It’s not too long ago that Nina Park first amazed us with her soft, blurred pouts—and made it a hallmark of her celebrity glam. It can be said that it returned our gazes to the puckers, and sparked our collective obsession with lip liners all over again. Lip liners may have last been heavily associated with the 2016 matte liquid lip, but it’s taken on more nuance ever since. Instead of merely extending the wear of your favourite lip products, it can also be used to contour and re-shape the lips—no matter the silhouette you’re starting off with. Darker brown shades introduce shadows—a technique first popularised by Chola communities, or first and second generation Mexican minority groups—while softer nudes blot out the parameters of the lips for a subtle plumping effect. Then, there’s the matter of red lips. If you’re rocking a scarlet pout in 2026, make-up artist Ibtisam Almashor recommends layering different tones to create a richer, dimensional lip. A deeper red lip liner, for instance, would accentuate a ruby red lipstick perfectly.
View this post on Instagram
For anyone leaning into the perennial ’90s nostalgia that comes around every so often, the brown lipliner and nude lipstick combo never fails. Elsewhere, glittery lipliners have entered the scene to create true maximalist statements. On our favourite K-pop and Chinese idols, it’s all about overlining the puckers in a strategic way and blending it all to perfection. With the plethora of lipliners to choose from—everything from chubby twist-up pencils to inky stains—there’s plenty to peruse and discover. Below, see Vogue Singapore’s picks of the best lip liners to add to your collection now, alongside some expert tips on how to master the art of a lip combo.
1 / 15
M.A.C Lipglazer Glossy Lip Liner
It might sound counterintuitive for a lip liner to have a glossy finish, but serious shine enthusiasts would immediately understand the appeal of M.A.C’s daring new take on the traditional pencil format. The emollient texture applies evenly without catching onto dry spots, which means it works equally well as a base layer and a finishing touch. Don’t let the creamy consistency fool you, though—past its playtime, it sets down to become budgeproof. Miraculously, it stays put without dulling the shine factor of your chosen lip gloss.
M.A.C Lipglazer Glossy Lip Liner, $42, available at Sephora
2 / 15
Louis Vuitton Beauty LV Crayon
Everybody, say: thank you Dame Pat McGrath. Black tinted pine wood and gold detailing aside, this isn’t a regular pencil—it delivers rich pigment in one luscious stroke. Soft as it is, it lends itself well to feathery traces and precise lines alike. Anyone with chronically dry lips would also be pleased to know that the lightweight formulation still feels nourishing after hours of wear.
Louis Vuitton Beauty LV Crayon, $78, available at Louis Vuitton Beauty
3 / 15
Heart Percent Dote On Mood Lip Pencil
Overlining in 2026 is a skill—and it starts with a creamy, forgiving pencil like this one from Heart Percent. The buttery-smooth formula smooths over lip lines, creating the perfect base for the rest of the lip combo to build on. To achieve the understated pout seen on Chinese social media Douyin or Rednote, make-up artist Geraldine Leow recommends concentrating a darker shade in the middle of the lips and blending outwards with the fingers for a gradient effect. From there, overline the cupid’s bow ever-so-slightly where the philtrum meets the lips, before blurring the line with fingers or a brush—and finish with a gloss overtop for best results.
Heart Percent Dote On Mood Lip Pencil, $15.26, available at Olive Young
4 / 15
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Long Lasting Lip Liner
It doesn’t get any more beginner-friendly than this crowdpleaser. Pigmented and creamy in equal measure, Make Up For Ever’s iconic wooden pencil does anything you want it to: sculpt, blur or lightly define. It’s particularly good for smudged lip looks, but the stretchability of its pigment translates well to the eyes and cheeks too. Take your pick from both matte and shimmer finishes in a plenitude of hues—24 to be exact, including a gold.
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Long Lasting Lip Liner, $38, available at Sephora
5 / 15
Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede™ Sculpting Lip Pencil
If the minimalist packaging is any indication, Makeup by Mario’s lip pencil is an essential for anyone aspiring towards a chic nude lip. The oil-free formulation draws on effortlessly without tugging, but sits resolutely matte to mimic the natural shadows of the lips. Bonus points for the in-built brush, which promises a seamless blend.
Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede™ Sculpting Lip Pencil, $45, available at Sephora
6 / 15
Huda Beauty Lip Contour Stain
You’ve heard of lip stains, but have you heard of a lip liner stain? It’s Huda Beauty’s answer to the perennial problem of having your lip combo fade away throughout the day—except this water-based formula dries down to become truly kissproof. Infused with argan oil, it’ll grip onto the lips comfortably without drying them out. There’s no need to worry about bleeding, either, as the tapered felt tip gets into every nook and cranny cleanly. Work in small sections and blend as you go to achieve a pout that will actually last.
Huda Beauty Lip Contour Stain, $42, available at Sephora
7 / 15
Rom&nd Lip Mate Pencil
While the K-Beauty sector has historically favoured glossy, high-shine pouts, pigment-packed lip pencils are taking over. Rom&nd is one of the labels leading the charge with their super wearable matte variants. Available in 10 super versatile shades, they are described to feel like “fudge spreading on your lips”, and harbours an ideal thickness that allows for seamless blending.
Rom&nd Lip Mate Pencil, $14.33, available at Olive Young
8 / 15
Clio Velvet Lip Pencil
Make-up newbies are sure to adore this classic lip pencil from Clio. Its finely-milled tip delivers on a smooth, sheer wash of colour—of which can be worn layered on for more vibrancy or as a single coat for a more natural effect. The cherry on top: the provided pencil sharpener to ensure optimal colour pay-off.
Clio Velvet Lip Pencil, $14.33, available at Olive Young
9 / 15
Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner
You know you’ve found a keeper when it’s hard to lose the stain it leaves behind. In essence, that’s what this Rare Beauty option gives you. With its range of muted mauves and pleasing fall hues, you could layer on a tint with a similar shade or sparkly gloss and ta-da, that’s soft, everyday glam for you.
Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner , $30, available at Sephora
10 / 15
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
If we’re talking indulgent, then you’ll be wanting your gorgeous, gorgeous pout to be lined by this particular cult favourite. Its velvety, matte texture gives way to a smooth, painless application—it simply glides right on and is ideal for overdrawing or reshaping those lips.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner , $38, available at Sephora
11 / 15
NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil Creamy Long-Lasting Lip Liner
Drugstore gems are often hard to beat and understandably so considering its affordability. What more when it gives you long-lasting coverage and is easy to wield as you please. NYX also has a pretty large range in terms of shade options—with close to 30 to take your pick from.
NYX Professional Makeup Suede Matte Lip Liner, $7, available at LookFantastic
12 / 15
Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Liner
Despite its limited shade range, this is an easy addition to the list because Tarte’s clearly got its priorities right. No lip liner will glide on as easily as you want it to if it’s not sufficiently hydrated, and for that, it’s thrown in some hyaluronic acid to give your pout a much-needed plump.
Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Liner, $42, available at Sephora
13 / 15
Chanel Le Crayon Lèvres Precision Lip-Defining Pencil
Might your lips be in need of some additional pampering, then perhaps this Chanel number will do it for you. As in its name, this longwear pencil will give you a creamy, crayon finish that glides on like a dream—and there’s even inclusions of jojoba seed oil in there to amp up on that hydrating formula. The best part? It comes with a brush on its other end, so you can really blend the contours of your lip line with your lipstick with finesse.
Chanel Le Crayon Lèvres Precision Lip-Defining Pencil, $41, available at Chanel
14 / 15
M.A.C Lip Pencil
Creamy, smooth and a lasting formula that’s in for the long haul. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t whisper sweet nothings about M.A.C’s pencil and considering it’s one that’s been around from the early aughts, it’s certainly the go-to for a sultry, kissable finish. The darker shades—think Chestnut and Cork—are perfect for contouring the lips, while options like Stone and Greige are cool-toned-grunge-approved.
M.A.C Lip Pencil, $42, available at Sephora
15 / 15
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner
Pigmentation is most definitely Anastasia Beverly Hills’s strong suit and it continues to show in its range of 27 shades available for its lip liners. Another plus point? Its thin pencil shape allows for precise application—lending to a polished finish for those looking for a sharper, fuller pout.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner , $37, available at Sephora
