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Every beauty lover can remember the very first time they achieved a perfect “nude.” Those of you with dirty minds, knock it off! But beauty lovers, you know what I mean. Whether it was the perfect shade to complement your undertones, the one that gave you a soft faux filler contour, or the one that veered rosy but ultimately looked like your lips but better, everyone remembers the euphoria of discovering their perfect nude lip liner (and how long it took to get there). After this tireless search, you likely sharpened it down to a stub and bought it again, and again, and again.
However, the “perfect” nude lip looks different to everyone because of the kaleidoscope of skin tones they should serve. Beauty content creator Golloria has long taken to social media to critique brands that don’t offer wide enough shade ranges for deeper skin (and platform those that do), with lip liner being one of the products that often can’t step up to the plate. (But don’t worry, we consulted her page for approved recs beforehand.)
All this to say: There is no universal nude lip liner, just a handful of formulas with shade offerings that we prefer more than others. After several years of researching and testing, Who What Wear editors named the top nude lip liners that suit a myriad of skin tones. Keep reading to find your perfect shade.
The 14 Best Nude Lip Liners, at a Glance
Most Versatile: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Anywhere Caffeine
Make Up For Ever
Artist Color Pencil in Anywhere Caffeine
Pros: Doubles as eyeliner and face color, long-wearing, inclusive shade range
Cons: None we can think of
Shades: 21
Celebrities (Hailey Bieber! J.Lo!), makeup artists, and editors alike have long fawned over this versatile, malleable, and altogether perfect liner for everything from plump, overlined lips to defined eyes and brows. Why, you may ask? Because of the multi-tasking formula that works safely on it all (except for Dramatic Plum, a deep burgundy hue which cannot be used on the eyes. Reds are hard to formulate safely for them!). However, I personally prefer the viral hue Anywhere Caffeine for my perfect nude lip. Described as a “warm caramel nude,” this shade fits a wide range of skin tones and acts as a gorgeous base for whatever lipsticks (or extra liners!) you want to layer on top. For a cohesive look, I’ll also swipe this liner across my lids for a wash of bronzy color, and I can even scribble it into my cheekbones for a bit of warm definition.
Customer review: “The formula is super creamy and glides on effortlessly without tugging, but once it sets, it does NOT move. It’s truly smudge-proof and transfer-resistant, which makes it perfect for long days or events. The pigmentation is intense—you get full color in just one swipe—and I love that it gives a soft matte finish without drying out my lips. It also works beautifully as a base under lipstick or even on its own for a more natural, blurred look.”
Brascia wearing the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Anywhere Caffeine
Best for Fair Skin: M.ph The Overliner Lip Liner Pencil in Skinny Dip
M.ph
The Overliner Lip Liner Pencil in Skinny Dip
Pros: Infused with skincare, long-wearing, great for overlining
Cons: Shade range could be expanded to include deeper hues
Shades: 8
Senior editor Allyson Payer was quick to call out M.ph’s lip liner, created by celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips, as her favorite hue for nude lip combos. Her hue of choice is Skinny Dip, a cool-toned nude lip liner that skews more beige than rosy, which is perfect for lining (and overlining, as the name suggests) fair lips and skin. Plus, the formula is infused with vitamin E and nourishing peptides for an extra bit of skincare.
Customer review: “This is the first lipliner I’ve found to near perfectly match my natural lip color. It wears beautifully and stays put, I only had to touch it up once during the day!”
Payer wearing the M.ph The Overliner Lip Liner Pencil in Skinny Dip
Best for Light Skin: Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil in Dmitry
Makeup by Mario
Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil in Dmitry
Pros: Long-wearing formula, easy to blend, flattering on a variety of skin tones and undertones
Cons: Cap tends to pop off every once in a while
Shades: 20
If your skin tone falls between fair and light like mine, you’ll find a true neutral hue in Makeup by Mario’s Sculpting Lip Pencil in the beige shade Dmitry. (However, it also works fabulously as a lighter nude on deeper skin.) Makeup by Mario’s lip pencils glide on with creamy ease while ensuring long-lasting results, and I especially love the attached blending brush on the opposite end for blurring harsh lines.
