Like cheese needs crackers, your lipstick needs — no deserves — the perfect liner to match. However, once you’ve navigated the time-consuming and daunting task of selecting a lipstick that you’ll actually wear, there’s often little patience left trying to find its complementing lip pencil. But trust us, it’s worth the extra work. Though your lipstick will add shine, colour and fullness to your pout, a lip liner will add shape, definition and precision.
Instead of swatching 50 shades of nude onto your hand next time you visit Chemist Warehouse, why not leave the hard work to the professionals? …Us! Well, us and the celebrities that have road-tested these five stunning lip combinations.
Ashley Graham
“I’m a lip liner girl, it’s my thing,” Ashley told Grazia. Using it to both outline and fill in her lips, Ashley explained “I use it in place of lipstick, it lasts a lot longer.”
And to finish it off, she goes in with the multi-use Aquaphor balm “in place of gloss.”
We love this low-maintenance lip.
Liner: Revlon Colorstay Lip Liner in ‘Nude’, $22.95 at Big W
Gloss: Aquaphor Advanced Therapy, $11.19 at iHerb
Lily James
When Lily took on the role of Pamela Anderson in Hulu’s Pam and Tommy, the brief was all things ‘90s. On top of the wigs and prosthetics it took Lily to get into character, she also relied on this pink cinnamon-hued combo.
Liner: M.A.C Lip Pencil in ‘Spice’, $32 at M.A.C Cosmetics
Lipstick: Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in ‘Boy’, $62 at Chanel
Zendaya
Ok, it’s not a lip liner, but it’s still a lip combo that we believe you deserve to know. Shared to her Instagram story, Zendaya revealed that she creates her go-to custom lip shade by mixing together two different lipsticks. As an ambassador for Lancôme, it should be relatively easy to guess which brand her two lippies of choice comes from.
Lipstick one: Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Intimatte in ‘888 Kind Of Sexy’, $58 at Adore Beauty
Lipstick two: Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Intimatte in ‘155 Burning Lips’, $58 at Adore Beauty
Adele
After her British Vogue cover in 2021 was released, Pat McGrath shared every product that went into creating Adele’s look — hallelujah. Though ‘Adele eye makeup’ saw a spike in Google searches after the issue’s arrival, it’s her pinky-nude lip that caught our attention.
Lip liner: Pat McGrath Labs PermaGel Ultra Lip Pencil in ‘Buff’, $55.46 at Net-A-Porter
Lipstick: Pat McGrath Matte Trance Lipstick in ‘Christy’, $62 at Sephora
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka has never shied away from a bold lip moment. With so many different looks to choose from, it was hard to pick a favourite. But for us, it has to be the rosy-neutral lip created by celebrity makeup artist, Mary Phillips.
Lip liner: Max Factor Colour Elixit Lip Liner in ‘Brown Nude’, $17.95 at Big W
Lipstick: Max Factor LipFinity Lip Colour in ‘Indulgent’, $30.05 at Big W
Rozalia Russian
If you’re ever looking for makeup inspo, have a scroll of makeup artist Chantelle Baker’s Instagram. Responsible for painting the faces of Melissa Leong, Nadia Bartell and Rebecca Judd, Chantelle is our go-to when we’re looking for product recommendations, particularly lip shades. Our favourite of all? This MAC brown and nude lip combination, as seen on Rozalia Russian.
Lip liner: M.A.C Lip Pencil in ‘Stripdown’, $32 at M.A.C
Lipstick: M.A.C Matte Lipstick in ‘Honeylove’, $32 at The Iconic
Main image credit: @alexandradaddario
Have you tried any of these celebrity-favourite lip combinations?
No I haven’t tried any of these but have a couple of really good lip liners and lipstick with I am happy with
I haven’t tried any of the above, I like all of them thou.
No don’t think I have tried any of these but the Pat McGrath lippie colour is my kind of colour.
Gorgeous combinations!
I love all these colours. They would all suit my complexion.
I never wear lip liner!
I never used to buy am nowadays. Seems to help the colour remain.
Some beautiful Colours of Lipsticks and Lip Liner Pencils.
I haven’t tried these combos but they all look great
Nice colours and combos. I like lip liner but forget to apply it when wearing lippie
I rarely wear lipstick and wear lip liner even less but these combos all look lovely!
I haven’t tried any of these combinations but would love to try Adele’s and Rozalia Russian‘a.
No, I am simple, just lippy
These lip combo’s look so great. Thanks for this . I’ll try some of them
I am definitely a Pat McGrath girl!
I’d love to try Pat McGrath, so expensive though!
I love the paleness of Honeylove! Beautiful! It does remind me of Elvis’s young wife’s lippy look too.
Oh nice, I will give these a go! great recommendations.
I can’t be bothered with lip liners most of the time.
some lovely brands
I need a lip liner! Any suggestions? X
I’m loving Revolution lip liners currently, super affordable too. Lancome also make really nice ones, but dearer obviously.
I haven’t tried any of these lip combos, none of the colours are my go to
I haven’t tried any of these combinations but wouldn’t mind doing so.
I’ve not tried any of these, I use liquid lipstick for the staying power and only sometimes bother with a Lipliner.
I like the look of lip liner a shade darker than lipstick
So do I Susmat.
I like mixing lipsticks too.
They all look stunning
Have not tried any of these lipstick/liner’s! Interested by the Lily James pairing.
I’ve always wanted to try MAC Spice lip liner, heard such great things about it.
The MAC Honeylove lipstick would be my choice.
I’m not so influenced by celebrities.
I really don’t like it when a long wearing liner outlasts lipstick, and is bright and noticable.
That’s true.
M.A.C Lip Pencil in ‘Spice’ is very popular but I prefer cool-toned shades.
I don’t have any preferred combo as I seldom wear lip liner. When I do, it’s usually essence.
I haven’t tried these but beautiful combinations.
No I haven’t tried any, most are too pricey on my limited budget. I use a nude lipliner no matter what colour lipstick I use.
I agree really rather expensive and when you are on a budget one tends to only buy the essentials.
Adele’s combo is my favourite.
These colours are all so gorgeous
I haven’t tried any of these.
I don’t use liners. Too lazy
I’m still wearing a mask whenever I go out, so I’m still skipping lipstick, let alone lip liner.
I don’t wear lip liner but I like Adele’s lipcolour.
Love Zendayas lip look.