Even with so many brands and products flooding the makeup space, finding color-inclusive shades can still be an uphill battle—especially for those with deeper skin tones. Sourcing the best lip liner for dark skin is a key example. Often, shade ranges fall short in colors and undertones suitable for more melanated skin tones, leaving shoppers to create magic by mixing and matching to create a custom combo.
While there's more work to be done (!!), a select few brands still have gotten it right. You just have to know what to look for. "Find a rich, creamy texture and a warm undertone," says celebrity makeup artist Sean Harris. "I would advise staying away from anything that has a too cool of an undertone because it will end up making lips look gray." The formula counts too. Celebrity makeup artist Chris Trotman looks for "long-wearing, creamy, and blendable" products to fill his makeup kit in inclusive shades.
Taking both of these aspects into account, Marie Claire tapped various beauty experts to test and share their favorite lip liners that work on their diverse, melanated skin tones. From rich browns to deep berries, here are the best lip liners for dark skin tones.
Best Lip Liners for Dark Skin Tones
- Best Lip Liner for Dark Skin Tones Overall: about-face Matte Fix Lip Pencil
- Best Everyday Lip Liner for Dark Skin Tones: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
- Best Hydrating Lip Liner For Dark Skin Tones: Glossier Lip Line Enhancing Hydrating Longwear Lip Liner Pencil
- Best Sculpting Lip Liner for Dark Skin Tones: Maybelline Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liner
- Best Lip Stain Lip Liner for Dark Skin Tones: Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Stain Liner
Rich, deeply saturated colors are great for darker skin tones. However, that doesn't mean that every lip liner needs to be chocolate brown. This about-face lip liner is plum brown and expertly adds dimension to the lips. Bonus: it's infused with vitamins C and E, along with hyaluronic acid, to keep lips moisturized and hydrated, which is a must when wearing a matte lip product.
Shade: Smoked
What I Love: Long-lasting; Applies smoothly; Extensive shade range; Won’t break the bank
What I Don’t: These pencils use jojoba oil and can get very soft if they get a bit warm, making it easy to smudge if you go in with a heavy hand
Review for MC: "There’s no shame in my game when it comes to admitting how much I love about-face products, and these lip liners are my ultimate go-to. My preferred shade is Smoked, a cool-toned brown that brings depth to my lips against my dark skin. It feels luxurious in the best way, and I rarely need to reapply. This shade is especially great for giving dimension when I wear red lipstick. Bury me with these lip liners; I’ll put it in my will." — Amanda Mitchell, Contributing Beauty Writer
Amanda Mitchell Tests about-face lip liner in shade Smoked
Like any skin color, it's important to factor in undertones when determining which lip liner will work for a darker skin tone. This Hollywood Honey shade is more of a camel brown with red undertones, giving it a nice pink-brown finish that is akin to a natural lip color.
Shade: Hollywood Honey
What I Love: It has a smooth, creamy texture; Longwear
What I Don't: Might smudge
Review for MC: "The creaminess of this liner is unmatched. It glides on so smoothly with zero tugging. I also love the color range. Hollywood Honey is a nice pinky-brown neutral that’s great for everyday wear with a bit of gloss in the center. There’s also a vibrant red for when I want to wear a more prominent lip." — Nykia Spradley, Contributing Beauty Writer
Nykia Spradley wears Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
When it comes to makeup and melanated skin, a good brown lip liner is a staple. For freelance beauty writer Jessica Fields, that staple is Glossier's Bare, a chocolate brown that allows her the versatility to contour, or add volume and emphasis to her lips.
Shade: Bare
What I Love: Long-lasting; Medium to full coverage; Smudge-resistant
What I Don’t: Resharpening for a clean point wasn't the easiest thing to do
Review for MC: "I'll admit I can get picky with brown lip liners, but I was pleasantly surprised when trying Glossier's Bare shade. It's the perfect chocolate brown, whether I'm using it as a contour color or to emphasize the shape of my lips. The formula is comfortable and glides on smoothly without tugging or creating a jagged line, which can get tricky with brown liners, and it stays put for hours despite coffee cups and frequent sips from my water bottle. That said, it's become a staple shade in my makeup bag for my favorite lip combo—a dark brown liner and sheer gloss." — Jessica Fields, Freelance Beauty Writer
Jessica Fields Tests Glossier Lip Liner in Bare
A rich wine shade is an excellent alternative to a brown or black lip liner on darker skin tones, especially when looking for a similar lip color to your natural shade. Both experts recommend picking a liner a shade or two darker than your natural lip color to get a flawless finish.
