If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission. Learn more about our policies and reviews.
When it comes to finding a new lip product, there are so many different options to choose from, but one tried-and-true option is the lip crayon. A lip crayon gives you the best of both worlds because it provides a bold pop of color with hydrating properties that keep your lips supple. Below, we rounded up some of our favorite lip crayons of 2023 options in a variety of different formulas and colors.
Lip crayons are beneficial in more than one way, and they can act as lipstick, gloss, and balm, all in one product. Some of our favorite products include a cruelty-free option, a sheer crayon, a matte finish option, and so many more.
No matter what type of lip crayon you’re looking for, there are amazing options below that work on all skin types and tones, in a variety of colors, finishes, and ingredients, all of which you will be sure to love!
The Quality Lip Crayon Models of 2024 in Detail
Revlon Balm Stain — Best Overall
This lip crayon is a balm and a stain and it’s formulated with a Triple Butter Complex of shea, coconut, and mango to keep your lips extra moisturized while the pH reacting pigments give you a unique, personalized color stain. The crayon glides on the lips easily and leaves you with a subtle shimmery finish. Plus, the retractable crayon is available in 12 gorgeous shades.
Pros
- No sharpener is required
Cons
- Every color comes out differently because of the pH formula
Burt's Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Matte Lip Crayon — Runner Up
Formulated with Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Kendi Oil, this lip crayon gives you the perfect amount of color and moisture. The crayon comes in 12 different colors ranging in matte to glossy finishes. No sharpener is required for this lightweight crayon which delivers long-lasting color and precise application. Even better, it’s made with 100% natural ingredients, has no added flavor or fragrance, and glides on easily.
Pros
- No added flavor or fragrance
Cons
- It is highly pigmented
Neutrogena Moisturesmooth Color Stick — Honorable Mention
This lip crayon is infused with hydrating ingredients of mango and shea butter which make your lips softer in just three days. No sharpener is needed for this twist-up crayon which glides on seamlessly. The dermatologist-tested crayon comes in 16 gorgeous shades, in a variety of finishes. If you want a sheer, shimmer finish then choose from colors 10-80. For a highly-pigmented creamy finish, choose shades 90-180.
Pros
- Available in 16 shades
Cons
- Needs to be reapplied throughout the day
Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick — Contender
For an all-day lip color that lasts up to eight hours and is completely smudge-proof, this Maybelline crayon is the way to go. The tip of the crayon is super precise, which allows for easy application that creates a perfect look. Even better, it has a built-in sharpener so you can always have a sharp tip on the go. The smudge-resistant weightless lip crayon leaves your lips with a bright pop of color in a gorgeous matte finish.
Pros
- It comes with a built-in sharpener
Cons
- It doesn’t last as long as a liquid lipstick
Honest Beauty Lip Crayon-Lush Sheer — Also Consider
Formulated with coconut oil, murumuru butter, and shea butter, this 100% cruelty-free lip crayon is super hydrating for your lips. It comes in 8 colors and gives you a sheer pop of color that’s not highly pigmented but gives you just the right amount of color. The sheer color makes it easy for you to wear it from day to night, and even better, the lip crayon is made without parabens, phthalates, paraffin, silicones, talc, petrolatum, and mineral oil.
Pros
- It is cruelty-free
Cons
- The color is sheer
Finding Your Next Lip Crayon: A Buyer’s Guide
While lipsticks are always a solid choice, there are other options in the market that you can use in your makeup routine. This guide will cover the basics regarding lip crayons.
What Are Lip Crayons?
Lip crayons are a type of lip product. Much like lipstick, lip crayons are applied directly on the lips, and you apply them in a way similar to how you would color a piece of paper with a crayon. The product’s tip also resembles that of a crayon head, hence the name.
Lip crayons are just one of the many ways you can add color and depth to your lips. There are other products such as lip tints and lip whips, and each of these products has its own advantages and disadvantages. Lip crayons are another type of lip product that you should consider when looking to expand your makeup collection.
The Difference Between Lipstick and Lip Crayons
Lip crayons have a few differences that separate them from traditional lipstick despite both products looking fairly similar. To understand this better, let’s break down the nature of these two lip products.
Lipsticks
Lipstick is, well, lipstick. It’s the classic lip product, and many people default to lipstick when looking for something to add color to their lips. There are many reasons why lipstick is so popular - it’s been around for a while and it’s an iconic symbol in the makeup industry.
Lipstick is characterized by its generally thick nature, and it’s even considered a solid, not a liquid, despite being very easy to apply to your lips. It comes in large, thick sticks that end up in a certain shape as you use the product. This can be useful if you want to comfortably apply lipstick, but you get rid of any precision that you may want for certain looks.
Another thing worth noting is that lipstick can wear off pretty easily. After a meal or having a drink, a bit of lipstick will undoubtedly fade away, and you’ll need to reapply it quite regularly if you want to keep it on your lips. This is why many women carry around lipstick even if they don’t always bring makeup with them.
Lip crayons
The main difference between lip crayons and lipstick is the shape. As it takes the shape of a crayon or pencil, lip crayons are very intuitive, as you’ll feel like you’re using them as a drawing tool rather than some fancy makeup product. This also means that you’ll be able to do things that you normally wouldn’t be able to do with lipstick.
A great example of this is precise application. Lipsticks are thick, and you can’t just “sharpen” them to make them great for applying thin lines of lipstick. Instead, you’ll have to work around the shape of the lipstick or end up overdoing it.
With lip crayons, it’s a different story. You aren’t forced to make large, thick lines across your lips. Instead, you can simply make smaller and thinner lines since the shape of the crayon is much more controlled.
Tips for When You’re Using Lip Crayons
Apply evenly
One problem you may run into when applying lip crayons is the fact that it can take slightly longer to cover the entirety of your lips. This is because lip crayons are, generally, smaller than lipstick in terms of surface area. As such, you may end up applying a bit too much lip crayon on some areas and not enough on other areas.
The key to this is practice. You won’t always get it perfect on your first try, so be sure to practice regularly. Eventually, you’ll find that you can apply the crayon over your lips fairly easily without too much overlap and without leaving unfinished areas.
Try layering
Once you’ve gotten used to lip crayons as a beginner, you can then start trying more advanced techniques. One such technique is layering, or the process of combining multiple tones or colors together. This results in a more complex and more detailed shape for your lips, and it can be perfect for when you really want to make your lips stand out.
Layering does take a while to get used to, but if you do highlighting or bronzing regularly, then layering won’t feel too different. Again, this requires practice, even more so when just getting started with lip crayons, but you’ll get there eventually.
Are Lip Crayons Safe?
There’s always a bit of caution when trying out new makeup products and for good reason. You never know if a product is made with dangerous substances that can harm your skin or, in this case, your lips. However, lip liners are generally safe, and in fact, they can moisturize your lips, so they’re fine to use on your lips.
