Morphe Lip Liner and the Lip Liners Makeup Artists Reach For

Morphe Lip Liner and the Lip Liners Makeup Artists Reach For

A Morphe lip liner is the easy, no-fuss pencil that makes a nude lip look finished. Here it sits with the matte, creamy and long-wear liners I would reach for, from a soft pink nude to a rich berry.

Morphe started in Los Angeles in 2008, founded by Chris and Linda Tawil, and it began with makeup brushes before becoming famous for big eyeshadow palettes that beauty creators loved on YouTube. It has always been a brand for people who like to play with makeup, and its lip pencils follow that thinking: simple, pigmented and easy to use. The Morphe lip liner in this edit is the Signature Lip Pencil in Makeup Talk, a soft nude that works under almost any pink or brown lipstick, or on its own with a clear balm.

The first row is matte lip liners, which give the sharpest line and last the longest. Anastasia Beverly Hills Muted Mauve is a nude taupe beige with a velvety finish. NARS Long Lasting Matte Lip Liner in Ultimate Pleasure is a beige pink that does not skip or tug. HUDA BEAUTY Lip Contour 2.0 in Rusty Pink has a retractable tip. Rosewood Mood is a transfer-proof rosewood nude that lasts about eight hours. ONE/SIZE Lip Snatcher in Make It Known is a waterproof pink nude. MAKEUP BY MARIO Ultra Suede in Toasty is a soft pink brown with a sharpener built in, and TOM FORD Runway Matte Lip Liner in Close-Up is a classic nude.

A quick test: draw a line on the inside of your wrist and rub it gently. A good matte liner stays put and does not smear.

Tear-off flyer collage over a close-up beauty photo, reading Take the liner you need, with Morphe Signature Lip Pencil in Makeup Talk, MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in 90s Pink, Fenty Beauty Trace'd Out Lip Liner in RIRI and MAKEUP BY MARIO Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil in Toasty
Morphe Lip Liner

Matte lip liners

Creamy lip liners for blending

Creamy lip liners are softer and easier to blend, which makes them better for a natural, smudged lip. These are the ones I would reach for most days.

MAC Lip Pencil comes in Whirl, a dirty rose, and Spice, a pink cinnamon shade that has been a favorite since the 90s. Saie Lip Liner 101 in Twist is a mauve nude, and French from the same line is a pink nude, both very easy to blend. Summer Fridays SoftLine in Toffee is a warm brown nude, and Sugar is a soft cool pink. AORA México HÁBLAME in Rosa.05 is a nude pink with vitamins C and E, and Morado.02 is a rich berry for evenings.

Pairing tip: line with a creamy pencil, then press a fingertip along the edge to soften it. Add a gloss on top for a lip that looks full but not drawn on.

What I would skip: a creamy liner as a base for a long night out. It softens with body heat and can move. Use a long-wear liner from the next row for events.

Creamy lip liners

Long-wear liners that stay all night

Long-wear lip liners are the ones to use for weddings, parties and long dinners. They set in place and hold the shape for hours, even under gloss.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in 90s Pink is a warm rosewood pink that is waterproof and transfer-proof. Fenty Beauty Trace'd Out in RIRI is a rose mauve that lasts up to eight hours. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On in OG Backtalk is a mauve nude pink that wears up to sixteen hours. YSL Kiss Shaper in Blushing Nude is a medium mauve that does not smudge. point of view. contour it in Toasted Sugar is a cool mauve nude with a gripping formula. Laka Soft Blur in Dry Rose locks in place about twenty seconds after you apply it. Wonderskin 360 Contour in Blush is a cool rose, and PAT McGRATH LABS Legendary Longwear in Done Undone is a soft nude.

How to use them: work quickly, since these set fast. Line one side, blend, then do the other side before the pencil dries.

What I would skip: a long-wear liner on very dry lips. It can cling to flakes and look patchy. Use a balm an hour before, then blot it off before lining.

Long-wear lip liners

Which liner for which lip

For everyday, a creamy pencil in a shade close to your natural lip color is all you need. For events, switch to a long-wear liner that sets and stays. A matte liner sits in between and is great for a sharp nude lip. Start with the Morphe lip liner in Makeup Talk if you want one pencil that works with almost everything. Keep it sharp, blend the edges and match it to the lipstick or gloss you wear most. A good liner is the quiet tool that makes every lip look a little more polished.