There are some makeup products I wear almost every day — like concealer and mascara. Lip liner, however, has never fallen into my can’t-live-without-it camp.
I will go through liner phases in which I’m infatuated with it for a time and layering it beneath all of my glosses and lipsticks. And sometimes — like a mad makeup scientist! — I’ll even mix and match tinted liners to create a completely unique and original shade.
My current favorite liners are the MAC Cremesticks ($15) in Pink Treat (a creamy pink), Summerfruit (a creamy coral) and Honey B. (a creamy, brownish pink).
From left to right: Pink Treat, Summerfruit, Honey B.
They feel like they’re gliding on my lips, never skipping or tugging at the skin, and deliver top-notch hydration, too.
I’m in the middle of one of my pro-lip liner phases at the moment, which I probably owe to the Cremesticks, and I’ve been wearing liner way more often than usual (most days).
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Connie says
July 7th, 2009 at 9:55 pmhardly ever! only if I want very defined lips for a particular look or I want my lip color to last then I’ll apply lip liner on my entire lip as a base
.-= Connie’s last blog post… Review: Stage Drama Lash Amplifying Mascara =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:46 amHi Connie,
I do that with colors that fade quickly!
Catherine says
July 7th, 2009 at 9:56 pmI’m like you – I have periods of must-wear-lipliner and periods of not caring. Right now I’m not even bothering to wear much else but lipbalm every day, but, I’m sure when fall rolls around and I start wearing the vampier colors I’ll whip out the lipliner again. It’s definitely a MUST whenever I pull out MAC Hang Up.
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… I’m Back! Mail! =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:46 amHi Catherine,
True — the lip liner thing does seem to be seasonal. 🙂 What are your favorite ones to wear with Hang Up?
Caitlin says
July 7th, 2009 at 11:54 pmI remember some of the first makeup I ever wore was lip liner, but thank goodness I only wore it around the house. Looking back, it was not a good look. I have a really old Benefit lip liner, “lush,” which doesn’t look half bad layered under MAC’s “High Tea” lipstick. The results aren’t phenomenal, so only when I’m digging through my makeup drawer and feel bad for this lip liner do I use it lol.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:44 amHi Caitlin,
My first attempts at lip liners were a hot mess! It was the 90s, when the thing to do was wear a dark plum color with a frosty lipstick… the pictures from that era are NOT CUTE!
Katherine says
July 8th, 2009 at 12:14 amMy lips are pretty pigmented so I used to just skip wearing liner. Now I use liners almost everyday. I like the look I get when I fill in all of my lips and sometimes even go as far as to contour with a second liner in a darker shade. I love the cremesticks! Pink Treat is one of my favs 🙂
.-= Katherine’s last blog post… Pretty much the only part of the Michael Jackson memorial I… =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:42 amHi Katherine,
Pink Treat is the best! What other Cremesticks do you like?
Karen B says
July 8th, 2009 at 12:41 amFor me hardly ever. Only when I’m wearing an intense dark or red lip (which I don’t do that often). I usually use my red colours to do like a stain and then I don’t need liner 🙂
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:42 amHi Karen B.,
Good point about the stains… plus, they’re much easier to wear than a full on red lip!
marmar says
July 8th, 2009 at 6:06 amGotta be honest.. I never wear lip liner. I made a half-serious attempt a long, long time ago and it ended less than spectacular. I haven’t had major issues with colour smudging or streaking outside my lips.. so I just really never bothered. I’m more of a stain kinda girl in the end anyhow.
.-= marmar’s last blog post… 25 Songs I would Rather Die W/O. =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:41 amHi Marmar,
Yah, it seems like you either are or you aren’t. What lip stains are you liking right now?
Nikki says
July 8th, 2009 at 6:12 amhardly!!!
.-= Nikki’s last blog post… Reader’s Corner: Paul & Joe brows =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:41 amHi Nikki,
Are you more of a gloss girl? It seems like women who wear gloss often skip the lip liner.
Lipstickrules says
July 8th, 2009 at 6:41 amGreat question. I have so many lipliners too and I really should use them. I keep forgetting to. LOL.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:40 amHi Lipstickrules,
Me too! I have to keep them in my line of sight… otherwise I’m like, lip liner what?!?
Kelly G says
July 8th, 2009 at 6:53 amFunny, just yesterday I went through all my make-up and trashed a few dozen lip liners. Apparently, I went through a decade trying to find the best nude-brownish-pink (without-too-much-orange-red-muddiness) and I must not have succeeded because I still don’t have that Perfect Lipliner yet. I have tried them all but none were “just right”. I officially gave up the hunt yesterday when I realized how much money was spent looking for my HG lipliner. Coincidentally, I also have a similar story about nude-brownish-pink glosses, and lipsticks….
