Are lip contours all that different from lip liners?&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL's beauty editors weigh in.&nbsp;

When <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/rhode-lip-tint-jelly-bean-salty-tan-lip-balm-strawberry-glaze-hailey-bieber">Hailey Bieber&rsquo;s Rhode Skin</a> launched its Peptide Lip Shape in January, it sparked a fierce beauty debate. Some fans loved the subtle, natural definition it created; others were unimpressed by its staying power, especially after months of anticipation and endless GRWM teasers from Bieber herself. Videos quickly surfaced of influencers swatching the product on the back of their hands, only for it to wipe away in seconds. They also compared it to long-wear liners like Makeup Forever&rsquo;s or <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/charlotte-tilbury-hollywood-contour-wand-review">Charlotte Tilbury&rsquo;s</a> cult favorites. Fans, of course, were quick to defend Rhode, insisting that the product wasn&rsquo;t meant to replace liners at all&mdash;it was something else entirely: a lip contour.&nbsp;
You might&rsquo;ve wondered: what exactly is a lip contour? While Rhode may have put the term in the spotlight, the technique isn&rsquo;t exactly new. In fact, makeup artists have long used cool-toned contour sticks to define lips for a more sculpted effect subtly. Back in 2018, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/kim-kardashian-sheer-bra-feather-robe-paris-jewelry-trial">Kim Kardashian</a> even demonstrated the method in her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb6CKuD1GTk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vogue Beauty Secrets</a> tutorial, swiping her KKW contour (RIP) under her bottom lip and just above her cupid&rsquo;s bow before layering on liner and lipstick.&nbsp;

Hailey Bieber for Rhode Skin. Photography courtesy of Rhode Skin.

Following the Rhode launch, Bieber explained in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FUz6wDI00zI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vogue video</a>: &ldquo;I wanted to create something that, like a contour for the rest of your face, could help with shape and definition and be something that gave the same contour effect&mdash;but for the mouth area specifically.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Still, not everyone is convinced. Some dismiss it as a complete fad. Beauty content creator Hannah Campbell (@theglownarrative) argued in a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@theglownarrative/video/7466226978484473130" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok review</a> that while Rhode&rsquo;s formula is creamy and blendable, &ldquo;Personally, I think [Rhode] is just trying maybe a little too hard to distinguish it from the other lip liners, pencils, and crayons that are out on the market.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Despite the skepticism, lip contours are creeping into makeup bags everywhere. Rhode&rsquo;s Peptide Lip Shape and Huda Beauty&rsquo;s new contour-lip stain hybrid are already mainstays for influencers and beauty obsessives alike. So why is this subtle tweak to lip definition inspiring such strong opinions on extreme opposite ends of the spectrum? And more importantly, could lip contouring be the next staple step in beauty routines?&nbsp;
L&rsquo;OFFICIEL weighs in&mdash;and shares a few standout lip contour picks for anyone curious to try the trend.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Lip Contours vs. Lip Liners: What&rsquo;s the Difference?&nbsp;</h2>

Refy Lip Blur. Photography courtesy of Refy.

Rhode Skin Peptide Lip Shape. Photography Courtesy of Rhode Skin.

Short answer: Lip contours and lip liners aren&rsquo;t the same&mdash;though at first glance, they might look interchangeable.&nbsp;
Lip contours began as a technique to subtly fake fuller lips, more common among professional makeup artists. And Bieber wasn&rsquo;t wrong: much like contouring for the face or nose, they&rsquo;re meant to add soft shadows around the mouth, enhancing shape without screaming &ldquo;lined lips.&rdquo; The result is a blurred, barely-there definition that mimics natural fullness. Now, brands like Rhode and Refy are pushing the technique into its own category, marketing creamy sticks explicitly designed for the task. On minimal-makeup days, they shape and define without looking like obvious liner&mdash;perfect for quick, on-the-go touch-ups. At night, they can double as the prep step before lipstick or gloss, softening the look of a bold lip combo and avoiding that harsh, overdrawn effect.
Lip liners, on the other hand, are all about structure and staying power. They create a sharper outline, prevent lipstick or tinted balms from feathering, and anchor bold colors so they don&rsquo;t smudge or fade. While contours blend into the skin for a shadow effect, liners draw a clear boundary&mdash;making the divide between the two less about packaging and more about finish and intention.
It&rsquo;s easy to see why lip contouring might come off as just another beauty fad or marketing spin. After all, at first glance, the packaging alone makes lip contours nearly indistinguishable from liners. Truthfully, even as a longtime makeup obsessive, I initially used the term quite interchangeably. But after months of reaching for both my trusted lip liners and the newer lip contours, I&rsquo;ve grown to use them for exactly what they&rsquo;re meant to be: one for a natural shadow and shape, the other for crisp definition and staying power. Together, they&rsquo;re less a fad and more a complementary duo. If you&rsquo;re more into natural finishes, you can ditch liners altogether, but if you prefer sharper definition or need long wear, a liner is non-negotiable.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Lip Contours</h2>

