My favorite part of my makeup routine is—without hesitation—creating a defined lip. I love a nude moment and swear by a neutral brown liner topped off with rosy tints. I have a few workhorse pencils, but lately, it's been the Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil helping me nail that sharp definition and fullness I love so much.
Mario Dedivanovic, the artiste behind many of Kim Kardashian's beauty looks and creator of Makeup by Mario, is essentially the king of contouring, so it's hardly surprising that he added contouring, defining lip liner to his namesake makeup line that's just as good. My fellow Glamour Beauty Awards judges agree; this pencil took home the Best Lip Liner award in 2022.
The lip liner is dual-ended, with one side being a standard pencil and the other a lip brush. You can get really precise with this tool as you brush and blend into the teeniest corners of your lips. I would usually use concealer with a lip brush to clean up any messy edges, but the built-in brush eliminates this step for me. I also really like the fact that liner comes in pencil form, allowing me to regularly sharpen it for precision, unlike the retractable liners in my arsenal, which end up being super blunt after a few uses.
What really seals the deal for me, though, is the texture, which is beyond creamy, and has a matte finish. I'm a full-coverage, matte-formula girl—always have been—but matte liners (and lip products in general) tend to err on the drying side. This one is anything but. From the moment I first applied it, I immediately noticed how smooth and velvety it was; it didn't cause my lips to look cracked as some formulas have in the past. It also has great color payoff, feels hydrating on the lips, and doesn't budge (even underneath a mask). This makes sense: The product is formulated with the brand's “lip-lock technology,” which gives the formula its creamy texture and soft, long wear—no smudging here.
While I like to wear Makeup by Mario’s Cozy Lip Creme along with the lip liner, the lip liner is rich enough to wear on its own or paired with a clear gloss or plumping lip serum on top. My go-to is the Almond shade, which is a light brown that I pair with a rich mauve or rose pink color for definition. When I'm in the mood, I'll top it off with some nude lip gloss in the center of my lips to make my pout the star of my look. No matter what look I go for, though, the result is always natural-looking, long-lasting, and worth wearing every single day.
I've tried only one shade as of now, but given that there are some more intense deep brown, red, and berry tints to explore, I'm keeping my eyes on what to try next. And if you want to give yourself a fuller pout on your own, you can snag the Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil for $22, below.
Looking for more incredible product recommendations? Check out all 264 winners from the 2022 Glamour Beauty Awards.