Shade: Rich Wine
What I Love: Long-lasting; Inexpensive; Retractable
What I Don't: Formula is slightly dry, so it might catch when you try to apply it
Review for MC: “Lip pencils that need sharpening aren’t for me, so I love that this liner has a twist-up feature and that I can retract the product without worrying about it randomly breaking in my makeup bag. The first time I ever wore this liner, it lasted several hours of me drinking and eating greasy food at an event—needless to say, I’ve worn it dozens of times since and have gotten the same results. My only gripe is that the formula isn’t as soft or creamy as I would’ve liked it to be, so blending it out on my lips can take a minute.” — Danielle Jackson, Freelance Beauty Editor-Writer
Danielle Jackson tests Maybelline lip liner in rich wine
Lip stains inherently last a bit longer than liners, which is why this first-of-its-kind Tarte design is the best option for girls on the go. The twist-up top adds a layer of convenience, while the long-wear formula truly doesn't budge throughout the day.
Shades: Brown
What I Love: The tapered tip for easy application
What I Don't: Dries very fast
Review for MC: "I didn’t expect to like this liquid stain format as much as I do. Once I got the hang of it, it became my new favorite. The tapered sharpness of the tip makes it really easy to get a precise outline—the only caveat is that it dries pretty quickly so you have to move fast. The Brown shade is perfect for a neutral lip, but when I go with a darker lip color, I’ll switch to the dark brown for more definition." — Nykia Spradley, Contributing Beauty Writer
Nykia Spradley wears Tarte lip liner
Other Lip Liners for Dark Skin Tones I Love
While a black lip liner might seem like a stark color choice, it can actually be a great option. "MAC’s Caviar is a rich and creamy black liner that looks stunning on deeper skin," says Harris. The deep color is versatile and can add subtle depth or bold dimension, depending on your preference.
Shade: Caviar
What I Love: Nice creamy texture
What I Don’t: Doesn't last as long
Customer Review: "I love this lip pencil. It glides on very smoothly on my lips. It's creamy, [but] the only issue I kind of sort of have is that it's not long wearing. Other than that it's excellent for lip contouring as well." –Nordstrom
Both Trotman and Harris swear by the Makeup Forever Artist Pencil in the shade Limitless Brown, especially for darker skin tones. This rich chocolate brown shade has a matte finish that effortlessly enhances the lips and creates volume. It's a makeup artist staple primarily because of the texture—it never skips or tugs on the lip lines.
Shade: Limitless Brown
What I Love: The rich color; Creamy formula; Doesn't need layers
What I Don’t: Some say the tips breaks easily when sharpening
Customer Review: "The best lip liner for dark/pigmented lips! This color shows up beautifully and is so smooth on the lips. Love this lip liner!" —Sephora
I simply had to include another MAC pick—their shade range is just too good to pass up. Chestnut is one of Harris's favorites for deeper skin tones and a tried-and-true classic among beauty lovers. While this MAC collection has a few darker shades, Chestnut is the most flattering on deeper skin tones with more neutral undertones.
Shade: Chestnut
What I Love: Great pigment; Good for neutral undertones; Makeup artist recommended
What I Don’t: Hard to sharpen
Customer Review: "I got the shade in chestnut and I absolutely love it. Its pigmented but not too creamy where it smidges easily. The only con is that its hard to sharpen but i just ordered the sharpener on the mac website to see if that helps." ––Ulta
It's no surprise that Rihanna is responsible for such a high-quality product. Although this pencil dries in a matte-velvet finish, its creamy texture allows it to glide onto the lips without any pulling. I find it easiest to start overlining around my cupid's bow and just slightly in the center of the bottom lip for the most natural finish. Sometimes, I'll wear this solo without any lipstick.
Shade: Brown'd Out
What I Love: Waterproof; Long-wear
What I Don’t: Not easy to sharpen
Customer Review: "Let me start with the fact that this is the the BEST lip pencil I have used. The formula is pigmented and glides right on which means a lot because I have a dark skin complexion. The only reason I have to give this pencil 4 stars is because of the fact that when sharpening the pencil breaks very easily since it’s not your typical “pencil” texture, which makes the products longevity a very short period." —Sephora
Nothing hits like a red lip. While there are so many of the best red lipsticks to choose from, finding a berry-tinted liner that holds up throughout the day is a bigger feat. "Ride It" is my personal go-to when I need a liner that delivers pigment. My tip: draw a coat on your lips before applying lipstick for longer wear.
