Should My Lip Liner Match My Lipstick Shade?
Lip liners can change the shape of your lips, add longevity to your colour, and change the way your lipstick looks. So does it really pay to match liner shades with your lipsticks precisely? Does a neutral tone work with any lipstick? We explore these questions and more.
Finding the Best Match
In fact, it IS quite important to match the shade of your lip liner to your lipstick. The main purpose of lip liner is to add definition to your lip look by creating distinct edges. But does the colour need to be EXACT? Not really!
If you can’t find the exact shade of lip liner to match your lipstick, don’t worry, because you still have a perfectly suitable alternative. Pick up a lip liner that's one to two shades lighter than your lipstick. Just be sure that the products belong to the same colour family—for example, rose liner with a berry lip.
If you only want to buy one lip liner, we recommend you pick a shade that's close to your natural lip colour. When you're not wearing makeup, see if your lips naturally have a rosy, peachy, mauve, or brown undertone. Try to find a neutral lip liner based on your predominant undertone.
Find out which lipstick from M.A.C. Cosmetics is our most popular in our Beauty IQ article Why This Is Our Most Popular Matte Lipstick
Shop for Versatile Colours
While it's awesome to have a lip liner to match each of your lipsticks, it's definitely not essential. If you want to use an existing lip liner for a particular lip colour instead of buying a new one, just stick with neutral and versatile shades when shopping for liners.
If you frequently change up your lip colour, we recommend building a moderate lip-liner wardrobe that you can rely on to suit whatever lipstick you'll be wearing that day. Check out this list of suggested shades:
Nude works with beiges, light browns, pinks, and peaches. Try:
• Gerard Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Nude
• Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil - CONFIG ONLY in Ballet Pink
Chocolate brown works with medium-to-deep browns, maroons, and deep oranges. Try:
• Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil - CONFIG ONLY in Rum Raisin
• Gerard Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Sugar & Spice
Gerard Cosmetics Lip Pencil
The wide variety of shades makes it easy for you to find a liner that flatters your skin tone, elevating your lip look and perfectly complementing both bare and fully made up faces.
Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil
A velvety formula that gives lips natural-looking definition that lasts. Comes with a sharpener to keep the point perfect. This creamy, non-drying lip pencil glides on smoothly and evenly and wears for up to 8 hours without feathering.
Wine red works with bold reds and dark pinks. Try:
• Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil - CONFIG ONLY in Sangria
Plum works with dark shades: plums, browns, and berries. Try:
• Gerard Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Cher
• Jane Iredale Lip Definer in Plum
Jane Iredale Lip Definer
A long lasting creamy lip definer that perfectly lines the lips preventing lipstick bleeding and giving your pout that professional finish!
Consider Reverse Lip Liners
Another benefit of putting on lip liner is that it prevents feathering and boosts the longevity of your lipstick. If your main concern is to shape your lips without any harsh edges, you're going to love reverse lip liners.
A reverse liner still shapes your lips and prevents lipstick from feathering. But you don’t have to match shades, because reverse lip liners are colourless!
Prime, define, and contour - invisibly. Designer Brands Lip Pencil - Invisible perfects the lip before applying your colour, preventing feathering and bleeding
Lip liners are very helpful in so many ways. They can be used to add definition, prevent feathering, create a base for your lipstick, and even serve as a full lip colour as well! Once you learn how to properly choose and use a lip liner, your lip-makeup routine won’t ever be the same again.
