You swipe on a bold lipstick in the car, no mirror, and it ends up outside the lines. A lip crayon fixes that. It's a fat, twist-up stick that fills and outlines in one go, so you don't need a liner, a brush or a steady hand. Here are the 5 best lip crayons in 2026, from drugstore balms to a department-store favorite.

We didn't personally test these. We read the listings and the reviews, then ranked them by star rating and number of reviews. Heads up: several of these are "balm crayons," which give sheer to medium color and feel like lip balm. If you want a full matte lipstick, see our guide to the best mauve lipsticks instead.

What to Look For in a Lip Crayon

Finish. Balm crayons feel comfortable and look sheer or satin. Matte and demi-matte crayons give more color and last longer, but they can feel drier. Pick based on your lips, not just the shade.

Twist-up or pencil. A twist-up needs no sharpener and the thick tip fills in the whole lip quickly. A skinny pencil gives a sharper line but takes longer.

Ingredients. If your lips get dry, look for shea butter, jojoba oil or sunflower butter near the top of the list. If you're sensitive to scent, check for "no added fragrance."

Shade range. Some crayons have only a handful of colors and others have a dozen or more. Look at swatches on skin close to your own tone, not just on the tube.

Staying power. Crayons generally need a touch-up after eating or drinking. Blotting once and applying a second thin layer helps them last longer.

The 5 Best Lip Crayons in 2026

1. Julep It's Balm Creamy Tinted Lip Balm (Cherry Wood)

Best for: dry lips and everyday color that feels like lip balm.

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This is a twist-up tinted balm that goes on creamy and comfortable. The Cherry Wood shade is a rich brown-berry, and the line comes in a wide spread of berries, nudes and pinks. It's the one we'd pick if your main complaint with lip color is dryness.

What makes it stand out: More than 15,000 reviews, the most in this list by a wide margin, at 4.2 stars. It has sunflower butter and a vitamin E core, and it builds from sheer to more color with layers.

Good to know: It's a balm first, so it fades and needs more touch-ups than a matte crayon. Some reviewers say the shade looks different on the lips than in the tube.

2. Revlon Matte Balm Lip Crayon

Best for: drugstore shoppers who want a creamy, matte-ish color for under $10.

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This one has a velvety, cushiony feel and a soft matte look. You twist it up and sweep it on in a few strokes. It comes in bright pinks, corals and reds, so it's a good one for a quick pop of color.

What makes it stand out: A 4.3-star rating across more than 5,000 reviews, a chubby crayon with no sharpener needed, and a formula with shea, mango and coconut butters. There are about 10 shades.

Good to know: It's more of a balm-matte than a true matte, so it won't last through a meal. The color you see on the tube may be brighter than what shows up on your lips.

3. Burt's Bees 100% Natural Origin Matte Lip Crayon

Best for: people who want a natural-ingredient list and a smooth matte finish.

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The Niagara Overlook shade is a muted rosy pink, and the line goes from nudes and pinks to reds and plums. It twists up like the others and is meant to feel moisturizing for hours.

What makes it stand out: A 4.5-star rating on about 2,400 reviews, the highest score here. It's made with shea butter, jojoba oil and no added flavor or fragrance.

Good to know: It's a natural-origin formula, so don't expect the long wear of a liquid lipstick. Reviewers tend to say it looks best on lips that are already smooth, so exfoliate first.

4. Clinique Chubby Stick Tinted Lip Colour Balm

Best for: a step-up pick with a soft, natural-looking tint.

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This is the department-store one on the list, at around $26. It's a thick, cushiony crayon that goes on sheer and builds with a second pass. The shade chart is big, and Clinique lists it as free of fragrance, parabens and alcohol.

What makes it stand out: A 4.4-star rating over 1,800 reviews and a shea butter formula. The line has about 14 shades, and the tint is made to look like your lips, but better.

Good to know: It costs about three times what the drugstore picks do, and it's sheer, not a bold matte. If you want opaque color, this isn't the one.

5. Honest Beauty Demi-Matte Lip Crayon (Marsala)

Best for: sensitive lips and anyone who wants a cleaner ingredient list.

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This is a slim-barrel crayon with a rounded tip you can use to outline and fill in one pass. Marsala is a deep wine shade. It's a good pick for a fall or winter look.

What makes it stand out: A demi-matte finish that has more color than a balm, with jojoba seed oil and shea and murumuru butters. It's EWG verified and cruelty-free.

Good to know: It has the lowest review count of the group (about 880) and the lowest star rating at 4.1. Some people find it needs a balm underneath on dry days.

How to Wear a Lip Crayon

  1. Start with a smooth base. Exfoliate gently and apply a thin layer of balm, then blot.
  2. Use the rounded tip to trace the outline of your lips first.
  3. Fill in the rest with the side of the crayon, starting at the center and moving out.
  4. Press your lips together, then blot once with a tissue.
  5. Add a second thin layer for more color and wear. Keep the crayon in your bag for touch-ups.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best lip crayon for dry lips?

Look for a balm-style crayon with shea butter, jojoba oil or sunflower butter. The Julep It's Balm is the one we'd start with. Skip full matte formulas on dry days.

What's the best drugstore lip crayon?

The Revlon Matte Balm and Burt's Bees crayons both cost under $10 and have thousands of reviews at 4.3 and 4.5 stars. Revlon has the bolder color and Burt's Bees has the more natural formula.

What is the difference between a lip crayon and lipstick?

A lip crayon is a thick, twist-up stick that usually has a creamier, more balm-like feel. You can outline and fill your lips with one tool. Lipstick is usually more pigmented and lasts longer, but is harder to apply without a mirror.

Do lip crayons last all day?

Not usually. Balm crayons tend to wear off in 2 to 4 hours, especially after eating. Blotting and applying a second thin layer helps, and so does a demi-matte formula.

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Final Thoughts

For most people we'd buy the Julep It's Balm. It has by far the most reviews, it's comfortable on dry lips and the shade range is wide. If you want color that's a bit bolder for under $10, go with the Revlon Matte Balm.

If you care about a short ingredient list, pick Burt's Bees or Honest Beauty. If you want a natural, polished tint and don't mind spending more, the Clinique Chubby Stick is the one to try.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Here's how we pick products.