I’m a Black woman and these are the lip liners that actually work on my dark skin
Whether you like your lips glossy or matte, lip liners are amongst the top-tier secret weapons to elevate your pout in an instant. However, as many Black skin or dark skinned babes will know, finding a lip liner that actually works on dual coloured lips is genuine agg.
Lip liners play an important role in my makeup routine, so I’ve been hellbent on trying to find the perfect one. As for my fellow dark skin sistah’s, there's clearly a mutual understanding that brands need to do more to create warm toned liners that are long lasting and work hard to blend and define lips for all complexions. But I come here to tell you they do exist.
The secret to a long-lasting lippie. 💋
Liners help to stop lip colour from bleeding, they can help lipstick last longer thanks to their waxy texture, and they can give you the illusion of a plumper pout by maximising depth and definition. I’m personally a ‘lip-liner x balm’ or ‘lip-liner x gloss’ type gurl. At times, I’ll just apply liner on my lips, smack them together to blend and I’m out the door. The only thing that is non-negotiable is the liner itself.
Youtuber @Ohema is undeniably a lip combo connoisseur and as a dark skin woman, she says that “A lip liner according to the Oxford Dictionary is a product that is used to prevent the unwanted spread of lipstick or lipgloss. In my book however, a lip liner is a product that you use to help a seemingly unflattering lip shade look amazing on us, and by ‘us’, I mean on dark skin, okay?”
Now finding the right shade of lip liner is where things get tricky. For a bold lip look, experts suggest you pick a liner in the same shade of the lipstick or slightly darker for extra dimension. While they would suggest you pick a shade darker than your natural lip colour to create a darker shadow, it’s hard to match that to darker lips due to simple the fact that not all brands understand undertones, making many dark liners look muddy or ashy. Then the other issue is when you have a dark top lip and a pink bottom lip. So where do you go?
How to find your shade
Here are seven tips to help you find your perfect lip liner shades:
- Know your undertone: Whether it's warm, cool, or neutral. This will work as a guide so you can select lip liners that harmonise with your natural complexion. Dark skin tones generally have warm undertones, so lip liners with warm undertones like deep reds, rich browns, and earthy tones often work well.
- Choose complementary colours: Consider the lipstick shades you already own and frequently wear. Opt for lip liners that complement those lip colours. For instance, if you love deep berry lipsticks, look for lip liners in similar berry or wine shades to create a seamless blend.
- Avoid light or pale colours: When choosing lip liners, stay away from shades that are too light or pale, as they may appear ashy or mismatched with dark skin. Focus on deep, saturated colours that provide definition and contrast.
- Experiment with versatile shades: Deep chocolate browns, rich plums, and brick reds are versatile lip liner shades that look a dream on various dark skin tones.
- Test Before Buying: If possible, swatch the lip liners on your wrist or back of your hand to see how they appear against your skin tone. This way, you can gauge the true colour and how it complements your complexion before making a purchase.
- Blend and Layer: Don't be afraid to mix and layer lip liner shades to create custom colours that perfectly suit your preferences and lipsticks.
- Consider Lip Primer: If you have naturally pigmented lips, applying a lip primer before the lip liner step can help neutralise your natural lip colour and make that lip liner shade stand out more vividly.
How to apply lip liner well
If you’re opting for lip liner and a smear of lip balm, you can achieve an epic pout simply by applying your lip liner with a relaxed and slightly open mouth. Avoid having your lip taut, as it can leave your line uneven. Make sure your pencil is sharp for more precise application and beginning by contouring just slightly over and around from your cupid's bow.
I like a baby girl, doll-like look so I don’t overline my entire lip line – instead, I take the liner in at the inner corners of the mouth. I also make the liner slightly thicker on the sides of my bottom lip and leave the centre (the lip’s fullest point) clear, to give the illusion of a fuller lip by enhancing the natural pink of my lips. That way I won’t need to add colour.
Ohemaa adds: “There are a lot of lip products that before I started using lip liners, I thought were not products that I could use on myself. Until I actually learned to use lip liner, and this is totally by experiment.”
TikTok content
While people have been discussing the nuances around quiet luxury tok, I have been busy searching high and low for the best perfect lip liners that will elevate my no makeup-makeup days and vigorously testing them all out so you won’t have to. Here are the ones that have got my seal of approval!
For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona