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:40 amHi Kelly G,
Le sigh, I think the quest for the perfect nude is a never ending one. 😉
gio says
July 8th, 2009 at 7:27 amHardly ever. I only use liners when I wearing red or very dark lips, which isn’t often.
.-= gio’s last blog post… Looks: Yellow and Purple + Love Ya Award =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:39 amHi Gio,
Yah, I like them for dark lip looks, too. Do you use a matching line, or a nude liner?
Vampy Varnish says
July 8th, 2009 at 8:18 amI was a MAC Spice addict for many, many years. I started wearing more gloss a few years ago though, so I very rarely use lip liner anymore. I always do when I wear lipstick, but that’s only maybe once every week or two and it’s always either a MAC liner or Revlon Nude.
.-= Vampy Varnish’s last blog post… GOSH Nail Polish =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:38 amHi Vampy Varnish,
SPICE! That’s an old school favorite. That’s so 1999 for me… dang, I’m old.
ines says
July 8th, 2009 at 8:51 amonly sometimes… for when i do bold lip looks. i only every buy three colors: NARS jungle red, NARS funny face, bobbi brown pale pink. sometimes i wear pale pink under lip gloss, but that’s about it. it’s mainly for nights when i’m wearing red/fuchsia lipstick or doing stage makeup that needs to stay put.
.-= ines’s last blog post… A Very Belated Lippie Tuesday – Peachy Goodness =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:37 amHi Ines,
How is our boy Cha Cha? Did he go nuts last night?
Meream says
July 8th, 2009 at 8:54 amI don’t have one! Haha. I should buy one, though, and experiment.
.-= Meream’s last blog post… 10 Things You Need for Fast Weight Loss … =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:37 amHi Meream,
You should try one! They do make a difference in terms of wear time.
Nicole15 says
July 8th, 2009 at 10:08 amI use lip liner every single day & always have. For years, starting in high school, all i would wear was Wet n’ Wild liner in #666 and #711. To this day, they are still my go-to faves & at $.99 you can’t beat it. But, i too, have recently become a HUGE MAC cremestick liner fan as well. Right now, the ones I use practically every day are Pink Treat, Gingerroot & Plum Soft. I have plenty of MAC’s other liners, but the cremes are just so much more of a luxury to apply. I LOVE them!
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 1:19 pmHi Nicole15,
I agree. They go on super smoothly, never feather and don’t dry out the lips at all.
I have to get my hands on some Gingerroot!
Jane says
July 8th, 2009 at 10:17 amI always use liner when wearing only gloss.
I love:
MAC spice and dervish
NYX ever and mauve
Jordana rockin rose
WnW 666 brandywine
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 1:18 pmHi Jane,
Good ole’ WNW 666! I love that liner. Have you ever worn it with Clinique Black Honey?
pouneh says
July 8th, 2009 at 11:13 amyey i am not alone in this…most women in my country (Iran) wear lip liner every day and i just never liked it. I believe and good lip product will not bleed anyways. However i do have a red lip liner and only wear it when i want to rock red lips which does not happen that often 🙂
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 1:14 pmHi Pouneh,
Yup, you’re not alone.
What color is your red liner?
A.C. says
July 8th, 2009 at 11:45 amI wear lipliner everyday and have for almost since I began wearing makeup. I usually fill my lips in with it before lipstick and lipgloss. That way when/if my lipstick/gloss wears off I don’t just have lips that are lined with nothing else. My all purpose lip liner is M.A.C. Spice. It goes with everything reds, my favorite pinks, etc…I’m very anxious to try the M.A.C. cremesticks especially Pin Treat and I’ve watched numerous tutorials where Honey B was used.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pmHi A.C.,
The Cremesticks are the best! I prefer them over the pencil liners because I think they’re less drying. If you like Spice you might like Sublime Culture Cremestick liner.
A.C. says
July 8th, 2009 at 11:49 amI wanted to add a recent lip trick that maybe everyone already knows, but it impressed me! Applying white Kohl eyeliner around lips above where you will line them then using a concealer brush to blend into foundation, not only gave me the illusion of larger lips but also kept my lip product from bleeding because of the wax in the eyeliner. You really have to make sure you blend the white pencil into foundation or you’ll have a white ring around you mouth, but other than that it’s a simple inexpensive way to increase your pout and also prevent bleeding.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pmHi A.C.,
Thanks for sharing that tip. I bet it also works wonders when it comes to really defining the cupid’s bow area.
Alison says
July 8th, 2009 at 11:49 amI usually wear a lipliner because my lip line isn’t clearly visible, I am very fair with lot’s of freckles, including around my lip line so in order to define my lips I need to use a liner. My favourite is Chanel pink sugar as my lips are naturally pink and this is the most natural match to them I have found. I team this with either Chanel Rouge Allure in Tender or Chanel Aqualumiere lipstick in Waikiki for a natural look.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 1:10 pmHi Alison,
I know a lot of women who love Waikiki! I don’t have a tube (yet). I always get so distracted by the collections, so I forget to dig into the permanent stuff. 🙂
Kate & Zena says
July 8th, 2009 at 2:08 pmI have three lipliners–clear, a rose nude and a red. I wear them so rarely and it’s mainly when I wear red lips. Lipliners, ich.
Now, if we’re talking about eyeliner, that’s just about every single day.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 4:15 pmHi Kate & Zena,
Yah, it seems like one of those totally optional steps.
I could wear eyeliner every day, too. I go through gel/pencil phases when it comes to liner!
Kajal Couture says
July 8th, 2009 at 2:37 pmI LOVE the cremestick liners. My faves are Sublime Culture, Red Enriched, and Honey B. Instead of lipstick I have starting wearing the cremestick liners with Love Nectar lustreglass on top. Looks beautiful and lasts a long time!
.-= Kajal Couture’s last blog post… Michael Jackson Memorial =-.
Karen says
July 8th, 2009 at 4:14 pmHi Kajal Couture,
What a good idea! I have all of those colors, I hope popping Love Nectar on top looks good on me, too.
Thanks for the idea. 🙂
Kate & Zena says
July 8th, 2009 at 5:04 pmEyeliner wise, it’s goes between my felt-tip liquid liner (L’Oreal Lineur Intense, the stuff is great for clutsy people like me), pencil and, recently, cream (HiP cream eyeliner). It depends how eyeliner-y I’m feeling. I’m really, really, really loving my L’Oreal HiP Cream eyeliner. The stuff is insane.
RetroRiotGrrrl says
July 8th, 2009 at 6:23 pmi only wear it when i wear red lipstick
Meghan says
July 8th, 2009 at 7:51 pmI have 2 lipliners, one is a very old Jane, a pinky-nude color called radish. I can’t bear to throw it away even if I never use it and it’s probably all dried up being @ least 10 years old and all. The other is Urban Decay 24/7 Lip Liner in Ozone. I originally got it to use as a reverse lipliner but I think it gives me tiny blackheads around my lips. So I’m still figuring out what to use it for, since I’m mostly a gloss girl.
.-= Meghan’s last blog post… Nail Polish, blues and greens =-.
lexi says
July 8th, 2009 at 9:15 pmI wear it almost everyday – like I have said many many times MAC’s Whirl and the Cremestick – Creme O’Spice is my sh*t!!! They are both perfect neutrals for my complexion!
Sherry says
July 8th, 2009 at 10:54 pmmy mom and me not good in makeup so sad my mom no longer stay with me. Lipliner I used it if I am going for special occasion like wedding 🙂
.-= Sherry’s last blog post… Your vote counts! =-.
Monica says
July 9th, 2009 at 2:24 amGood question – it made me think why I don’t wear it more often. I use a nude pencil liner, and I usually apply it when I go somewhere else besides work :), or I have more makeup time in the morning.
gio says
July 9th, 2009 at 8:09 amHi Karen,
I use a nude liner. I don’t really consider lip liner a necessity so I just bough a nude from wet n wild. It’s cheap and I can wear with anything.
.-= gio’s last blog post… QOTW: Do you carry a makeup bag in your purse? =-.
Alexandra says
July 9th, 2009 at 8:44 amI have to say i only own one lip liner by clinque, i cant remember the colour its a pinky coral if i remember correctly lol. I tend to fill my lips in with it and wear a clear gloss over the top. I dont really line my lips then put lipstick on. One thing i really hate is when you see women wearing a dark lip liner,and a lighter coloured lipstick.
reagen says
July 10th, 2009 at 12:56 amHi Karen!
I wear lipliner everyday!
Rimmel lip liner in Eastend Snob paired with Mac Angel lipstick.
Very pretty soft pink look:)
you should check it out.
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:51 amHi Reagen,
I’ve heard that Eastend Snob is one of those cult classics. I’ll try to find it. 🙂
Michele says
July 10th, 2009 at 12:31 pmI wear lipliner only whne I am dressed up,
I put it on LAST. over the lipstick; it works better.
I use wet & wild # 666
it only $1.00
Thats all folks,
michele
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 1:23 pmHi Michele,
That’s a cult classic!