Like the rest of us makeup lovers, I’m a sucker for nude lip liners, never leaving the house without my trusty lip pencil in my work bag for those on-the-go touchups. The appeal of the nude lip liner is undeniable – they go with virtually any look and manage to complement every skin tone. Not to mention, a good nude lip liner is the ideal base for any lip combo, whether you’re after a classic office-friendly look, a 90s-inspired glossy lip or if you wanted to diffuse a bold red lipstick for an ombré ensemble .
Lucky for us, lip liners have evolved from drying and chalky variations to creamy formulas that glide on like butter, allowing for maximum precision and seamless application. Plus, there’s plenty of long-lasting options that will easily get you through your 9-5 (Refy Lip Sculpt, we’re looking at you).
As far as shades go, nude lip liners come in a wide variety of colours. You have your neutral browns, your mauvy pinks, and everything in-between. There’s also a plethora of shades that are meant to best compliment your exact skin tone, according to your undertone. So if you’re someone who has a cool undertone, you might want to stick to nude shades that are more on the pink side, whereas warm undertones call for brown tones, and if you’re team neutral – aim for for a balance of both.
Best nude lip liners at a glance – our top picks:
- Best nude lip liner overall: NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Liner Pencil, £4, Boots
- Best 2-in-1 nude lip liner: REFY Lip Sculpt, £18, REFY Beauty
- Best drugstore nude lip liner: Rimmel Lasting Finish 8Hr Lip Liner, £3.99, Boots
- Best hydrating nude lip liner: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner, £21, Charlotte Tilbury
Everyone from professional MUAs, content creators and celebs swear by nude lip liners, and you’d be surprised by just how affordable some of the said options are. Case in point: in one of her ” Strawberry girl” makeup videos on TikTok, Hailey Bieber was seen applying a certain nude lip liner from NYX Cosmetics in shade Nude Truffle, which ICYMI costs just £4 (yes, really).
She was also seen wearing the viral Makeup Forever lip liner in shade Anywhere Caffeine, which is another cult-favourite brown shade that has the TikTok stamp of approval. Speaking of celebrity-adored lip liners, none other than Kylie Jenner (the queen of lipsticks herself) has repeatedly worn the iconic MAC lip pencil in shade Whirl, which is a mauvy nude that compliments all skin tones.
But we get it: given the sheer amount of brands (and shades) available, choosing the perfect nude lip liner can feel a bit intimidating, especially when shopping online. Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you and have rounded up the very best option on the market right now, including cult-favourite classics and viral shades, as well as affordable gems and some of the pricier options if you’re in the mood to splurge. Rest assured, because the GLAMOUR beauty team has already tested hundreds of the said lip liners to see how they perform in terms of longevity and pigment departments. So buckle up, and start bookmarking…
Looking for more lip products? Check out our guides on the best lipsticks, best lip liners, best lip stains and lip tints, as well as the best lip oils, best lip balms and the best nude lipsticks that suit all undertones.
For more makeup, skincare and haircare content from Glamour UK Beauty Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Instagram @deniseprimbet.