Lip Contour vs. Lip Liner: What’s the Difference?

Lip contour vs. lip liner: Two essentials in your cosmetic bag that may look the same, but serve two different purposes.

When Hailey Bieber launched her Peptide Lip Shape last year, it sparked intense debate. Some fans loved the subtle, natural definition it provided; others complained about its longevity. Videos began to appear of influencers testing the product on the back of their hand, only to find that it disappeared within seconds. But fans were quick to defend Rhode, insisting that the product was not meant to replace lipliners, but was something new entirely: a lip contour.

A lip contour vs. lip liner shopping guide

Rhode Peptide Lip Shape Contouring Lip Shaper

Image may contain: Marker, Cosmetics, and Lipstick

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner Pencil

If you’re wondering what a lip contour is, you should first know that Hailey may have popularized the term, but the technique isn’t new. Makeup artists have long been using cool-toned contour sticks to define lips for a more subtly sculpted effect. In 2018, Kim Kardashian even demonstrated the method in a video, applying her contour under her lower lip and just above the Cupid’s bow before applying liner and lipstick. Following Rhode’s launch, Bieber explained in a video for Vogue her intention in creating the peptide lip shape, saying, “I wanted to create something that, like a contour for the rest of the face, would help define and shape and provide the same contouring effect, but specifically for the lip area.”

Over time, and despite initial skepticism, lip contours have been making their way into everyone’s makeup bags. Rhode’s aforementioned lip shape and Huda Beauty’s lip contour/lip tint hybrid are already must-haves for influencers and beauty lovers alike. The question is: Can lip contouring become the next must-have in beauty routines? Will it replace the classic lip liner? And more important, what are the differences between the two?

Lip contour vs. lip liner: How do they differ?

Lip contouring began as a technique to subtly simulate fuller lips and was more common among professional makeup artists. Like contouring the face or nose, the aim is to add soft shadows around the mouth, enhancing its shape without making it look like you’re wearing lipliner. It shapes and defines without looking like obvious liner and is perfect for quick touch-ups on the go. At night, it can serve as a prep before lipstick or gloss, softening the look versus a more intense combination. It also avoids that stark, overdone effect.