Customer review: “I absolutely love these lip liners! Great shade range and performance! I went from zero to five shades in a week! Just as good as Make Up For Ever, but you get the little brush on the end and a decent sharpener. Love!”
Brascia wearing the Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil in Dmitry
Best for Medium Skin: Glossier Lip Line in Buff
Glossier
Lip Line in Buff
Pros: Universally flattering nude, shade range inspired by real skin tones, long-wearing
Cons: Some shoppers complain that the tip is hard to sharpen
Shades: 9
WWW associate beauty editor Sabrina Talbert named Glossier’s Lip Line in the caramel shade Buff as her go-to nude lip liner. “It’s one of the closest I’ve gotten to my natural color,” she says of the hue, described as “toasted almond” by the brand. Each shade is matched to a nipple color—in line with the old wives’ tale that your best lip shade is the color of yours—to offer a selection of true “nudes” that complement actual skin tones.
Customer review: “Love Glossier products, but I never tried [the] lip pencil. This is fantastic: it’s my perfect lip contour color, not too pink, not too brown. It’s soft but persistent and it smooths perfectly. I think I’ll buy other colors in the future.”
Talbert wearing Glossier Lip Line in Buff
Best for Deep Skin: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Dimensional Dark Brown
Make Up For Ever
Artist Color Pencil in Dimensional Dark Brown
Pros: Wide shade range, versatile usage, creamy glide
Cons: None, TBH
Shades: 21
Golloria has named a few lip liners as personal favorites in the past (including this Summer Fridays’ SoftLine Lip Liner in Espresso), but her most recent endorsement is of Make Up For Ever’s Artist Color Pencil in Dimensional Dark Brown. A deeper shade of our “most versatile” pick, this liner continues to prove that it not only works on a textural and formula basis, but delivers on shade range inclusivity as well. She used this deep, neutral brown hue to carve a natural nude lip and enhance the contours of her pout, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this dreamy color since seeing this video.
Customer review: “I really love this lip liner! The formula is smooth and glides on effortlessly without tugging. It’s super pigmented, so you get great color payoff right away. It defines the lips beautifully and helps my lipstick stay in place much longer. It also feels comfortable and not drying throughout the day. Such a reliable lip liner!”
Best Stain: Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain in Warm Brown
Huda Beauty
Lip Contour Lip Stain in Warm Brown
Pros: Long-wearing, buildable pigmentation, transfer-proof for 12 hours
Cons: On the pricey side, may require some practice
Shades: 8
If you’re looking for something a bit more long-lasting (and still in the nude lip family), WWW fashion editor Sierra Mayhew recommends the Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain in Warm Brown. With its svelte felt tip applicator and sheer, yet buildable formula, Mayhew lauds how easy it is to use and how well it complements her skin tone. “It’s so pretty and it lasts all day—sometimes into the next day,” she tells me. Adding to cart!
Customer review: “This product has been my favorite when it comes to lip liner stains. It’s actually long-lasting and all the colors are super nice. I would definitely buy it again.”
Mayhew wearing the Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain in Warm Brown
Best Budget: NYX Slim Pencil Lip Liner in Nude Beige
NYX Professional Makeup
Slim Lip Pencil Lip Liner in Nude Beige
Pros: Low-priced, smooth application, MUA-approved
Cons: Some shoppers lament over the non-creamy application
Shades: 30
Many makeup artists swear that drugstore products can compete with spendy luxury picks, and celebrity MUA Mical Klip personally recommends this budget-friendly option from NYX. “[It] gets a lot of play in my kit,” they previously told Who What Wear. The silky-soft formula glides like a dream and offers a variety of nude hues for several skin tones, including this cool-toned shade named Nude Beige. Oh, and did I mention it’s just $6?
Customer review: “I love the color! The only thing I wish that this product would do more of is glide. I wish it was a smoother glide during application. Other than that it is a wonderful product and I would still buy it!”
Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Blurfiller Blurring Lip Contour in Nude Espresso
L’Oréal
Blurfiller Blurring Lip Contour in Nude Espresso
Pros: Easy to blend, offers the illusion of a plumper pout, great color payoff
Cons: Not as long-lasting as some others
Shades: 8
Nina Park lips—aka, the blurred-lip look that’s become a signature in the celebrity makeup artist’s work—has taken the internet by storm. Luckily, L’Oréal Blurfiller is the $13 answer to our high-glam prayers, and a handful of these shades make for gorgeous neutral-lip picks. The soft formula and rounded tip immediately make for softer lines and easy-to-blend pouts, making this an instant staple.
Customer review: “Finally a Lip pencil that I actually use. I’ve tried so many colors and brands. This is truly one I love and will buy again.”
Best Bridal: Tower 28 OneLiner Lip Liner in Work of Art
Tower 28
OneLiner Lip Liner in Work of Art
Pros: Blendable formula, skin-flattering shade, suitable for eyes, lips, and cheeks
Cons: We wish there were more shades
Shades: 6
Senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider swears by this multitasking liner from Tower 28 so much that she wore it on her wedding day—and then her makeup artist purchased it right in front of her. She prefers this her-lips-but-better shade for its natural look and feel, velvety glide, and long-lasting wear time. Plus, you can also use it on your eyes and cheeks for an extra swipe of color. Even Billie Eilish trusted it for her tour glam—that’s how you know it’s good.
Customer review: “Work of Art is a very natural color that works well with a lot of my lipsticks. It is a nice slightly dark liner for light complexions. It also stays put even after I eat (big deal!).”
Schneider wearing the Tower 28 OneLiner Lip Liner in Work of Art
Best Blurring: Rhode Peptide Lip Shape in Twist
Rhode
Peptide Lip Shape in Twist
Pros: Wide variety of skin tone-friendly shades, creamy glide, naturally contours lips
Cons: Some shoppers lament that it’s not longer-wearing
Shades: 11
We can’t talk about the best lip liners in any category without mentioning Rhode’s Peptide Lip Shapes. Not only does this “lip contouring” cream pencil offer the sensually smudged Nina Park lip we mentioned earlier, but it comes in a stunning array of shades that service all skin tones. From ultra-light pink tones for fair skin to cool, contouring lip hues for deep skin, this stick can do it all.
Customer review: “I went back and forth on this for a while because of the mixed reviews, but I’m really glad I finally gave it a shot. It’s not a traditional lip liner, and once I stopped expecting that, I liked it a lot more. It glides on super smoothly and gives a really soft, natural fullness without looking harsh. The blending tip on the other end is actually really handy too. It doesn’t last all day, but I’m honestly okay with that—I don’t think it’s meant to be a long-wear product, and it fades nicely. Overall it just makes my lips look a bit better without trying too hard.”
McLintock wearing the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape
Best Contouring: Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Lip Cheat
Charlotte Tilbury
Super Nudes Lip Cheat Contour Duo Lip Liner
Pros: Long-lasting formula, two shades in one, enhances fullness of lips
Cons: Pricey for a lip liner
Shades: 4
Okay, yes, we’ve discussed a few lip liner formulas that work well for lip contouring—but I personally recommend the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheats for long-lasting, sculpted lips. The pencil comes with two different shades on both ends, offering a deeper shade for contouring (or regular lip-lining, if you want to match your skin tone and focus on highlighting versus contouring) and a lighter shade for regular lining (or highlighting). With two shade options in each purchase, the pencils work on a variety of skin tones and require little product to achieve a pigmented, defined pout.
Customer review: “Two in one, brilliant. Shades are beautiful and compliment each other perfectly. Doesn’t fade quickly or dry out my lips. Great to travel with.”
