Clinique
Chubby Stick, £24
The original chubby crayon – a cult classic for good reason. This moisturising lip colour balm delivers a sheer wash of hydrating colour that feels like skincare.
Laura Mercier
Petal Soft Lipstick Crayon, £24
A precision lip crayon with a petal-soft finish that sits somewhere between a lipstick and a liner. The slim format makes it beautifully easy to define and fill in one step – no separate liner required.
Jones Road
The Eyeshadow Stick, £30
Bobbi Brown's clean-beauty brand delivers a no-crease eyeshadow stick that blends effortlessly with just a fingertip. Rich pigment, minimal effort — tap on, smudge out, and you're done.
EDITOR’S PICK
Merit
The Complexion Stick, £34
Part foundation, part concealer — this creamy complexion stick gives buildable, skin-like coverage that genuinely looks like your face, but better.
Nars
The Multiple Sculpting Stick, £33
A legendary multi-tasker that works equally well as a blush, highlighter, eyeshadow or lip tint.
Vieve
Silhouette Stick, £26
This blendable, buildable formula delivers a natural-looking shadow rather than a stripe of muddy bronzer — ideal for those still finding their contour confidence.
BareMinerals
Gen Nude Dew-in-One Cheek and Lip Stick, £20
A genuinely dual-use formula that earns its multi-use credentials. Dab onto cheeks for a flushed, dewy flush of colour, swipe across lips for a glossy tint – a summer handbag staple that won't break the bank.
Benefit
Juice Stick Hydrating Dewy Gel Blush Stick, £30
A gel-to-powder blush stick that melts into skin for the kind of lit-from-within flush that looks effortlessly natural. The dewy, hydrating formula suits drier skins beautifully and layers well for those who prefer more colour payoff.
NYX
Buttermilk Stix Glow Boosting Stick, £9
The budget pick that punches well above its price point. This glow-boosting stick can be worn as a highlighter or mixed with foundation for an all-over luminous finish.
Hourglass
Voyeur Eyeshadow Stick, £34
This luxe, long-wearing eyeshadow stick has a smooth, pigment-rich formula that can be blended out immediately or left to set for a more defined, lasting finish.
Fenty Beauty
Shadowstix, £22
Rihanna's shade range is unmatched, and these longwear eyeshadow sticks are no exception. Packed with intense pigment and designed to last through heat and humidity, they're the ideal companion for a summer holiday beauty kit.
Nudestix
Sunkissed Blush Bronze 3 Piece Mini Kit, £36
A complete kit for summer looks on the go. Three mini crayons — a bronzer, a blush, and a highlighter — arrive in a reusable tin sized perfectly for a carry-on.
FAQs: Make-up Crayons and Sticks
What are make-up crayons and sticks, and how are they different from regular make-up?
Make-up crayons and sticks are solid, pencil-format cosmetics that can be applied directly to skin without brushes or sponges. Unlike liquid or powder formulas, they are contained in a twist-up or sharpened casing that makes them spill-proof, travel-friendly, and beginner-proof. They typically combine pigment with moisturising or conditioning ingredients, delivering colour and skincare benefits in a single step.
Are make-up crayons good for beginners?
Yes — make-up crayons are widely considered one of the most forgiving formats for beginners. Because the colour can be buffed out with fingertips, layered gradually, and blended easily, there is far more room for error than with liquid liner or powder eyeshadow. Chunky crayons in particular are excellent for building confidence, as the larger surface area reduces the precision required.
Can you take make-up crayons and sticks in hand luggage on a plane?
Yes. Solid make-up crayons and sticks are not subject to the 100ml liquid restriction, so they can be packed freely in hand luggage without counting towards your liquids allowance. This makes them a practical choice for travel make-up kits. Check individual product packaging to confirm the formula is fully solid rather than gel-based, as very soft gel formulas may occasionally be queried at security.
What is the best make-up crayon for a natural, no-make-up make-up look?
For a natural finish, look for multi-use lip and cheek crayons in sheer or satin formulas — the Clinique Chubby Stick and BareMinerals Gen Nude Dew-in-One Cheek and Lip Stick are both strong options. Applying a touch of blush crayon to the cheeks and blending with fingertips creates a flushed, skin-like effect that is virtually impossible to over-apply. Pair with a tinted complexion stick such as Merit The Complexion Stick for a cohesive, minimal finish.
Do eyeshadow sticks crease throughout the day?
Higher-quality eyeshadow sticks are formulated to resist creasing, particularly those with a powder or matte finish. Gel and cream formulas may crease on oilier lids without a primer. To extend wear, apply a thin layer of eyeshadow primer or concealer to the lid first, then use the stick on top. Formulas from brands such as Hourglass and Jones Road are specifically engineered for long wear with minimal creasing.
What is a multi-use make-up stick, and which products work across eyes, lips and cheeks?
A multi-use make-up stick is a single product formulated to work on more than one area of the face. The Nars Multiple Sculpting Stick is one of the most well-known examples, designed to function as a blush, bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow and lip colour. BareMinerals Gen Nude Dew-in-One and the Vieve Silhouette Stick also offer dual-use versatility. These products are particularly useful for travel or minimalist make-up bags.
Are make-up crayons and sticks suitable for mature skin?
Many make-up crayons are well-suited to mature skin because their hydrating, creamy formulas avoid the dry or cakey appearance that powder products can create. Look for sticks with skin-nourishing or jelly formulas, which sit comfortably on skin without settling into fine lines. Dewy-finish products such as the Benefit Juice Stick or the Clinique Chubby Stick add luminosity, which is particularly flattering on more mature complexions.
How do you apply a contour or sculpting stick as a beginner?
The key with a sculpting stick is to apply less than you think you need, then blend. Draw a short line just beneath the cheekbone and blend upward and outward using fingertips or a clean brush. The Vieve Silhouette Stick is specifically designed with a blendable formula that makes the technique more forgiving. Build gradually in thin layers rather than applying too much at once — a light hand produces the most natural result.
What should I look for in a make-up crayon for summer or holiday use?
For summer, prioritise long-wearing, humidity-resistant formulas that will not transfer or melt in heat. Gel-based blush sticks such as the Benefit Juice Stick are designed for exactly this. Look also for products that double up — a lip and cheek tint reduces the number of items you need to pack. Mini kits such as the Nudestix Sunkissed Blush Bronze 3 Piece Mini Kit are purpose-built for travel, offering multiple finishes in compact, carry-on-friendly sizing.
Are there affordable make-up crayons that perform as well as luxury brands?
Yes — the NYX Buttermilk Stix Glow Boosting Stick at £9 is widely praised for its performance relative to its price point, offering up to eight hours of wear and a luminous finish comparable to products three times the cost. NYX Professional Make-up is a consistently well-regarded drugstore brand with strong pigment payoff and a wide shade range. For those building a first make-up kit, combining one or two affordable crayons with a single investment piece is a practical approach.
