The latest in a long line of 90s revivals has seen lip liner return to the beauty fold.
While it has long been lauded for its ability to add lasting power to lipstick looks, preventing colour from running and feathered edges, it has now firmed its status as a staple part of our makeup bags.
Rachel Hardie, NARS Lead Artist confirms this, “Lipliner really helps to define your shape and create a crisp line”. She adds, “I always start with the cupid’s bow and lower lip to ensure balance. Lip liner gives added dimension to any lip look, whilst ensuring longevity to your lipstick.”
The humble lip liner might be viewed as a Nineties necessity, but it has a lengthy history dating back to the 1920s and has long been used to perfect the pouts of famous faces from Marilyn Monroe to Grace Jones.
Hardie explains, “Lining the lips really helps to create the character or aesthetic you are trying to portray. There are so many different looks to try and have fun with! The 90s-inspired lining is one of my favourites, it reminds me of the trends when I started makeup. Fashion always come back around, the deeper liner paired with the nude gloss has such a nostalgic feel”.
This latter throwback makeup look was popularised by the likes of Naomi Campbell, Aaliyah and Iman and has origins in Latin communities. Born out of necessity due to the lack of shades to cater for black and brown skin tones, it is important to acknowledge the cultural significance when recreating the pairing. The result enhances the lip’s natural curve to appear fuller and plumper.
Also popular among the TikTok creators is the cherub lip that creates a doll-like appearance akin to a Bratz doll (90s babies will get it). Hardie shares, “To create the cherub lip, the shape is integral. The aim is to overline the cupids bow and round out, tapering and underlining the corners. This works well with any colour.”
Overlining is the not-so well-kept secret for a juicy pout – no fillers necessary. The trend is so popular among the makeup community that is has over three million views on TikTok. This is all about achieving the poutiest pout possible and requires the use of liner on top of the cupid’s bow and bottom of the lip before filling in with lippy.
Beloved for its plumping properties, liners come in many formulas and finishes, from those with a barely-there appearance, to the contrast deep liner and gloss. The pigmented crayons are best when creamy and impart good but not too much colour. Nudes and neutrals are classic, while vibrant red, fuchsia and coral offer a stop-in-your-tracks finish to your makeup look.
Shop the best below.
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Best matte lipsticks, from Charlotte Tilbury to NYX
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MAC Lip Pencil
When you ask most makeup professionals about their lip liner of choice, you will probably hear the Mac Lip Pencil come up more than just a few times. This is one of the classic products that was as popular in the 90s as it is in the present day to achieve a juicy pout.
The formula makes it easy to tap into the latest trends with its texture that doesn’t drag or skip so you can get precise in your application. There’s also a wide variety of colours, one of the most expansive ranges on the market.
Buy now £18.00, MAC
Rimmel London Lasting Finish 8Hr Lip Liner
Don’t underestimate the power of drugstore heroes like Rimmel. This liner is soft, super long-lasting both once applied and as a workhorse of your makeup bag but most importantly of all, it offers bang for your buck when you really don’t need to lay out that much to start with. It’s the full package. There are 14 shades, one of which is helpfully known as 90s nude if you’re looking to recreate the latest trends.
Buy now £3.99, Boots
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Pillow Talk
The creator of cult lipstick colour Pillow Talk has unsurprisingly got the lip liner to match. Charlotte Tilbury is offering its signature hue in the same creamy texture of the lip products that you know and love and in a hard-wearing formula. The shade has been designed to suit all skin tones but if you're looking for something on the eye-popping end of the spectrum over the muted hue, look to the Berry, Suede Brown or Warm Scarlet shades.
Buy now £19.00, Charlotte Tilbury
Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra lip pencil
To plump up your pout, legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath and her eponymous collection has got you covered for lipstick that just don’t budge. This is only enhanced by the matching liner where the name ‘Permagel’ perfectly encapsulates the product that follows. It glides on in much the same way a gel would before setting in place and not moving all day and all night. The colourways range from varying tonal shades of browns, pinks and nudes as well as timeless reds.
Buy now £27.00, Selfridges
Kylie Cosmetics Matte Lip Kit
Kylie Jenner set the beauty world alight with the launch of her now legendary lip kits that include a liner and a matte liquid lipstick. While it was once not possible to get in the UK, the youngest of the Kardashian clan has made her collection shoppable at Boots and Selfridges where it’s still the lip products that take centre stage.
Designed to be used in tandem, the liner adds to the long-wearing nature of the lipstick and both have immense colour payoff with just one swipe. Red, plum and coral hues are just a snippet of the ever-growing colourways.
Buy now £28.00, Boots
NYX Professional Make Up Slim Lip Liner Pencil
NYX do many things well but best of all, you can count on the purse-friendly label to deliver when it comes to perfecting your pout. The lipsticks have one of the best staying powers in the game but may be prone to feathering, which is why the lip liner should go hand in hand with any application. These crayons come in Hot Red, Dolly Pink, Nude Beige and Peekaboo Neutral to name but a few.
Buy now £3.60, Boots
Illamasqua Colouring Lip Pencil
Known for its pigmented makeup products, Illamasqua’s Lip Pencil follows suit and has an extended colour selection so you can really get creative with your lip look. The texture is buttery soft as you apply, which makes payoff immediate and then stops any bleeding. You can use this liner to subtly enhance the shape of your pout with the skin tone-matching shades, or draw attention to your lips with the pops of vibrant orange and coral.
Buy now £16.00, lookfantastic
bareMinerals Mineralist Lasting Lip Liner
Following the contour of your lips to create an oversized pout is not always the easiest if you’re not a pro makeup artist but with the creamy nature of this pencil from bareMinerals, it’s just that bit less challenging. The soft texture has a rich colour from the get-go, no overlining the overlining needed. It is also made entirely from natural and sustainably sourced ingredients and there are pink, berry and a red hue to choose from.
Buy now £18.00, bareMinerals
Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0
With just the addition of this one product to your makeup bag, fuller lips will no longer be a pipe dream. The creamy product lines or fills the lips, offering volume, dimension and definition with pout-loving ingredients so there’s no dryness or flaking as part of the story. Once applied, it won’t smudge and has nine hours of wear.
Buy now £17.00, Cult Beauty
r.e.m. beauty At The Borderline lip liner pencil
If you’ve got celebrity beauty line ennui, we understand. It feels like a new brand is launching every other day. However, when a product is good - like this lip liner is - we can’t help but get excited. Ariana Grande’s r.e.m. beauty will allow you to recreate the singer’s signature look, plump pout included. It has a waxy texture that is almost lipstick-like in the way in which it coats the pout but, with the precision tip, works to define the contours in anyway you’d like. Wear alone or paired with a similar or contrast lip hue.
Buy now £17.00, Selfridges
