ColourPop BFF 2 Lip Liner Review 2026: Worth It?
Lip liner shopping feels risky. You buy a shade online, it arrives, and the color looks nothing like the swatch photo. That happens a lot with nude liners, because “nude” means twelve different things depending on the brand.
ColourPop BFF 2 is one of the few nude liners that people keep buying again and again. It sits in the brand’s Lippie Pencil family, it costs less than a sandwich, and it holds a rating close to 4.8 stars across more than seven thousand reviews on the brand site. That kind of number gets attention.
But star ratings do not tell you how a pencil behaves on dry lips at 4pm. They do not tell you whether the tip snaps when you sharpen it, or whether the color pulls orange on cool skin tones. I bought BFF 2, wore it for weeks, ate meals in it, and pushed it past its comfort zone.
In A Nutshell:
- BFF 2 is a warm rosy brown nude. It reads slightly pink on fair skin and slightly terracotta on medium skin. It is not a cool taupe, so if you love greyed down browns, look at Cool BFF instead.
- The formula is creamy, not stiff. It glides without tugging, which makes overlining easy for beginners. The tradeoff is that a very creamy core sits closer to the edge of breaking during sharpening.
- Wear time is good, not legendary. Expect roughly six to eight hours of visible definition when you fill in the whole lip. Lined edges alone fade faster around the mouth after oily food.
- The price is the strongest selling point. It sits around seven dollars at retail, and ColourPop runs single pencil promotions that drop it far lower. Very few liners match that value.
- The biggest weak spots are sharpening waste and blending. Multiple buyers report tip breakage in the sharpener, and the matte finish sets fast, so you have a small window to soften the line.
- Best fit: anyone who wants an everyday nude liner that pairs with clear gloss, nude lipstick, or nothing at all.
What Is The ColourPop BFF 2 Lippie Pencil?
- What It Is - A limited edition holiday lippie pencil kit. Define (or overline) your lips with our long-wearing, creamy + sharpenable Lippie Pencil in bestselling nudes for the perfect pout.
- Why You'll Luv It - It creates the cleanest lines and prevents feathering while being super pigmented to deliver the boldest, high-impact colour. Pair with Lippie Stix or just wear on its own for quick, flawless lips!
Last update on 2026-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
BFF 2 is a sharpenable lip pencil from ColourPop’s Lippie Pencil range. The brand describes the shade as a soft, warm rosy brown that flatters nearly every skin tone. That description is fair, which is not always true in beauty copy.
The pencil holds 0.035 ounces of product. The finish is matte. The formula is vegan and cruelty free, and it carries no fragrance. It works as a liner, as a base under lipstick, or as a full lip color on its own.
The shade sits in the middle of the BFF family. BFF is the true warm nude, BFF 2 leans rosy brown, BFF 3 goes deeper, and Cool BFF pulls taupe. If you have ever wanted the “your lips but better” look without a pink cast, BFF 2 is the one people reach for.
The ingredient list is short. Dimethicone leads, followed by ceresin, trimethylsiloxysilicate, polyethylene, stearoxy dimethicone, and silica, with iron oxides and titanium dioxide for color. No oils, no waxes you would recognize from a lip balm. That structure explains why the pencil grips instead of slipping.
One practical note. This is a classic wood pencil, not a twist up. You need a sharpener, and ColourPop sells one separately.
My Unboxing Experience
The package arrived in a small pink mailer, the kind ColourPop has used for years. Inside, the pencil sat in a thin paper sleeve. No box, no plastic tray, no filler. That is a fair result at this price point.
The barrel is matte white with black text. It looks clean and slightly clinical, and the shade name prints on the side and on the cap sticker. The cap clicks on with a firm snap, which matters if you toss makeup in a bag.
The pencil arrived presharpened but not sharp. The tip had a dull cone shape, enough to fill in a lip but not enough to draw a crisp cupid’s bow. My first move was sharpening, and that is where the first small problem showed up. The core is soft. My cheap plastic sharpener shaved off more product than I wanted before it formed a point.