Brascia wearing the Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Lip Cheat
Best Warm: Rare Beauty Kind Words Lip Liner in Wise
Rare Beauty
Kind Words Lip Liner in Wise
Pros: Rich bronzy hue, comfortable texture, creamy application
Cons: None I can think of
Shades: 9
Many nude lip liners run warm due to living in the caramel and brown side of the color spectrum, but editors have called out this lip liner from Rare Beauty in the past for its stunning warm nude hue “Wise” that works on a variety of skin tones. The rich hue offers a touch of bronzy warmth to any look and layers well with other products. Plus, it’s under $20.
Customer review: “I first tried this lip liner when I purchased a Sephora favorites bundle. I love the color: so universal and goes on smooth. My daughter even got herself one. I’ve repurchased several times now. One of my faves!”
Best Cool: MAC Cosmetics Creamy Lip Liner in Greige
MAC Cosmetics
Lip Pencil Creamy Lip Liner in Greige
Pros: Long-lasting wear, wide color range, great for contouring
Cons: May not work on all undertones
Shades: 28
The “best” nude lip liner will look different to anyone, and for some people, that means a cool-toned liner. In an era where gray-toned makeup is en vogue, there’s never been a time to try a lippie with blue or gray undertones, and the shade Greige from MAC is a noteworthy pick. (I also recommend Root For Me for a cool option for deeper skin.) Cool-toned liners are also great for realistic lip contouring, which works as a base for your nude lip combo if you don’t want to go entirely gray.
Customer review: “Great color for me under taupe-y browns or for doing a neutral lip line since everything pulls orange on me. Would love if they made a similar shade but deeper. It’s just a touch light compared to my lip color. Good texture.”
Brascia wearing the MAC Cosmetics Lip Liner in Greige
Best Hydrating: Fara Homidi Smudge & Contour Lip Pencil in Faun
Fara Homidi
Smudge & Contour Lip Pencil in Faun
Pros: Comfortable formula, packed with skincare, long-lasting wear
Cons: Very pricey
Shades: 8
Payer and associate shopping editor Audry Hiaoui both recommend this hydrating formula from Fara Homidi as their go-to nude lip liners. As with many of our other recommendations, the object of this pencil is not perfection, but rather a natural-looking blur. The shades Faun, Bruni, and Minky make lovely nude shades for a variety of different skin tones, and they’re especially beloved for their nourishing formulas—infused with sunflower seed oil, vitamin E, and squalane—and simultaneously long-lasting wear times. (You don’t usually get both, but this is the magical exception.)
Customer review: “This lip liner is so gorgeous and pigmented! I love how it blends so easily and shows up very well! A little goes a long way and [does] not dry on the lips at all. I also love how it comes with a little sharpener on the top. Very convenient.”
Payer wearing the Fara Homidi Smudge & Contour Lip Pencil in Faun
What to Look For in a Nude Lip Liner
- Skin tone: The most important quality to consider when choosing your perfect nude liner is your skin tone (including your undertones). Whether you lean cool, warm, neutral, or fall anywhere between fair and very deep, there is a lip liner on the market that will suit your specific combination of hues. Yes, it may be a makeup myth, but they do say your nipple color is the best reference for your perfect shade—but if all else fails, choose a shade that is 2-3 shades darker than your skin tone to find the perfect fit.
- Texture: A lip liner formula can tote lots of accolades, but the one thing that matters most (outside of color) is how it feels on the skin. The best ones won’t tug while you apply them—they’ll instead glide on with ease—and they’ll feel comfortable, maybe even hydrating, on your lips. Nowadays, many are infused with skincare ingredients (hi, Fara Homidi) while others are soft and buttery on the skin (Rhode Lip Shape!), emphasizing the importance of experience and not just a good shade match. In short, they should feel just as good as they look.
How We Tested
WWW editors found the best nude lip liners by testing dozens of new launches, shades, and formulas over the last several years and ranking which have given us the best matches tonally and texturally. From there, we cross-referenced our findings with those that celebrity makeup artists have recommended and researched which kinds are used for everything from red carpets to wedding days. In the end, we came up with these 14 sticks and tubes that impressed us on all fronts.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we’d truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
