There are certain makeup pairings we know belong together—eyeliner and mascara, foundation and concealer, bronzer and blush. But one that ultimately seals the deal and will always have our hearts is the lip liner and lip gloss combo. Lip liner is a must-have makeup product because it helps elevate your lip products by adding dimension around the lips. And lip gloss helps add shine and can make your lips look fuller to complete your makeup look. No matter what shade of gloss you’re in the mood for, there’s a lip liner that can help enhance it. So if you’re ready to take your lip makeup to another level with this classic duo, let us guide you. Read on to find out more about our favorite lip liner and lip gloss combos, editor’s tips on how to use them, and products you can use to recreate these five looks on your own.
Before you even reach for a lip liner, you need to make sure your lips are prepped, so that they look their best. For smooth and soft lips, we recommend using the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish & Soften Cocoa Scrub or the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Purify & Unclog Kiwi Scrub. Both are formulated with three naturally derived sugars to help gently exfoliate your skin and lips. Apply a small amount onto your lips with dry fingers, then use wet fingers to massage it in. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water to reveal soft lips. Then apply a lip balm with a moisturizing formula to keep them hydrated.
5 Of The Best Lip Liner and Lip Gloss Combinations To Try
Now that your lips are nourished and prepped, it’s time to have some fun with color. Try one—or all—of these great lip liner and lip gloss combinations for an eye-catching lip makeup look.
Color Combo #1: Nude Lip Liner With A Nude Lip Gloss
We simply cannot live without nude-y colored lip products in our beauty kits. Nude colors provide a classic touch to various looks, and a nude lip looks great on every complexion (be sure to choose the right shades for your skin tone). For this popular lip start with a nude colored lip liner (one that is close to your skin tone). Try picking a shade from the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner collection and use it to define your lips by tracing around your natural lip shape. Then follow up with a nude-colored gloss like the L’Oréal Paris 8 Hour Pro Lip Gloss, hydrating finish in Dulce De Leche, or Barely Nude, or Truffle for a high-shine wet lip look.
Editor’s Tip: When applying lip liner, make sure to feather it out across the corners of your top and bottom lips. This will help blend your lip gloss color into the liner seamlessly.
Color Combo #2: Red Lip Liner With A Mauve Pink Lip Gloss
This color combo gets serious heart eye emojis every time we see it. It’s not too dramatic and it will give you a beautiful pop of red and pink hues on the lips. Reach for the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Anti-Feathering Lip Liner - Smooth Application in Flaming Carmin to outline your lips. Then apply a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris 8 Hour Pro Lip Gloss, hydrating finish in Modern Mauve, which will leave your lips super shiny for up to eight hours.
Editor’s Tip: You can make your lips look bigger using the lip liner overlining technique. Use a liner to trace along your lip line while gradually going outside of your mouth's natural perimeter as you move toward the center of your top and bottom lips. But be careful not to draw too far away from the lips. You’ll need to stay as close as possible for a more natural look.
Color Combo #3: Neutral Lip Liner With A Clear Lip Gloss
One of the most popular lip combo styles actually happens to involve a throwback look using your lips’ natural color. To give them more definition, try a neutral lip liner that’s two shades darker than your natural lip color. Pick a shade of your liking from the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner line. After you’ve outlined your entire lip and shaded in the corners, apply a few coats of a shiny and clear lip gloss, like the L’Oréal Paris 8 Hour Pro Lip Gloss, hydrating finish in Crystal Glass. You can never go wrong by letting your natural lip color shine!
Editor’s Tip: When applying your lip liner, try holding your pencil at a 45-degree angle. This positioning can help to ensure that you don’t end up with any harsh or jagged lines.
Color Combo #4: Red Lip Liner With A Red Lip Gloss
Our roundup would not be complete without adding a red lip combo to the mix. Recreate a long-lasting lip look for yourself using the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lip Liner in In-Matte-Uated With You to outline your lips. Then go for a slightly brighter red lip gloss to help create a stunning contrast on the lips. Grab the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Gloss in Shanghai Scarlet, which will give your lips a velvety matte texture.
Editor’s Tip: Apply a small amount of foundation to your lips before using red lip colors. The foundation will act as a great base to help keep your lip liner and lip gloss in place and prevent transferring.
Color Combo #5: Brown Lip Liner With A Brown Lip Gloss
The color brown has taken over our beauty social feeds recently, and we are here for it! Rich, chocolate browns can warm up your makeup and give off sultry babe vibes. Want to try adding this lip combo to your look? Reach for the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Anti-Feathering Lip Liner in Dark Chocolate. Shade in the inner corners of your lips to create a lip contour and then follow up with a few swipes of the L’Oréal Paris 8 Hour Pro Lip Gloss, hydrating finish in Coral Sands. Its formula is specially made to keep the gloss from fading for up to eight hours.
Editor’s Tip: Use a concealer and a small, precision makeup brush to define your lips shape and cover any color that may have gone outside the lines.