The weight is light. It feels like a drugstore pencil, because it basically is one at heart. Nothing about the packaging feels luxurious, and nothing feels broken either.
First swatch on the back of my hand laid down instantly. One pass gave full color. No scratching, no patchy streaks. At that moment I understood why this pencil has thousands of repeat buyers.
Shade Breakdown: What Warm Rosy Brown Really Looks Like
Color accuracy decides whether a nude liner is useful. So here is the honest read.
On fair skin, BFF 2 looks like a dusty rose with brown behind it. It defines the lip line without looking obviously drawn on. On light medium and olive skin, the brown steps forward and the shade reads like a soft terracotta nude. On deeper skin tones, it works better as a liner than as a full lip, since it can look slightly muted on its own.
It is warm. That word matters. If your veins read blue and you gravitate toward mauve and berry tones, BFF 2 may feel a touch orange on you. Cool BFF exists for exactly that reason.
The pigment level is high for a nude. One layer gives full opacity, which surprised me. Most nude liners need two or three passes.
The finish is a true matte. It does not look chalky in photos, but it also gives zero shine. Under flash it can look flatter than expected, so a dab of gloss in the center of the lip fixes that instantly.
The line quality depends entirely on your sharpener. With a fresh point, edges look sharp and clean. With a dull tip, the shade looks smudgy and reads much heavier than it should.
Top 3 Alternative For ColourPop BFF 2 Lip Liner
- Discover NYX Professional Makeup: try all our Pro makeup & Beauty products, from eyeshadow palette, liquid eyeliner & eyeliner pencils, mascara & false lashes to lipstick, lip gloss, foundation, primer, blush, bronzer, highlighters, brushes & more!
- Cruelty Free cosmetics: we believe animals belong in our arms-not in a lab. All of our makeup is PETA certified cruelty-free. We don't test any of our products on animals.
Last update on 2026-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil
- Line & Lift: Meet Lifter Liner, Maybelline New York's new lifting lip liner pencil. Made with creamy color pigments for a smooth glide and comfortable feel, to sculpt lip lines and enhance your lips for a fuller, lifted look
- Creamy Lip Liner: This Maybelline lip liner features a new moisture-locking formula with Hyaluronic Acid and Jojoba Oil to deliver a smooth feel without tugging. Its sharpenable tip delivers ultra-precise lines that are easily blendable too
Last update on 2026-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
Maybelline Lifter Liner Lip Liner Pencil
- For the Perfect Plump - Visibly plump and reshape your lips with our long-lasting lip plumping liners. It delivers the cleanest lines and helps minimize feathering while boosting your lip line for a pouty effect. Plus it’s retractable for an always sharp, versatile application.
- Why You'll Luv It - Ceramides + Peptides help plump the look of lips and visibly smooth lip lines while feel-good Ginger visibly boosts lip volume.
Last update on 2026-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
ColourPop So Juicy Plumping Lip Liner
Formula And Ingredients Explained
The formula tells you what to expect before you even open the cap. BFF 2 is built on silicones and waxes rather than oils.
Dimethicone sits first on the list. It creates slip, so the pencil glides across the lip without dragging. Ceresin is a wax that gives the pencil its structure and helps it hold a point. Trimethylsiloxysilicate is the interesting one, because that ingredient helps color stay put and resist transfer.
Polyethylene and silica add body and a soft matte blur. Iron oxides, mica, and titanium dioxide handle the color. There is no vitamin E, no jojoba oil, no hyaluronic acid. Compare that to Maybelline Lifter Liner, which adds hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil for comfort.
That difference explains the wear experience. BFF 2 lasts because it does not hydrate. A liner packed with oils feels nicer and moves more. A liner built on silicones and wax stays where you put it and can feel dry after a few hours.
The pencil is vegan and cruelty free. It carries no added fragrance, which helps if scented lip products bother you.
Practical takeaway: exfoliate and apply a thin balm before you line, then blot. That single step removes most of the dryness complaint people have with this formula.
How It Feels On The Lips
Application is the strongest part of this pencil. The first pass lays down color with almost no pressure. You do not have to press, and that is the whole point of a good liner.
On smooth lips it feels like drawing with a soft crayon. On dry or flaky lips it catches slightly and deposits unevenly, so prep matters. Ten seconds of balm changes the entire experience.
For the first hour it feels light. You can tell you are wearing something, but it does not feel heavy or sticky. Around the two hour mark the finish tightens and the lips feel matte and slightly dry, especially if you filled in the whole mouth.
There is no tingle, no sting, and no scent. That makes it comfortable for people with sensitive lips.
Overlining works well with this pencil. The creamy core lets you extend past your natural line in one smooth stroke instead of scratchy patches. That is why this shade is popular with people who want a fuller looking pout.
The one comfort complaint I have is texture on the second day of dry weather. In cold, low humidity air, the matte finish clings to any dry patch. A gloss on top solves it, but you should know it in advance.
Wear Test: Coffee, Meals, And A Full Workday
I ran the same test three times so the results were not luck.
Test one, liner only. I lined my lips, wore nude balm on top, and drank two coffees. The line held for about four hours. By hour five the edges near the center of my lower lip had faded from balm movement.
Test two, full lip fill. I filled the entire lip with BFF 2 and wore nothing else. Color stayed visible for close to eight hours. It faded evenly rather than patchily, which is the good kind of fading. After a pasta lunch, the center lost color while the perimeter stayed strong. That is exactly the look most people want anyway.
Test three, liner plus lipstick. BFF 2 under a satin nude lipstick extended the lipstick noticeably. When the lipstick wore off, the liner base kept my lips from looking bare.
Transfer is moderate. It leaves a faint mark on a cup for the first hour, then settles. It is not a transfer proof liquid liner, and it does not pretend to be.
Verdict on wear: solid and predictable, not indestructible. One review I found said the color glides like butter but does not last, and I understand that complaint if you only line the edges.
Pros And Cons
Here is the balanced scorecard.
Pros
- Excellent price. Around seven dollars at retail and often cheaper in ColourPop promotions.
- Creamy glide. Full color in one pass with almost no pressure needed.
- Flattering shade range. The warm rosy brown suits a wide span of skin tones as a liner.
- Good wear when filled in. Six to eight hours of visible color without reapplication.
- Simple, fragrance free formula. Vegan, cruelty free, and friendly to sensitive lips.
- Sharpenable. You control the point, which means crisp lines whenever you want them.
Cons
- Tip breakage during sharpening. Multiple buyers report losing product this way, and I lost some too.
- No twist up option. You must own a sharpener and carry one for touch ups.
- Dries the lips over time. The formula has no hydrating ingredients at all.
- Sets fast. You get a small window to blend or soften the line before it locks.
- Warm tone limits. Cool toned lovers may find it slightly orange.
- Not transfer proof. Expect light marking on cups and glasses early on.
What BFF 2 Does Not Do Well
Honest reviews name the failures, so here they are without softening.
Sharpening is the weakest link. The core is soft, and soft cores crumble. A dull or cheap plastic sharpener will chew through the pencil and snap the tip. One Ulta reviewer said half the pencil gets wasted because it breaks during sharpening. A metal blade sharpener with a snug barrel reduces this, but it does not eliminate it.
Blending is limited. The matte finish grips fast. If you want a soft, diffused edge, you have to work within seconds. Wait too long and the line stays a line. A reviewer on the brand site said the color was lovely but a bit difficult to blend, and that matches my experience.
It is not a comfort liner. There is no hydration built in. After four hours my lips felt tight, and dry patches showed up more than they would under a hyaluronic acid liner.
It is not waterproof. Swimming, heavy sweating, or a wet face will move it.
