @Sephora Collection – hot sauce liner @Fenty Beauty – gloss bomb fussy #lipcombo #favlipcombo #currentlipcombo #lipliner #lipgloss #glossbomb #glossylips
Best lip liner duo: Makeup by Mario Mario’s Lip Lift Kit
Everything you need to create the perfect lip look comes with Makeup by Mario Mario’s Lip Lift Kit. It includes a liner and lipstick, which both do an incredible job at making lips look fuller and smoother. The matte finish looks soft and velvety and will blur any fine lines.
Best moisturizing lip liner: Thrive Causemetics Lip Filler Long-Wearing + Plumping Lip Liner
This lip liner, Thrive Causemetics Lip Filler Long-Wearing + Plumping Lip Liner, made our list due to its waterproof, feather-proof and fade-proof properties, and even more, the fact that it actually plumps lips to amp up the fullness. The brand’s Semi-Permanent Micropigment Technology is what helps the color not fade throughout the day, meaning little to no touch-ups. And its plumping effect comes from the formula’s moisturizing meadowfoam seed oil, jojoba oil and shea butter.
Best plumping lip liner: Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Lip Shaper Plumping Lip Liner
For another plumping lip liner option, look no further than Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Lip Shaper Plumping Lip Liner. The brand is known for its lip-plumping line, such as the Lip Injection Extreme Lip Plumper Gloss, which delivers plumper-looking lips quickly after application. I notice fuller lips almost immediately after applying, meaning it works fast. It does have a slight tingle, so if you’re sensitive to these kinds of lip plumpers, it’s probably best to avoid them. But overall, we love how it can amp up thin lips, and that it’s waterproof and long-wearing.
Best feather-proof lip liner: Refy Lip Sculpt Lip Liner and Setter
You definitely won’t have to worry about your lip liner fading or feathering with Refy Lip Sculpt Lip Liner and Setter. Why? It comes with basically what is a setting spray for your lips, in the sense that it’s dual-ended with a precise brush and “setting” formula you swipe on after applying the liner. This “locks” in the formula, helping it to not budge all day or night. We love topping it with Refy Lip Gloss whose cooling metal applicator feels so soothing on. Its one caveat is that it doesn’t have many shade options.
Best precise lip liner: MAC Lip Liner Pencil
MAC is one of the OG’s when it comes to lip products, so it’s not surprising that MAC Lip Liner Pencil made our list of the best lip liners. This applicator is one of the most precise out of the bunch, which is ideal for mature lips that tend to be on the thinner side and may need more precision. Plus, there are more than 30 (!!) shades to choose from, so you’re sure to find your perfect hue.
Best hydrating lip liner: Kosas Hotliner Hyaluronic Acid Contouring Lip Liner
Hydration is key for achieving the look of fuller lips, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with Kosas Hotliner Hyaluronic Acid Contouring Lip Liner. Hyaluronic acid is a superhero ingredient for attracting moisture into skin and lips, and this in turn creates a plumping effect. To make it even better, it comes with a built-in sharpener, as well as a brush, which can easily clean up any mishaps while lining lips.
Best smooth lip liner: Hourglass Shape and Sculpt Lip Liner
Lips will feel truly moisturized with Hourglass Shape and Sculpt Lip Liner, made with nourishing jojoba oil. Reviewers like the fact that it doesn’t “tug” at lips, or in other words, it glides on effortlessly and smoothly. However, it doesn’t have the largest shade range.
Best drugstore lip liner: NYX Line Loud Longwear Lip Liner
For the best drugstore lip liner option, we like NYX Line Loud Longwear Lip Liner, which has one of the widest shade ranges from this list with 24 colors to choose from. It costs less than $10, making it the most affordable on this list. It’s infused with jojoba oil and vitamin E for soft lips and has a creamy formula for smoother application.
Best luxury lip liner: Chanel Le Crayon Levres
