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Our Best-Selling Lip + Cheek Looks Good on Everyone—Here’s Proof

See how our Milk Fam wears it.

Sara, Joachris, and Iley show how they wear Lip + Cheek in Werk Sara Wren applying Lip + Cheek to her lips

Today, July 29th, marks National Lipstick Day. We weirdly don’t have the day off to celebrate our favorite lip colors (like a certain Milk Lip + Cheek), but we do have some suggestions for what to wear on this momentous occasion.

Here at Milk Makeup, today is all about honoring one of our best-selling products: Milk Lip + Cheek in Werk. The stunning, dusty rose shade dropped in 2016 and instantly became a Milk Fam favorite. “Werk is a magic shade because it’s right in the middle: It’s pink, but not too pink,” says Sara Wren, our Director of Artistry. “It’s neutral but not boring. It’s not too warm, not too cool, not too bold, and not too sheer.” 

Jessica Blanco, our SVP of Product Development and Packaging, says the process of formulating Werk was all about adding a universal, versatile shade that could be worn every day to the Lip + Cheek lineup. After testing dozens of hues on several skin tones, Werk was born. “It embodies some classic Milk features: quick, multi-use, on-the-go, and clean,” she says.

Dianna Ruth, our Co-Founder and COO, calls Werk a “workhorse” shade you can use for basically any occasion. Sara agrees: “You can wear it with a bold smokey eye or as a blush with a bold red lip.” 

Jonaira South (she/her)

"Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Werk Trip gives me the perfect low-key everyday lip look. But because I’m extra,  I like to use the gloss over top of Lip + Cheek in Werk. Having the cream color as a base amps up the pink in the gloss and makes it more noticeable on someone with my skin tone. Without the combination of the two, you wouldn't be able to tell there was anything on my lips."

Shop Jonaira's Look

Model wears Lip + Cheek
Product image of Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Werk on white background

Shop Lip + Cheek

To get the most out of our buildable, blendable formula, you can swipe it on straight from the stick or pat it onto your lips with your fingertips for a “pouty, soft-focus blurred effect,” says Sara. Werk also layers well over nude and brown lip liners, as well as lip colors that may be too bright on their own. 

Werk also lends your cheeks a fresh flush, especially when paired with our Matte Bronzer in Blaze and our Highlighter in Lit for the ultimate glow. Another option Sara loves for summer: “I like to take Werk across the bridge of my nose to make a faux-sunburned look.” 

That’s just the beginning of all the ways you can wear Werk on National Lipstick Day (and beyond). Below, our Milk Fam shares six of their favorite ways to make this best-selling shade of Lip + Cheek shine.

Morgann Gauthier (she/her), Sales and Education Executive (France)

“I love that Lip + Cheek in Werk allows me to create a natural, fresh look in five minutes. I pair it with our Highlighter Stick in Lit, applied on my cupid's bow for a glowy look. It’s truly the perfect nude that I can wear day and night. I have very dry lips, but the formula instantly hydrates them. Plus, a makeup look is never complete without a matching blush shade. It makes all the difference.”

Shop Morgann's Look

Morgann wears Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Werk

Sara Wren (she/her), Director of Artistry

“Werk is a must-have in my makeup bag. I love it as a blush, but as a nude lip, it’s my soulmate. I pair it with a nude, cool-toned lip liner first, blending the liner as I apply Werk straight from the stick to my lips. Once that’s on, I dab on a bit of Electric Glossy Lip Plumper in Pumped (I use the clear shade so I can keep Werk true to its color). Instantly, my lips look natural, hydrated, and plumped.”

Shop Sara's Look

Sara wears Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Werk

Natalie Pilgrim-Allamani (she/her), Regional Sales & Education Manager (Canada)

“I’m always looking for the ultimate nude pink for my lips, and Werk just works for me. It’s my go-to because I like to neutralize my top lip line, and the pink pigment of Werk gets it done perfectly while achieving this beautiful, dusty nude pink. Whenever I wear this, I love to make my cheek color pop. Our Bionic Blush in Fly really brings everything together for a fresh-faced look.”

Shop Natalie's Look

Natalie wears Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Werk

Joachris Ortiz (she/her), Workplace Experience Coordinator

“I love how Werk creates such a pretty flush of color. On my cheeks, it gives I-just-got-a-great-compliment vibes, especially over some dewy skin tint. On my lips, I like to pair it with a brown lip liner to elevate the cool tone of the shade.”

Shop Joachris' Look

Joachris wears Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Werk

Harmony Boyer (she/her), VP of Retail Accounts

“She’s a 10, but she also works on your Lips + Cheeks—so she's a 100. Lip + Cheek in Werk is hands down one of my all-time holy grail products. Even before working at Milk, I had this in my makeup bag, and guess who introduced me to it? My mom! I love the ability to build a monochromatic look with just one item (it’s super pretty layered over Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer for a soft glam look). You can usually catch me applying this on the subway. It’s so easy to use, I never have to worry about my blending ability sans mirror.”

Shop Harmony's Look

Harmony wears Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Werk

Iley Cao (she/they), Junior Social Media Content Creator

“Lip + Cheek is definitely my go-to everyday product. I love how versatile it is; you can dress it up or down. For this look, I layered Werk under our Electric Glossy Lip Plumper in Wired for an ultra-hydrated lip look. I was headed to a concert, which is why I decided to add a little gloss for an extra pop. On the daily, I’ll wear Werk as a my-lips-but-better shade because it’s super moisturizing and easy to apply. A little winged liner flick with our KUSH Liquid Eyeliner, and I’m set.”

Shop Iley's Look

Iley wears Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Werk

Meet the Experts

Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.

Jessica Blanco (she/her) is the SVP of Product Development and Packaging at Milk Makeup. In her role, she seeks out the new, useful, and functional to create our revolutionary and highly innovative Milk Makeup products.

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Devon Abelman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer who focuses on the intersections and intricacies of beauty, culture, astrology, and mental health. She is passionate about shining light on under-the-radar BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ beauty creators as well as Korea’s impact on global beauty trends. In her spare time, Devon can be found dressing up Scorpion, her XXXL blind-and-deaf rescue dog.

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Devon Abelman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer who focuses on the intersections and intricacies of beauty, culture, astrology, and mental health. She is passionate about shining light on under-the-radar BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ beauty creators as well as Korea’s impact on global beauty trends. In her spare time, Devon can be found dressing up Scorpion, her XXXL blind-and-deaf rescue dog.

All information is created for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.