Deep skin tones may find it underwhelming as a full lip. It performs better as definition under a richer lipstick than as a standalone color.
None of these break the product. They just define who it is for.
How To Apply BFF 2 Step By Step
Technique changes the result more than the pencil does.
- Exfoliate first. Use a damp cloth or a gentle scrub. Matte liners magnify texture.
- Apply a thin balm, then blot. You want soft lips, not slippery lips. A slippery surface makes the line skip.
- Sharpen to a clean point. Use a metal sharpener and turn the sharpener, not the pencil.
- Start at the cupid’s bow. Draw two short strokes to form the peaks, then connect outward.
- Line the lower lip from the center out. Small strokes beat one long stroke.
- Overline gently if you want fullness. Stay within one millimeter of your natural line so it still looks like your mouth.
- Fill in the whole lip. This single step doubles your wear time.
- Add gloss or lipstick on top. Clear gloss over BFF 2 is the combination that made this shade go viral.
Pro tip: blot with one thin tissue layer after filling in. That removes surface product that would otherwise transfer, and it locks the rest.
Best Lipsticks And Glosses To Pair With BFF 2
BFF 2 plays well with almost every nude, and the pairing decides the mood of the look.
Clear gloss is the easiest win. It keeps the rosy brown honest and adds shine where the matte finish looks flat. This combination reads modern and takes about thirty seconds.
Warm nude satin lipstick turns BFF 2 into a definition tool. The liner deepens the outer edge while the lipstick brightens the center. ColourPop’s own Lippie Stix in a rosy nude sits in the same tonal family, which makes matching simple.
Lip oils and juicy balms soften the whole look. Because BFF 2 is so pigmented, one layer of a sheer oil on top gives a blurred, lived in effect. This is my favorite everyday version.
Brown toned gloss pushes the look into that deeper, defined nineties territory. It also helps deeper skin tones get more from the shade.
What to avoid: frosty pink lipsticks and cool berry shades. The warmth in BFF 2 fights them, and you end up with a visible mismatch ring around your mouth.
BFF 2 Versus BFF, BFF 3, And Cool BFF
The family confuses people, so here is a plain comparison.
BFF is the original. It is a soft, true warm nude, lighter and less rosy than BFF 2. Choose it if you want the least visible liner possible.
BFF 2 is the rosy brown middle ground. It has more pink than BFF and more warmth than Cool BFF. This is the most versatile of the four for most people.
BFF 3 goes deeper and browner. It suits medium and deep skin tones as an everyday liner, and it works on fair skin for a stronger, more defined look.
Cool BFF is the muted taupe. It is greyed down and cooler than the rest. If BFF 2 looks orange on you, this is your answer.
All four share the same formula, the same finish, and the same sharpening quirk. The only variable is undertone. ColourPop also sells them in kits, which lowers the cost per pencil and lets you test the family instead of guessing.
My pick for a first purchase is BFF 2, with Cool BFF as the backup if you know you are cool toned.
Price And Value In 2026
BFF 2 lists around seven dollars at Ulta, and ColourPop frequently discounts singles well below that on its own site. Subscription pricing at retail shaves a small percentage off too.
Compare that to a prestige liner. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat costs roughly four times as much. Does the prestige liner perform four times better? No. It blends more easily and feels more comfortable, and it usually comes as a twist up pencil. Those are real advantages, but they are not four times the value.
Compare it to drugstore rivals. NYX Slim Lip Pencil sits at a similar price with a built in sharpener on some versions. Maybelline Lifter Liner costs a few dollars more and adds hydration.
Where BFF 2 wins is pigment per dollar. You get one pass opacity at a price where most competitors need three passes.
Where it loses is longevity of the physical pencil. If sharpening waste costs you a third of the product, your real cost per use climbs. Buy a decent sharpener and that math improves fast.
For value shoppers building a lip wardrobe, this is one of the best entry points available right now.
