Arrow-sharp precision. Lipstick and liner in one, powered by Brazilian Tourmaline.
The Cupid's Bow collection has been discontinued along with the wider Lipstick Queen range. The pencil format is easy to identify on eBay and Poshmark. The most frequently sighted shades are Ovid, Nymph, and Desire. Each pencil came with its own sharpener — check that it is included when buying secondhand. We recommend the alternatives below as your best ongoing options.
Cupid's Bow was Lipstick Queen's most functionally innovative product — a jumbo lip pencil that solved one of the oldest complaints about matte lipstick: the need to use a separate liner, apply precisely, and carry both products at once. The pencil format eliminated all of that. One product, one stroke, liner and lipstick at the same time, precise enough at the pointed tip to draw the cupid's bow, broad enough to fill the lips in a single pass.
The formula was built around a remarkable ingredient: Tourmaline sourced from metamorphic rock in Brazil, known in gemstone lore for its energising and radiance-boosting properties, incorporated into the formula to add a luminous dimension to the satin matte finish. Eight shades — all named after classical mythology figures — covered the full spectrum from a tender nude peach (Golden Arrow) through pinks, reds, a blood orange, and a deep wine (Apollo). The mythological naming gave the collection an intellectual heft unusual for a lip pencil line.
Cupid's Bow launched in spring 2015 and represented something genuinely new for Lipstick Queen: a format innovation rather than a colour or formula innovation. Poppy King was inspired by the artful precision of a perfectly applied cupid's bow — that sweep of the upper lip that defines the peaks of the mouth and gives any lip look its architectural elegance. The pencil format, with its pointed tip, made achieving that precision accessible to anyone.
The mythological naming — Golden Arrow, Nymph, Eros, Daphne, Metamorphoses, Ovid, Desire, Apollo — gave the collection a classical literary dimension that set it apart from the conventional beauty naming conventions of the time. Each shade referenced a figure or concept from classical mythology or Latin literature: Ovid was the Roman poet who wrote Metamorphoses, a collection of myths involving transformations; Daphne was transformed into a laurel tree by Apollo to escape his pursuit; the arrows of Eros (Cupid) caused either love or indifference. The cohesion of the naming was unusually considered for a lip colour line.
The pencils were available at Space NK, Barneys New York, and Ulta at $22 each — significantly lower in price than the Silver Screen and Velvet Rope collections, making them one of the most accessible premium products in the Lipstick Queen range. Each pencil came with its own complementary sharpener, making them genuinely practical for on-the-go use.
Each Cupid's Bow shade drew its name from classical mythology or Latin literature, covering the full spectrum from the palest nude to the deepest wine. The collection was notable for its range — Beauty Professor reported wearing all eight shades in succession and found them universally beautiful.
The Cupid's Bow formula was unlike anything else in the Lipstick Queen range. Where the Saint, Sinner, and even Silver Screen collections relied on Castor Oil as their primary base, Cupid's Bow used Diisostearyl Malate — a silky, non-greasy ester that gave the pencil its characteristic very thin, almost slick texture. Reviewers described the application as unlike any matte lip pencil they had used before: it glided without tugging, settled into the lips without dragging, and produced a satin matte finish that was comfortable enough to wear for 6–8 hours on even dry lips.
The star ingredient was Tourmaline — a semiprecious mineral sourced from metamorphic rock in Brazil, traditionally associated with energising and radiance-boosting properties. In the formula, Tourmaline contributed a fine-particle luminosity to the satin finish that prevented it from looking flat or chalky — the characteristic flaw of most matte lip products. The result was a finish that Sicka Than Average described as delivering "wall-to-wall color that simply doesn't quit," while Beauty Professor noted 6–8 hours of wear.
The supporting cast included Cyclopentasiloxane for smooth application and silkiness; Lecithin and Tocopherol (Vitamin E) for conditioning; Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C) as an additional antioxidant; and Dicalcium Phosphate, which contributed to the formula's slightly structured texture. The formula was made in Italy — a different manufacturing origin from most Lipstick Queen products, which were typically made in Canada.
Start with the pointed tip at the peaks of the upper lip — the cupid's bow itself. The precision of the pencil tip allows you to define the arch cleanly without a separate liner. Work from the centre peaks down to the corners, then fill in the upper lip from the inside out.
Once the outline is set, use the side of the pencil tip to fill the lips. One complete pass gives medium coverage; a second pass builds to full opacity with the satin matte depth the formula is known for. Avoid pressing too hard — the thin texture delivers colour evenly with a light hand.
Unlike a lipstick bullet, the Cupid's Bow pencil performed best with a fresh, sharp point — the included sharpener was essential rather than incidental. A sharp tip gives the precision that defined the product; a worn tip loses the architectural quality that separated it from conventional lip crayons.
As listed on the Ovid shade formulation (representative of the full range):
Diisostearyl Malate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyethylene, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone/IPDI Copolymer Ethylcarbamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isododecane, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Mica, Dicalcium Phosphate, Propylene Carbonate, Ethyl Vanillin, Tourmaline, Lecithin, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Citric Acid, Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).
Highlighted ingredients are key actives. Tourmaline is the collection's signature ingredient — a precious mineral from metamorphic rock in Brazil that adds radiance-boosting luminosity to the satin matte finish. Diisostearyl Malate is the primary base ester, responsible for the formula's uniquely thin, slick application. Pigment colours vary by shade. Made in Italy.
Three products that deliver the spirit of Cupid's Bow — the same lipstick-and-liner-in-one precision, satin matte comfort, and the full range from nude to deep wine.
The most direct equivalent to Cupid's Bow in the current market. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is a jumbo pencil that functions as both liner and lipstick, delivering full-coverage matte colour with a similarly thin, slick application and an equally impressive 6–8 hours of wear. The shade range covers every Cupid's Bow equivalent from a blush nude (Dolce Vita) through reds (Dragon Girl, Cruella) to a deep berry (Damned). Reviewers consistently cite it alongside Cupid's Bow as the best pencil-format lip colour available.
For fans of Cupid's Bow who used it primarily for its precision in defining the lip — the cupid's bow application that gave the collection its name — Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat is the finest precision liner currently available. Its long-wearing formula and precise tip allow the same careful definition of the lip architecture before filling in with a matching lipstick. Used in combination with Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution range, the Lip Cheat + Matte Revolution pairing comes closer to the Cupid's Bow experience than any single product.
For those who loved Cupid's Bow as an accessible, no-fuss satin matte lip pencil across a wide range of shades — MAC's classic Lip Pencil is the most comprehensive alternative at a comparable price point. Available in over 50 shades covering every Cupid's Bow equivalent — Whirl for Golden Arrow, Spice for Nymph, Burgundy for Ovid, Cherry for Desire — the MAC Lip Pencil is the most proven liner-and-lipstick hybrid for everyday use, with the same precision tip and buildable coverage that defined Cupid's Bow.
"I love this formula. It is velvety, thin, and has a moisturising satin matte finish that wears comfortably without drying my lips out."
This is very, very thin texture with an almost slick glide across lips without tugging or skipping. It hugs lips in weightless comfortable colour. Although it gives that coveted matte finish, it does not give a dry, difficult feel. The wear is about five hours on my drier lips. Golden Arrow is a must-have shade — the most perfect my-lips-but-better finish I have ever found in a pencil.
"Hydrating, especially for a matte lip colour. My perennially dry lips stay balanced over 6–8 hours of wear. Particularly with the darker shades."
I have worn all eight shades in succession and found them universally beautiful. The satin matte finish has luminosity I attribute to the Tourmaline — it does not look flat or chalky in the way other mattes do. Ovid is a theatrical, sanguine deep red that I cannot stop reaching for. Apollo is a decadent wine. These are not lip pencils. They are something entirely their own.
"Ovid is the perfect cool-toned dark berry — without being too dark or too light. I wear it all autumn, every autumn."
I have Apollo, Ovid, and Nymph and I have worn Apollo and Ovid non-stop since I bought them. Ovid is a truly gorgeous shade — the cool-toned dark berry I have been looking for in a comfortable, precise format. These are not exactly long-wearing in the usual sense but they are so easy to reapply from the pencil that it does not matter. Each one comes with its own sharpener, which is a genuinely thoughtful touch.