How to Prevent Your Lip Liner from Smudging

Lip liner smudging mid-brunch? Not on our watch. Whether you're crafting a full glam moment or going for that French-girl undone vibe, one thing’s for sure: your lip look deserves to stay snatched all day.

Spoiler alert: With Laura Mercier’s Caviar Perfecting Lip Liner and Caviar Smoothing Matte Lipstick, you can kiss smudging goodbye—literally.

Why Does Lip Liner Smudge Anyway?

Before we fix it, let’s break it down:

• Skipping prep (you wouldn't skip primer for your face, right?)
• Using ultra-slippery balms or glosses as a base
• Low-quality liners that fade faster than your last situationship
• Eating, drinking, and general day-to-day activities

Step-by-Step: How to Keep Your Lip Liner From Smudging All Day

1. Start With Already Smooth Lips!

Exfoliate gently (think lip scrub or warm washcloth) and swipe on a hydrating balm. Give it a second to soak in, then blot off excess.

Pro tip: Paint a little concealer around the outer edge of your lips using a precise concealer brush. This creates a clean base and acts like a barrier to stop feathering.

2. Prime & Line With Precision

Grab your Caviar Perfecting Lip Liner. This velvety, waterproof formula glides on smooth and sets to a matte finish. It’s ultra-pigmented, ultra-precise, and comes with a built-in sharpener (convenience is chic).

Hot tip: Fully fill in your lips with the liner to act as a longwear base. It grips your lipstick and holds it down, rain or shine.

3. Top It With the Caviar Smoothing Matte Lipstick

Here’s where the magic happens. Layer on the Caviar Smoothing Matte Lipstick—it’s weightless, smoothing (bye, fine lines), and won’t budge. Unlike glossy or creamy formulas that tend to migrate throughout the day, matte lipsticks adhere better to both your lips and your lip liner, creating a transfer-resistant seal that holds up through sipping, snacking, and full-on slaying. The color payoff? Unreal. The wear time? Even better.

For the cleanest, most sculpted application, use the Lip Color Brush. Its finely rounded tip and tapered sides give you total control, especially when defining the edges or blending liner into lipstick for a blurred, soft-focus finish. Total precision = no smudge zone.

4. Set the Look (Literally)

For extra insurance, dust a teeny amount of the iconic Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder around the lip area. Use a fluffy brush to tap gently—this sets your concealer barrier and keeps oil at bay.

Not only does this trick prevent smudging, but it also gives your lips a crisp, photo-ready edge. No filters needed. You can even add a little powder onto your lips for even more longwear. 

5. Blot, Layer, Go

If you’re going out-out, do the classic blot-and-layer trick:

• Blot lips with a tissue.
• Add another swipe of Caviar Lipstick.
• Re-line if needed for definition.

No more touch-ups every 20 minutes. With this lip routine, you’re getting high performance, high pigment, and zero smudge drama. Because let’s be honest—your lipstick should work as hard as you do.

Now go flex those lips.