We’ve all been there.
One day, you’re casually scrolling on TikTok, and you come across a lip combo tutorial. And you’re like, today’s the day, you’re finally going to upgrade your lip routine. The girl in the video uses about 12 different products, even eyeliner, for goodness’ sake. But it looks so good, and you’re determined.
So you get to work. And everything about it is off. You can’t place your finger on exactly what’s wrong, but you don’t look like the girl in your inspo. As I said, we’ve all been there.
So if you’ve ever been confused by lip combos or just want to upgrade your routine without stress, this guide is for you. These are simple, effortless lip combos that actually work for Nigerian girls, plus where to shop for them.
Let’s get into it.
The Only Five Lip Combos You Need As a Black Girl
The Classic Y2K Lip
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This lip combo walked so others could run. We all grew up watching the old Nollywood Queens rock this combo, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. It’s simple, reliable, and works for casual everyday situations. If you don’t want to think too hard, this is the combo to fall back on.
What You Need
A black liner: The Davis eyebrow pencil should work just fine, but if you want more, try out the Zaron Eye pencil in shade “Black Velvet”
Any clear gloss. If you want a transfer-proof, smudge-free application, try the Marviano Cosmetics gloss in shade “Crystal Clear,” and for a plumping effect, try the Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss in clear.
For some people, this combo is literally all they ever wear. And honestly, it makes so much sense. It complements dark skin beautifully, and even on lighter complexions, it creates a beautiful contrast.
How to Apply
- Line your lips with your black liner. You can overline or follow your natural lip shape; just do what works for you.
- Blending is optional. If you like a softer look, blend the liner inward. If you want a sharp outline, leave it as is.
- This stage is optional, but if you want to add a pop of colour, you can apply some pink or red gloss to the inner part of your lips.
- Finish with a clear gloss.
Read More: Makeup Essentials Every Beginner Should Own (A Complete Under 100k Starter Kit)
2. The Soft Girl
This is for the soft girl. That girl who wants to look natural, but better, it’s beginner-friendly, easy on the eyes, and perfect for any occasion. If you want to look elegant, lowkey, and not like you’re trying too hard, this is the perfect lip look for you.
What You Need
A brown liner: The Davis pencil or the Zaron liner in shade “Claypot” should work just fine.
A soft pink gloss: The Zaron lip-oil in shade “Haze”, or The Beauty By AD Ethereal Essence Lipgloss in shade “Gleam”.
Any clear gloss. If you want a transfer-proof, smudge-free application, try the Marviano Cosmetics gloss in shade “Crystal Clear,” and for a plumping effect, try the Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss in clear.
How To Apply
- Line your lips with the brown lip liner along your natural lip shape, then blend slightly.
- Apply a little of the soft pink gloss to the centre of your lips.
- Finish with clear gloss.
3. The Cherry Cola Lip
Think of this as a red lip, but more.
The cherry cola lip combo is bold, rich, and dramatic, but not loud. It has grown and sultry. And while it looks very difficult, it’s actually so easy to get right… even though I somehow keep messing mine up.
Writing this forced me to do a lot of research, and as someone who has tried to recreate this look over and over again, I can say this is the easiest and best way to achieve the cherry cola lip combo.
Read More: 7 Of The Best Hydrating Lipglosses To Give Dry Lips A Plump, Glossy Shine
What You Need
Brown lip liner: For a very pigmented application, The Shine Cartel lippyology liner in “Mocha” works perfectly.
Black lip liner: You can use the Davis eyebrow pencil or any black liner you already own.
Red lip liner or heavily pigmented red lip gloss: Try The Shine Cartel liner in “Rouge” or the gloss in “Cherry”.
Nude lipstick: Try the Zaron Matte Lip Fix in “Tease.”
Any clear gloss. If you want a transfer-proof, smudge-free application, try the Marviano Cosmetics gloss in shade “Crystal Clear,” and for a plumping effect, try the Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss in clear.
Note: You can swap the red liner for the red gloss, but don’t use both, especially if they’re very pigmented. The cherry cola is more of a dark red than a bright red.
How to Apply
- Line your lips with the brown lip liner. This is your base.
- Apply the red liner or red gloss to the inner part of your lips (not over the brown) and gently blend the two together.
- Add a nude lipstick to the center of your lips to soften the red and create depth.
- Line just the outer edges of your lips with the black liner for extra definition.
- Finish with clear gloss.
This is tested and approved. And I actually nailed it this time!
4. The Perfect Nude
This is not just your average brown lip combo like The Soft Girl. To get this combo, you want an ombre effect from a dark shade of brown to a light shade, and then finally a nude color in the middle. As the name says, it’s perfect for professional events, and it always goes well with a full face of makeup. The classy babes always have this combo in their bags.