Who Should Buy It And Who Should Skip It
Buy it if you want an everyday nude liner, you like warm tones, you own or will buy a sharpener, and you want to spend under ten dollars. Buy it if you overline and need a creamy pencil that does not drag. Buy it if you want a base that extends your lipstick.
Buy it if you are new to lip liner. The forgiving glide makes the learning curve short.
Skip it if your lips run very dry and you hate matte finishes. The formula has no hydrating ingredients, and it will highlight flakes.
Skip it if you are strongly cool toned. Cool BFF exists for you.
Skip it if you refuse to sharpen pencils. There is no twist up version, and that is a genuine dealbreaker for some people.
Skip it if you need waterproof, transfer proof performance for a wedding or a long event. A liquid liner or a prestige waterproof pencil serves that job better.
Most people fall into the buy column. The price makes the risk small, and the shade is genuinely wearable.
Final Verdict: Is BFF 2 Worth Buying?
- Your Lips But Better - Define (or overline) your lips with our long-wearing creamy and sharpenable lip pencils for the perfect pout. This high-intensity lip liner pencil glides on easily and prevents feathering, delivering the boldest, high-impact color.
- Why You Need It - Pair with our fan-fave Lippie Stix to find your perfect lip combo or just wear on its own for quick, flawless lips!
Last update on 2026-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
BFF 2 earns its reputation. The shade is flattering, the pigment is strong, and the price is hard to argue with. It does the main job of a lip liner, which is defining the mouth cleanly without looking drawn on.
It is not perfect. The soft core breaks in cheap sharpeners. The matte finish sets fast and limits blending. The formula gives you nothing in the way of hydration, so dry lips need prep.
Those flaws are the kind you plan around, not the kind that ruin a product. A metal sharpener, a thin balm layer, and a gloss on top handle all three.
My rating is 4.3 out of 5. It loses points for sharpening waste and comfort, and it gains points for shade, pigment, and value.
If you want one nude liner that works with most lipsticks and costs less than lunch, BFF 2 is a safe pick. If you want luxury feel and effortless blending, spend more and get a prestige pencil.
I keep mine in my daily bag. That is the most honest endorsement I can give.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ColourPop BFF 2 waterproof?
No. It resists light transfer once it sets, but it is not waterproof. Water, sweat, and oily foods will move it. Filling in the whole lip and blotting once gives you the most staying power.
What skin tones suit BFF 2?
It reads as a dusty rose brown on fair skin and a soft terracotta nude on light medium and olive skin. On deeper skin tones it performs better as a liner under a richer lipstick than as a standalone lip color.
Does BFF 2 need a special sharpener?
It fits a standard pencil sharpener, but a sharp metal blade with a snug barrel works far better. Cheap plastic sharpeners are the main reason people report tip breakage and wasted product.
How long does BFF 2 last on the lips?
Roughly six to eight hours when you fill in the entire lip. Four to five hours when you only line the edges. Oily meals shorten both numbers.
Is BFF 2 vegan and cruelty free?
Yes. ColourPop lists the Lippie Pencil range as vegan and cruelty free, and this shade contains no added fragrance.
Can I wear BFF 2 as a full lip color?
Yes. It is pigmented enough for full coverage in one layer. Add a clear gloss or a lip oil on top if the matte finish feels too dry for you.
What is the difference between BFF and BFF 2?
BFF is a lighter, true warm nude. BFF 2 has more rosy pink mixed with brown, so it shows up slightly more on the lips while still looking natural.
Does BFF 2 feather or bleed?
Not in my testing. The silicone and wax base holds a clean edge. Feathering usually happens when you apply over a heavy balm layer, so blot your balm before lining.
Hello, I’m Ava Davis, the founder and curator of Lovely Beauty. As a passionate advocate for self-care and beauty, I created Lovely Beauty as a haven for like-minded individuals to explore, learn, and grow. On Lovely Beauty, you’ll find a treasure trove of beauty tips, tricks, and inspiration, all designed to help you cultivate a more loving and compassionate relationship with yourself.