Shade: Ride It
What I Love: Longwear; Smooth formula; Easy to apply
What I Don’t: On the pricier side
Customer Review: "I love lip liners that are creamy and glide on easily but I also like drier formulas, like MAC, because they last all day. I find these NARS liners to be the perfect combination of the two. They are smooth and apply super easy but yet they don't budge. I took one star off because even though they are really nice, $24 is pretty expensive for a lip liner." —Sephora
Are you looking for a more natural finish rather than a multi-dimensional bold lip? This extra-creamy lip liner blends so incredibly easily that it resembles an extension of my natural lip color. I take my fingers to diffuse any harsh lines, and I'm good to go.
Shade: Bean
What I Love: Doesn't smudge; Easily applies to lips
What I Don’t: Not super pigmented
Customer Review: "I love this liner! The color is perfectly smooth on my two toned lip. It stays long and feels good wearing." — ISAMAYA Beauty
What Color Lip Liners Are Best for Dark Skin Tones?
Representation still has a long way to go when it comes to an inclusive color range, and finding a great lip liner for darker skin can be tricky. However, there are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping. "Richer and deeper skin tones need lip liners that have proper pigment and tone," says Harris. "I like rich brown and deep chocolate liners in a variety of undertones for darker skin, no matter what lipstick or gloss or lip balm you decide to wear."
Trotman adds, "I would recommend a dark brown lip liner. Dark brown pairs well with almost any lip color, whether it’s a nude, red, or berry shade, making it a versatile staple in any makeup routine."
Should Lip Liner Be Lighter or Darker Than Lip Color?
An ashy-looking lip or a liner that doesn't pair well with your desired lip color is less than ideal. So, as a rule of thumb, Trotman says to choose a liner that is one or two shades darker than your lip color, especially when going for a more defined look. Harris agrees, saying, "It should enhance the lip shape and create a slight contour. Keep in mind the deepness of the liner compared to your lip color will determine the intensity of the look."
How to Apply Lip Liner
Proper lip liner application starts with proper lip prep. "Make sure lips are moisturized and soft before attempting to apply lip liner. Try a lip scrub and then lip balm to prep lips—blot the balm from lips prior to applying liner," says Harris. "After lips are prepped, I recommend starting at the cupid’s bow and working your way to the outer corners—paying attention to symmetry and balance is key. Making sure your lip pencil is sharpened (not too sharp) also helps with precision and application."
Trotman suggests starting at the corners to create dimension. "Once you're done outlining, make sure to take your finger or a brush and blend out the edges for a seamless look," he says.
How We Tested
To create this list, we reached out to the professionals for recommendations. We also tapped four beauty experts with a range of melanated skin tones to test out products and share the ones that worked for them. We evaluated each product on application, pigment, staying power (each lip liner lasts for at least three hours), and its ability to show up on deep skin tones.
Why Trust Marie Claire
Jamie Wilson is a beauty editor and writer with nearly a decade of experience in the beauty industry. She has words in Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Marie Claire, and more, focusing on print and digital features, trend stories, and shopping roundups. She spoke with two makeup artists and reached out to four beauty experts to complete this list of best lip liners for deeper skin tones.
Marie Claire is also a leading beauty expert, having produced content about various makeup trends, popular techniques, and has covered topics ranging from the best matte lipsticks, the best lip balms, and the best lipsticks for deep skin tones. We're constantly scanning and reviewing new makeup launches and keeping a pulse on what's trending.
Meet the Experts
Los Angeles-based makeup artist Sean Harris has developed a fresh aesthetic that continues to impress the industry at large. Sean has cultivated his signature style of beauty through his understanding of the importance of a clean canvas. His immaculate artistry is evident on the faces of celebrities such as Lori Harvey, Laura Harrier, Justine Skye, Gabby Douglas, Lala Anthony, Sierra Capri, and Kristen Noel Crawley to name a few. Sean’s work graces the pages of several magazines such as Vogue Italia, Paper, and Flaunt Magazine, and featured in campaigns such as Adidas, Ivy Park, KNC Beauty, and Bailey’s Irish Cream.
Chris Trotman is a Puerto Rican makeup artist, born and raised in New York City. He has over a decade in the beauty industry, and his most recent work can be seen on The Real Housewives of New York City along with a few major brand campaigns. His work has taken him to red carpets and fashion weeks in New York, Milan, and Paris, but at the core of it all he just love making people feel beautiful. "I love bringing a signature touch that enhances natural beauty while creating stunning, camera-ready moments."
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