What You Need
A black lipliner or dark brown: The Shine Cartel in shade “Mocha.”
Brown liner: The Shine Cartel in shade “Cappuccino.”
Nude gloss/lip stain: The Classic nude lip stain or the Zaron Matte lip fix in shade “Blondie” would work perfectly.
Any clear gloss. If you want a transfer-proof, smudge-free application, try the Marviano Cosmetics gloss in shade “Crystal Clear,” and for a plumping effect, try the Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss in clear.
How To Apply
- Start by lining your lips very thinly with the black or dark brown lip liner, focusing on the outer edges.
- Go in with the lighter brown lip liner on your inner lip, not over the part you just outlined.
- Blend the two shades together until you get a smooth ombré effect.
- Apply your nude lipstain/gloss to the centre of your lips and blend it all together.
- Apply clear gloss if you want to, or leave it as is.
Read More: Makeup Essentials Every Beginner Should Own (A Complete Under 100k Starter Kit)
5. The Burgundy Babe
This one’s bold, dramatic, and the perfect night-out lip combo. If the red of the cherry cola combo isn’t your style, but you still want your lips to make a statement, this is the perfect combo. It’s dark, but it’s also light, feminine, and cute.
Read More: 7 Of The Best Hydrating Lipglosses To Give Dry Lips A Plump, Glossy Shine
What You Need
Dark purple liner: The Zaron lipliner in the shade “Vivid.”
Pink lipstick: The Classic Matte Lipstain in the shade “Violet”
Pink lip gloss: BeautybyAD Ethereal Essence Lipgloss in the shade “Blush.”
Any clear gloss. If you want a transfer-proof, smudge-free application, try the Marviano Cosmetics gloss in shade “Crystal Clear,” and for a plumping effect, try the Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss in clear.
How To Apply
- Line your lips with the burgundy liner and blend slightly inward.
- Apply the pink lip stain and blend it in.
- Line your lips again for definition.
- Apply the pink lip gloss over the pink parts of your lip
- Go over with a clear gloss for more shine.
Tips You Need To Know
Now that you’ve learned how to do the basic Black girl lip combos, before you rush off to recreate, there are some helpful tips you need to know first for easy, long-lasting application. This is everything you need to know to be a certified lip combo professional:
- Transfer/Smudging: With lip combos, smudging and transfer are always a risk you can’t entirely avoid, so be on the lookout, as they may stain your lip gloss. If you are not using a smudge-free product like Marviano Cosmetics, a pro tip is to use the head of your lip liner, as we mentioned above. When applying gloss, simply squeeze some onto your hand and apply it with the head of the pencil; it may transfer a little or smudge, but you can always wipe the stain off the pencil with a wipe, unlike with a gloss applicator.
- Setting Powder: Pro tip. If you want your lip combo to last even longer, this is a tip usually used in more professional makeup. Pick up some setting powder on your blush brush, fluff it out on your hand, then dust off the excess. Apply what’s left on the brush to your bare lips before and after lining your lips. Make sure to wait a few minutes for the powder to set before dusting off any excess from your lips.
- Blending: Blending can be a tricky one, as it’s the foundation of your combo. There are two things to take note of here:
– Blending with your lips: This blending method should be done gently, not aggressively. You want to gently rub the inner parts of your lips together. Note: The inner parts. Don’t blend everything. You want to blend only the color in the middle and your liner.
– Blending with other tools: You can use a finger, the head of your lip liner pencil, or a lip brush to blend the edges of your liner, but never use a lip brush to blend or apply gloss. Trust us, it’ll ruin the entire process by mixing the colours too well. For gloss, stick to using the head of your pencil. That’ll get the job done. - Moisturise, But Not Too Much: This is a tricky one. After making sure your lips are clean, you also want to ensure they’re properly moisturised. Dry lips can make the lining process difficult as the pencil may hurt the skin, but overly moisturised lips can also make the process difficult as the products may slip on the excess oil. Apply only just a bit of lip balm or cream, the tiniest amount, to keep your lips soft and smooth.
- Don’t Skip Exfoliation: Make sure your lips are well exfoliated before you start your lip combo. When it’s not, the skin on your lips can be patchy and uneven, making your makeup turn out funky. A quick lip scrub can help prevent this, and when that’s not possible, simply wipe your lips with a damp towel.
Will You Be Recreating?
And there you have it. Five lipcombos perfect for every Nigerian girl, along with product recommendations and directions.
Now, you really don’t have any excuse for saying that lipcombos are hard.
Hard where? When this guide exists.
Bookmark this post, whip out your pocket mirror, and get to recreating.
Read More: Makeup Essentials Every Beginner Should Own (A Complete Under 100k Starter Kit)
