From classic lipsticks to tinted lip balms, there are numerous ways to color and coat your lips. But the best lip crayons should be at the top of your list in 2024. Combining the ease of lipstick with the precision of a liner, lip crayons make coloring your pout an easy task. But of course, not all lip crayons are created equal; just like lipsticks, they come in various textures and formulas. Some are soft and creamy, providing a luscious satin finish, while others are firm and long-wearing for a more matte look. Ahead, two celebrity makeup artists weigh in on everything you need to know about lip crayons—plus, the best products to shop.
Vogue’s Favorite Lip Crayons:
In This Story:
Best Overall: Ilia Lip Sketch Hydrating Lipstick + Lip Liner Crayon
- Why We Love It: “I love this soft, hydrating, and velvety matte formula,” celebrity makeup artist Sean Harris says. “It’s a perfect balance of precision and pigment.” Lip Sketch is available in 12 modern shades—from a deep, blue red to a pinkish mauve—each enriched with a host of hydrating agents from hyaluronic acid to rosehip oil, which keeps lips soft, smooth, and chap-free.
- Key Ingredients: Sea succulent, hyaluronic acid, seaweed extract, rosehip oil
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 12
Best Gloss: Sisley Paris Phyto-Lip Twist
- Why We Love It: As precise as a lip pencil, pigmented as a lipstick, and shiny as a gloss, Sisley’s Phyto-Lip is the versatile formula to know. “The texture is ultra-creamy, and this crayon is twist-up, so no sharpening is required,” Harris notes—giving it his stamp of approval. And, thanks to a hydrating blend of plant-based active ingredients, your lips will remain supple, smooth, and just a tad glossy. Go for shade Litchi for daily wear, or True Red for a night out.
- Key Ingredients: Commipheroline, phytosqualane
- Finish: Glossy
- Shades: 17
Best Nourishing: Clinique Chubby Stick
- Why We Love It: We grew up with Clinique’s chubby stick, but it’s not on this list for nostalgia alone—it’s a classic that’s stood the test of time as one of the most moisturizing and easy-to-use lip products. Harris adds, “This ultra-hydrating formula is more balm-like and gives a soft wash of color on the lips.” Infused with mango and shea butter, it keeps your lips perfectly moisturized for whatever the day has in store.
- Key Ingredients: Mango butter, shea butter
- Finish: Sheer
- Shades: 10
Best Sheer: Laura Mercier Petal Soft Lipstick Crayon
- Why We Love It: If you’re looking for a formula that gives a “sheer kiss of color,” celebrity makeup artist Monika Blunder recommends this lip crayon from Laura Mercier. Available in 20 shades, this creates a nearly undetectable tint with soft, stain-like finish. But don’t worry about it disappearing the second you take a sip of water—it offers up to 12 hours of wear. Plus, it’s infused with nourishing raspberry seed oil and mango butter, making it so comfortable that you’ll likely forget you’re wearing it at all.
- Key Ingredients: Raspberry seed oil, mango butter
- Finish: Sheer matte
- Shades: 10
Best Matte: NARS Powermatte Lip Pencil
- Why We Love It: Don’t let the matte title intimidate you; according to Harris, NARS’s Powermatte boasts a “great creamy-to-matte texture” that delivers a “long-wearing finish.” Blunder is equally impressed by this lip crayon and keeps it in her pro makeup kit, saying, “If you’re looking for a richer pigment, this is the product for you.” The wear feels comfortable on the lips rather than drying them out, across all 13 statement shades from a rose brown and vivid siren red.
- Key Ingredients: Power pigment complex
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 13
Best Cream: Monika Blunder Kissen Lush Lipstick Crayon
- Why We Love It: If you’re not a fan of heavy lipstick, this formula feels airy and soft on the lips, thanks to a blend of jojoba and marula seed oil, along with shea butter and squalene. “I wanted to create a lipstick that feels like your most comfortable jeans,” Blunder says, and we can confirm that it’s easy to wear. Still not convinced? Harris agrees, saying, “This crayon is great for a soft whisper of color with a smooth, buttery finish.”
- Key Ingredients: Orange peel oil, jojoba seed oil, marula seed oil, meadowfoam seed, shea butter, rose flower wax
- Finish: Creamy
- Shades: 9
Best Pigment: Pat McGrath Labs Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil
- Why We Love It: Lush and creamy, this formula “dries down matte for all-day wear,” Harris notes of this Pat McGrath Labs crayon that’s ideal for days when you’re on the go and don’t have time for constant touch-ups. Take your pick of 12 bold pigments: You can go bold with something dramatic like Elson 6, a vibrant cool red, or opt for a more subtle hue like Nude Venus, a neutral coral rose that appears like one’s natural lip color.
- Key Ingredients: N/A
- Finish: Matte
- Shades: 12
What is a lip crayon?
According to Blunder, a lip crayon combines the benefits of lipstick, lip liner, and, if the formula is balmy, even a lip balm. Its angled shape makes it easier to use than traditional lipstick, giving you more control and allowing you to line your lips precisely.
Are lip crayons better than lipstick?
Lip crayons aren’t necessarily better than lipstick; it comes down to personal preference. Blunder prefers a crayon over lipstick, saying, “It feels a bit more modern, fresh, and easier to use.” Lip crayons often contain moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E, making them ideal for those with dry or sensitive lips. “A traditional lipstick is usually more pigmented, so it’s great for someone who wants a bolder lip look,” she adds.
How do you make lip crayons last longer?
Blunder suggests choosing a formula with a matte or satin finish and layering the crayon with a lip liner for extra longevity. Harris, on the other hand, recommends the blotting method: apply a layer of matte lip crayon, gently blot with tissue, and then apply a second layer for the most powerful pigment.
Meet the Experts
- Sean Harris is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Lori Harvey, Lala Anthony, and Laura Harrier.
- Monika Blunder is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty.