I Just Asked a Makeup Artist How to Apply Lip Liner—Here’s What I Learned

November 26, 2025 / Swedan Margen /

There’s no doubt that a great lip liner fills many roles in your makeup routine. When applied correctly, it can prolong the wear of your lipstick, make your lips appear fuller and add an extra dimension to a previously flat lip look. It can shape and contour, conceal and even transform a lip colour you previously disliked into your new favourite shade. In my opinion, few makeup products work quite so hard as the humble lip liner, so I’m always a little surprised when people tell me they skip it altogether.

Now, although I say I’m surprised, I can’t say I don’t understand why many choose to neglect lip liner. I get it—tracing and lining is difficult, especially if you’re new to using a liner and unsure how to get the most out of it. So, I thought, why not speak to an expert, makeup artist Amanda Bell, to get her expert tips on just how to apply lip liner like a pro. Here’s what she had to say…

What Are the Benefits of Using a Lip Liner?

“Lip liners are multifaceted,” Bell tells me when I quiz her on the benefits of adding one to your makeup routine. “You can add definition to the natural outline of the lips, you can make the lips appear fuller by overdrawing or accentuating the cupid’s bow or the bow of the lower lip. You can change the nuance of the lipstick with your choice of liner, and you can create a base to improve the longevity of your lip colour by filling in the lips with a liner first.”