Finally, I've Found a Lip Liner That Actually Lasts Beyond 1PM

As a beauty editor, I’ve tried more lip liners than I care to admit. From cult classics such as Rimmel's Cappuccino lip liner to the Rhode Lip Shapes, my collection is verging on encyclopaedic. In fact, it's gotten so out of hand that I just had to whittle down my collection to just 20—and it was a tricky edit to make.

But, when I spotted that Refy had recently reformulated its coveted Lip Sculpt lip liners, I swiftly made some room to test them. As a Refy makeup fan, I couldn't wait to get my hands of them. Scroll on for my honest review and swatches of my favourite shades.

Refy Lip Sculpt Review

The Application

These lip liners have a retractable nib (no sharpening here, which is a big win) that is very fine so that you can get a crisp, precise line. Unlike other creamy lip liners I've tried, these don't have much 'playtime' to blend before drying down. As soon as it's on your lips, it's not going anywhere. They are, however, still blendable if you're wanting a diffused effect—I smacked my lips together and found the colour blended in easily before following up with a lip gloss.

On some of the darker shades, I felt like they dragged a little if I went over the colour a second time, however, I experienced this less so with the fairer shades. You can also dial up the intensity by applying more or less pressure to get a subtle contour or a precise line, which is ideal if you're going in with lipstick afterwards. For the purpose of this review, I paired my lip liner with a clear gloss to see how well they lasted.

Refy's original Lip Sculpt featured a sheer matte gloss that you applied over the lip liner to set it into place. However, the newer version contains an improved formula that means you can now skip this step—it's included in the liner.

The Shades

There are nine shades to choose from in total, including neutral pinks, a range of browns and a statement red tone. I put my three favourite shades on rotation, including Rosewood (a neutral pink—my favourite, Suede (a medium brown) and Dusk, a more vibrant pink. Scroll ahead to see how they looked both worn alone and paired with a gloss.

Before Application

Rosewood

Rosewood With Gloss

Suede

Suede With Gloss

Dusk

Dusk With Gloss

The Staying Power

As for the staying power, I was really impressed. Usually, most pencil lip liners will wear off after my morning cup of tea. But Refy's went the distance, even staying put after eating. If I wore it with a gloss, I did notice some colour transfer when I had a glass of water, but as my gloss gradually faded, the liner underneath was still noticeable. I'd probably want to top up a little if I'm going for a more statement moment, but most of the time I could get away without a top-up for hours on end.

The Verdict

Overall, I really love these lip liners. Not only do they come in a chic array of shades, but the lasting power is amongst the best I've experienced—and I've tried a lot of lip liners. I also love the retractable design, which means you never have to worry about sharpening them. You always get a precise line, which is perfect for sculpting and lining the lips. Plus, it means you can easily throw it in your bag for top-ups if needed.

However, there is one downside I experienced which I wouldn't expect from an £18 lip liner. And that is that the lip liner bullet would occasionally fall out—or break—when I opened the liner It only happened with one of the shades I tested, but, there's a possibility that you could end up wasting product. A scan of the customer reviews shows a few have experienced a similar thing, so it's something to consider.

Shop More Shades

How We Tested

I've been road-testing the newly reformulated Refy Lip Sculpt lip liners over the past couple of months. I wore three shades of rotation (Dusk, Suede and Rosewood) daily to see how well they held up, from office days to dinners out. Having previously owned the older formula, I've been able to compare them against the original to see how they fare. I tested them both on their own, and combined with a gloss as a lip combo to see how well they performed.

Why Trust Us

AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.