Lip combos are having a major moment, and it’s easy to see why: the makeup trend lets you instantly define and transform your pout with just two lip products—a long-lasting lip liner and high-shine lip gloss. The combination of both products creates a subtle or bold contrast that enhances your lips’ appeal.
Ahead, we show you how to create magic with a lip liner and gloss with stunning lip combo ideas we’ve curated for you.
What are Lip Combos?
If you’re new to the concept, a lip combo is a mix of lip makeup products layered to create polished, more defined lips. It can be a lipstick or lip gloss and a lip liner, lip oil, or even an eye pencil paired to give the perfect final look.
Why the Combo?
Lip liner acts like a primer for your lips. It prevents your gloss or lipstick from bleeding or feathering, helps your lip makeup stay longer, defines your lip shape, and adds a touch of color to your lip gloss.
Lip gloss, on the other hand, offers shine, hydration, and dimension, giving your lips a fuller look. You can choose a clear lip gloss for a natural look or a colored one for more depth and vibrancy.
The combination of both products makes it easy to create your desired lip look for any occasion. They also offer endless ways to mix and match, from natural everyday looks to statement-worthy styles.
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How to Create the Perfect Lip Combo
Creating the right liner and gloss pairing boils down to mixing both products in a way that suits your personal style, outfit, mood, and occasion. The perfect lip combo can be subtle and natural, bold and dramatic, or anything in between. Here’s how it works:
Match the Combo by Your Undertone
Your skin’s undertone contributes greatly to the finished look. Complementary undertones create balance, while contrasting undertones may clash. To choose a lip combo by your undertone, look at your veins. If they’re blue or purple, your undertones are most likely cool. If you have green veins, you likely have warm undertones. And if your veins are blue and green, you likely have neutral undertones.
Below are suggestions for each skin undertone:
- Warm undertones: Choose lip liners and glosses with orange or brown undertones, such as coral, caramel, and peach shades.
- Cool undertones: Wear lip makeup with blue or purple undertones like mauve, blue-toned pink, or plum.
- Neutral undertones: Any lip liner or lip gloss shade works regardless of its undertone.
Once you understand your undertone, choosing the right liner and gloss becomes easier. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t try lip shades that don’t exactly fall within your undertone. If you like it, go for it. But for a harmonious result, it’s best to use liner and gloss combos that match your skin undertone.
Choose Your Gloss Look
Do you want clear or colored gloss? Your answer depends on whether you want a natural or bold look. A clear gloss is perfect for everyday wear. It’s minimalist and gives your liner a more precise definition. A colored gloss is perfect for work, parties, or date nights, as it adds more depth, vibrancy, and vibration. When combined, it can even transform your liner into a custom lipstick-like shade.
Decide the look you want to achieve and go for the gloss shade that best suits it.
Pick the Right Liner
Choosing the right liner for your gloss depends on whether you want a seamless or defined finish. For a smooth, unified look, wear a liner that closely matches your gloss shade. For more dimension, choose a liner a shade or two deeper than your gloss. It’ll create a contrast that accentuates your lip shape and creates a fuller look.
Tailor Your Lip Combo to the Occasion
Neutral combos like soft brown liners with peach or nude glosses are versatile for work, school, or casual outings. They enhance your natural lip shape without subduing the rest of your makeup. For a natural look, find a shade that is close to your natural lip color. Statement pairings like deep liners with bright gloss shades bring drama and attention, and are ideal for parties, nights out, or big events.
8 Stunning Lip Combos to Recreate
Inspired by viral trends and timeless aesthetics, here are eight must-try liner and gloss combos you can wear every day:
90s Lip Combos
Bring back the iconic ‘90s lip look and relive some memories from the past with this liner and gloss pairing. It features a brown lip liner with a lighter nude or neutral gloss. It’ll give your lips a bold definition with a glossy middle. The ‘90s lip combo is edgy, chic, and transitions from daytime to nights out.
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Latte Lip Combos
Thanks to TikTokers, the latte makeup trend is an easy way to try liner and gloss pairings. It’s a soft and natural look perfect for everyday wear, whether to work, the gym, or casual outings. It features warm brown, caramel, and cinnamon-toned shades.
Balletcore
As the name implies, this lip liner and gloss combo draws inspiration from ballerinas. It features soft pink tones to create a feminine and romantic aesthetic perfect for date nights.
YLBB Lip Combos
The “your lips but better” trend focuses on matching and enhancing your natural lip shade with subtle definition and shine. This effortless look is perfect if you want a barely-there or minimalist everyday makeup look that still elevates your natural beauty.
French Tip Lip Combos
Inspired by the timeless French manicure, this combo involves defining your lip edges with a darker liner, then finishing with a lighter gloss or lipstick at the center to create a bold contrast between the two shades. You can create this pairing to be as bold or as subtle as you want by choosing brighter or nude lip liner shades.
The result is usually chic and perfect for office outfits, fashion-forward looks, or when you want an editorial-style lip that stands out without drowning your makeup.
Black Liner Plus Sheer Gloss
This combo features a black lip liner paired with a clear lip gloss to create that old Nollywood vibe. No dark lip liner available? A black eye pencil still does the magic.
Plump & Defined
Line your lips with a darker liner, blend out, then apply a lighter lipstick or gloss to the center for dimension. The effect is a fuller lip look.
Mauve Lip Combos
Mauve shades incorporate flattering purple-pink tones that feel soft, classic, and romantic. They’re suitable for daytime events, weddings, date nights, and soft glam looks, offering subtlety for everyday wear and depth to make things elevated.
How to Apply Liner and Gloss for the Perfect Lip Combos
Whether you’re trying trendy looks like the latte makeup trend or searching for the best nude lip combo for everyday wear, follow these tips to master how to pair lip liner and lip gloss for any occasion:
- Prep your lips: Hydrate with a nourishing balm to create a smooth base so your combo lasts longer and your gloss doesn’t settle into lines.
- Outline and define with liner: Trace your lips with your liner to define shape and prevent feathering. For a soft look, keep the liner close to your natural lip line. For more fullness, keep it slightly overlined.
- Layer your gloss: Apply your gloss across your lips for some dimension and shine. If you want a plumper look, focus the gloss at the center and keep the outer edges softer.
- Blend your lips: To create a seamless finish, press your lips together to blend the liner and gloss. Then use a fingertip to softly diffuse the edges and clean out any harsh lines.
Enhance Your Lips with Timeless Lip Combos
As a makeup trend, lip combos are here to stay. So, don’t hold back. Hop on the bandwagon and see what looks you get. Once you find your go-to liner and gloss pairing, applying it can feel as easy as gulping down a glass of water. But getting there might take lots of trial and error. Follow the tips shared in this guide. And don’t forget to experiment until you find the look that is true to you.
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