Lip liner, also known as a lip pencil, is a cosmetic product. It is intended to fill in uneven areas on the outer edges of the lips before applying

lipstick Lipstick is a cosmetic product used to apply coloration and texture to lips, often made of wax and oil. Different pigments are used to produce color, and minerals such as silica may be used to provide texture. The use of lipstick dates back ...

to give a more even shape. It is also used to outline the lips, keeping lipstick inside the lip area and preventing it from "bleeding", to suggest the illusion of larger size, or to create a sharper demarcation between lips and skin so that the lips stand out more. Alternatively, lip liner can be used to fill in the entire lip before the application of lipstick; in some cases, it is worn as a lip color on its own. The product is usually sold in a retractable tube or pencil form which can be sharpened. Lip liner is usually available in the same range of colors as lipsticks: e.g., reds, pinks, browns, plums, etc., and the customer is advised to match the liner to lipstick so that its effects appear natural. Lip liner may also be colorless, for giving the illusion of smooth lips without adding or affecting color.

Ingredients

Like lipstick, lip liners are composed of

waxes Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to give ...

, oils, and

pigment A pigment is a colored material that is completely or nearly insoluble in water. In contrast, dyes are typically soluble, at least at some stage in their use. Generally dyes are often organic compounds whereas pigments are often inorganic compo ...

. Compared to lipstick, lip liners are firmer in consistency and more deeply pigmented, making them suitable for drawing on to the lip with precision. For these reasons, lip liners have less oil but more wax and pigment than most lipsticks. A popular wax used in the making of lip liners is Japan wax.J. Cunningham "Color cosmetics" in Chemistry and Technology of the Cosmetics and Toiletries Industry Editors D. F. Williams, Mr W. H. Schmitt. Springer. (Print)

References

{{Cosmetics Cosmetics Lips Makeup

Ingredients

See also

References