The right blush lipstick combo can either elevate or derail your makeup look, so getting it right is an art form. There’s more to it than just matching your lip shade to your blush—although you can definitely do that too for a cute monochromatic moment. We could get detailed about the complexities of color theory here, or we could just show you what we mean.
To compile the ultimate guide to blush and lipstick combos, we asked our Milk Makeup team to build a quick cheat sheet of our easiest foolproof pairings for a wide range of skin tones. From a fresh, rosy glow to a vampy duo that’s made for date night, we’ve got it all. Below, seven ways to make your blush and lip color work smarter, not harder.
1. Sunkissed in a SwipeThis is the key to looking like you just had the most relaxing, sun-drenched summer Friday. “I love to use a combo of Lip + Cheek in Swerve and Perk to create the perfect post-beach day glow,” says Editorial Intern Ella Neve. “The orange-y terracota of Swerve, paired with the pink glow of Perk creates the perfect look.” To give this combo enough lasting power to stick around through an actual day at the beach, she preps her base with Hydro Grip Primer, then builds her base with a sheer foundation and Sculpt Stick in Toasted. Next, she blends both Lip + Cheek shades together for a sunkissed shade, topping it off with a swipe of Highlighter in Lit. “Before heading out for the day, I lightly dab Swerve onto my lips for a little added color,” she says. “To complete the beach day look, Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Explore is the cherry on top.” |
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2. Sunset FlushFor a golden-hour glow, this sunset-inspired lip and cheek pairing has you covered. “I love mixing pink and orange shades, so “sunset blush” gives me the best of both worlds, says Editorial Intern Jonaira South. For the warmer months, she loves to add a gold-toned highlighter to further enhance the look. (Try Highlighter in Strobe, Flare, or Spark to give your sunset flush a warm pop.) She keeps her lip shade in the same color family and amps up the shine with a slick of Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Explore. “It brings out the pink tones in my lips while adding a hint of glitter for some spice,” she says. |
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3. Rosy GlowIt shouldn’t take a whole lot of effort to look polished and pulled together. It’s a philosophy Editorial Manager Jihan Forbes clings to for her everyday makeup looks. With this in mind, she reaches for Lip + Cheek in Quirk and Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Voyage to finish many of her makeup looks. "Of all the Lip + Cheeks, Quirk is the hue that most suits me for any occasion. It gives my cheeks a natural rosy flush without overwhelming my face," Jihan says. She marries her rosy cheeks with bold, shiny lips, first defined with a brown lip liner, then filled in with Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Voyage. According to Jihan, the brown liner "helps the sheer blackberry color of Odyssey blend in with my lips." The result? Effortless chic for any occasion. |
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4. No Makeup-MakeupFor the days when you want to feel put together but not not look overly made up, Social Community Lead Zoey Burger recommends pairing Lip + Cheek in Enigma and Odyssey in Journey. "I love how Enigma gives my cheeks and lips a healthy flush. The extra coat of Odyssey makes my lips pop with a nice, subtle glow," she says. For Zoey, Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Journey is a must over the winter months, "this is also a go-to grab for me as it ensures lips stay hydrated over the driest months of the year." |
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5. Monochromatic MuseCan't go wrong with a monochrome theme when you’re pairing blush and lip products. Designer Taylor Mew’s go-to is Lip + Cheek loves a double swipe of Muse, noting that the "deep burgundy is the perfect shade for that Sugar Plum Fairy with an edge vibe." To get their bold lips, Taylor lines them with Infinity Long Wear Eyeliner in Limitless, then goes over it with Muse and tops it off with Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Voyage. "Odyssey is the perfect top coat for me as it blends everything together seamlessly," they say. |
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6. Date Night GlamOn the hunt for a go-to lip and blush duo for a special night out? Creative Operations Manager Shruti Dube swears by Lip + Cheek in Muse and Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Journey. "I love doing a subtle, bold look for date nights, and Muse does that perfectly," she says. After using Lip + Cheek in Muse as a blush and base for her lips, Shruti goes over it with Journey to add a semi-sheer, blackberry tint to the overall look.. |
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7. Beige, Not BoringCoordinating your blush and lipstick is the perfect opportunity to play with contrasting finishes. Editorial Intern Ella Torres loves to pair Lip + Cheek in Smirk with Electric Glossy Lip Plumper in Buzzed to give her lips a wash of color and a little boost of volume. "The two shades complement each other perfectly," Ella says of the warm beige color combo. After swiping Lip + Cheek in Swerve on her cheeks, Ella runs it over her lips: "I use it as a first layer since it’s so hydrating. Then, I top off my lips with Electric Glossy Lip Plumper in Buzzed, which gives my lips a subtle shine and plumps them, too." |
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