Starting off with the very product that sparked the debate: Rhode&rsquo;s Peptide Lip Shape, a creamy lip contour available in 11 shades, ranging from soft neutral pinks to deep cool browns. Despite its buttery, easy-glide texture, the color payoff is surprisingly rich, adding a subtle dimension to the lips. Pro tip: wipe away any excess lip balm or mask before application for the best results.&nbsp;
While it isn&rsquo;t the most long-lasting formula, its wear time improves significantly when applied just beneath and above the lip line rather than directly on the lips themselves. Some shades&mdash;particularly Balance and Stretch&mdash;are versatile enough to double as contour sticks for the nose or eyes on light to medium skin tones, making this multitasker even more helpful than its name suggests.&nbsp;
Rhode Skin Peptide Lip Shape, $24, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/peptide-lip-shape-P517509?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sephora</a>

Rhode Skin Peptide Lip Shape Contouring Lip Shaper. Photography courtesy of Rhode Skin.

Rhode Skin

Refy&rsquo;s Lip Blur, on the other hand, is the matte counterpart to Rhode&rsquo;s Peptide Lip Shape. Available in six shades&mdash;Opal (a light medium pink), Stone (a light beige brown), Umber (a medium brown), Mauve (a medium-deep pink), Berry (a deep wine pink), and Teak (a deep brown)&mdash;the formula is creamy enough to glide on effortlessly, even over dry lips or post-lip balm. The finish leans matte but never feels chalky or dehydrating, and it creates the illusion of fuller, pillowy lips without veering into obvious &ldquo;overlined&rdquo; territory. Fragrance-free and cruelty-free, it&rsquo;s versatile enough to use either as a contour to subtly shape the mouth or as an all-over crayon for a soft-focus, blurred-lip effect.
Refy Lip Blur, $24, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/refy-beauty-lip-blur-liner-P513832?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sephora</a>&nbsp;

Refy Lip Blur Lip Liner. Photography courtesy of Refy.

Refy

Then there&rsquo;s Huda Beauty&rsquo;s Lip Contour Lip Stain, a hybrid formula quickly becoming a staple for lip stain enthusiasts. While opinions on the product are mixed, one thing everyone seems to agree on is its impressive longevity.
Available in eight shades, the formula glides on like a traditional liquid lip stain, delivering bold, vibrant color. What sets it apart as a contour is the dual-ended applicator: the pointed tip allows for both subtle lip contouring and precise lip contouring (depending on the shade you choose), while the flat side covers the rest of the lips, creating a kiss- and transfer-proof finish that lasts all night.
Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain, $25, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P516661" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sephora</a>&nbsp;

Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain. Photography courtesy of Huda Beauty.

Huda Beauty

While marketed as a lip liner, Merit&rsquo;s Signature Lip Sheer wears more like a lip contour-liner hybrid. Translation: it&rsquo;s dual-purpose&mdash;so if you&rsquo;re stuck deciding between the two, this one does both.&nbsp;
The formula comes in eight versatile shades, ranging from soft peach-pink to rich brown, and features a satin-soft, slightly glossy finish that feels far more hydrating than most long-wear lip liners, which can sometimes accentuate dryness. Don&rsquo;t be fooled by campaign imagery: the pigment payoff is more substantial than it looks. Still, if you use a lighter hand (or go for a lighter shade), it can deliver a sheer, blurred wash, making it adaptable to different preferences.&nbsp;
Despite its creamy texture, it sets well and lasts longer than you&rsquo;d expect&mdash;so long as you wipe off your Vaseline or other lip combo prep. Worn as a lip contour, it works best when applied just beneath the lips at a slightly upward angle to create a diffused shadow, similar to Rhode or Refy&rsquo;s versions. As a liner, it performs in the traditional sense: sharpening and defining before you layer on lipstick or gloss (or both). 
Merit Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner, $24, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/signature-lip-sheer-lip-liner-P516006?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sephora</a>&nbsp;

Lip Contours: Beauty’s Most Divisive Debate in 2025

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