The best lip liners for plumping my pout, feat Hailey Bieber's £4 fave (2025)

Every lipstick lover knows just how important a great lip liner is. Think of them like the tyre to a car: without a sturdy liner, you run the risk of your (most likely expensive) lipstick breaking down.

You see, liners work like borders. They are the building blocks that provide the foundation to your lipstick AND the edges that keep it from smudging and smearing all over the place.

The best liners are the ones that draw on a stunning pigment, last well (even when faced with a cheeky afternoon snack), and glide on without tugging. Many are also formulated with conditioning ingredients like vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to stop the formula from flaking. There are SO many that are up for the job, so here's a sneak peek at what's to come:

A lot of people get confused about their purpose because they believe lip liners are only here to do one thing: pout plumping. Believe me when I say that they do have this power – if you want to enhance the size and shape of your lips, grab a lip liner in a shade as close to your lips as possible and draw the line slightly over the edges of your natural lip line. This creates the illusion of fuller lips.

But onto the more functional qualities. Before you apply your lipstick you can use your liner as a base. Not only does this hold your lipstick in place, but it also provides a strong, even-toned pigment to work from, giving the lipstick shade a little boost.

So, lip liner lecture over, what should you be arming yourself with?

There are a LOT to choose from, don't worry, I know. But as a lip liner lover who's always looking to fill her pout, I've tested a silly amount... and I'm here to share! From the cult Charlotte Tilbury Lip Liner in Pillow Talk to the NYX £4 budget buy Mrs Bieber loves (as well as her new rhode Lip Shape), I've rounded up the hardest hitters in the game. Get 'em or regret 'em, guys...

Best lip liners to define and plump...

So I know you know Wonderskin for its viral lip stain, but this 360 Conour Lip Liner deserves just as much spotlight, IMO. It's my current go-to that has earned me *so* many compliments in the Cosmo office. It's buttery, easy to apply, lasts an impressive amount of time and gives me the illusion of bigger lips. I use the shade Nutmeg, a pinky-brown hue, which is the perfect 'my-lips-but-better' hue for daily wear.

Glossier dropped the Lip Line last year, and it has remained an MVP in the Cosmo beauty cupboard since. Smudge, transfer and water-resistant, this creamy formula isn't going anywhere. They're smooth to apply and don't require any skin-tugging. Plus, they come in a variety of nipple-matching shades. What's not to love?

If the budget won't quite allow for a Dior handbag this month (feels) treating yourself to this £26 liner is the perfect compromise – well, not quite but hay ho. Not only is the packaging as classy as you'd expect, but it glides on with a creamy finish and the colour pay off is just 'wow'. There's a gorge array of nude tones in the collection, but I'm obsessed with Rouge Zinnia – a vibrant red – on days when I want to feel a little more, well, Dior.

Love the look of liners but hate how drying they can be on the lips? I feel you. Well, Kosas have solved that conundrum by packing their formula with thirst-quenching hyaluronic acid. No, it won't hydrate your lips as much as your fave lip balm, but the creamy formula means it won't flake throughout the day.

VB Beauty may be famous for its best-selling Kajal Liners (and rightly so, they're *chef's kiss*) but do not sleep on their lip liner offering. These creamy crayons seamlessly glide on so you can blend into your lip to create a blurred effect or to fill in the lip entirely and layer on a lipstick for long-lasting colour. Plus, they come in an array of nudes and chocolate shades that are so Posh Spice.

When it comes to affordable lip liners, you can't get much better than Rimmel. Not only do I love these because of the £3.99 price tag – which also allows me to inevitably lose one without it ruining my day – but they're super creamy, draws on intense pigment in one swipe and I find they last long too, even when up against a cheeky sweet treat or coffee.

I mean it's a bit of a classic really. The NARS Precision Lip Liner is the MVP in *so* many makeup bags, from beauty editors to the professionals. There is a wide choice of shades, not just sticking to the safe nudes but the spectrum branches out to include stunning mauves, punchy reds and vibrant pinks. Yeah, it's on the pricier end but thanks to ingredients like vitamin E, silk powder, and mango seed oil, a little bit glides a long way.

Jamie Genevieve, a.k.a, the brains behind Vieve, knew exactly what she was doing when she made this formula. The buttery formula sticks around so you don't need to keep on applying – my biggest bugbear when it comes to liners – but it's easy to blend when you first apply so you can opt for a softer finish if you fancy.