If there’s one beauty product I’ve become obsessed with over the past few years, it’s lip liner. As someone with naturally thin lips, it's always been the product that makes the biggest difference to my makeup. A well-placed liner can subtly enhance the shape of my lips without looking obvious—I never wear lipstick without one (in fact, I often just wear lip liner), and if you peeked inside my makeup bag, you'd find far more lip liners than anyone reasonably needs.
One of my favourite things about makeup is experimentation, and when it comes to lip products in particular, there is so much room for creativity and customisation. Pair a cool-toned nude liner with a peachy lipstick, and you'll create something entirely different than if you teamed that same lipstick with a warm brown or rosy pink. The possibilities are almost endless, which is why I love experimenting with different combinations depending on my mood, the season, or the rest of my makeup look.
Summer, in particular, calls for a wardrobe of lip pairings. Think fresh pinks, sun-warmed peaches, glossy nudes and vibrant corals that feel effortless rather than overdone. So, after years of testing (and more than a little lip liner collecting), I've rounded up my favourite lipstick and lip liner combinations for the season. I've also enlisted some of my fellow Who What Wear UK beauty team members to share the pairings they reach for on repeat, from everyday neutrals to brighter holiday-ready shades. Whether you're looking for the perfect "your lips but better" duo or something with a little more impact, there's a combination here worth trying.
The Best Summer Lip Liner and Lipstick Combinations
1. Fara Homidi Lip Compact in Nude 1 + Fara Homidi Lip Pencil in Doux
"This duo has completely changed the way I think about nude lips. Rather than creating a flat beige finish, the combination adds subtle dimension while still looking incredibly natural. I use the Lip Pencil in Doux to lightly define and slightly overline my cupid's bow before blending the edges with my fingertip. Then I press Nude 1 from the Lip Compact over the centre of my lips with a lip brush for a soft, diffused effect. The compact's creamy texture almost melts into the lips, while the liner provides just enough structure to make everything look more defined. The result is an expensive-looking, softly sculpted nude lip that feels incredibly modern—and one I know I'll be wearing well beyond summer." — Grace Day, freelance beauty editor
2. Guerlain Contour G Lip Pencil in Le Beige Praline + Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil in Mocha
"I know people tend to steer towards brighter shades in the summer months, but I happen to think that a deeper nude lip combo looks super chic, especially with a tan. This season, I've been gravitating towards Guerlain's Contour G Lip Pencil in the shade Le Beige Praline. I love this pencil as it feels nice and creamy to apply, yet it doesn't budge. Plus, it's very pigmented, so you can build it up depending on what finish you like. I'll be honest, I don't really like wearing lipstick, so instead, I apply the Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil in the shade Mocha over the top. Not only does the brown hue perfectly complement the liner, but the hydrating formula and sparkling finish are a match made in heaven." — Grace Lindsay, deputy beauty editor, Who What Wear UK
3. Summer Fridays Softline Lip Liner in Toffee + Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in Pique
"It's taken me a long time to find a good lip combo, and after finding that so many liners and lipsticks pull too pink or orangey on my skin, I've learnt that neutral or cool-toned-leaning shades work best for my complexion. Summer Fridays Softline Lip Liner in the shade Toffee is my favourite neutral liner with a cool-toned, pinky-brown hue that glides on and softly sculpts without looking harsh. Then, I like to gently pat on Westman Atelier's Lip Suede Lipstick in shade Pique to the centre of my lips, which results in a soft-focus, blurred lip with a taupey undertone. It's a matte lipstick, but it's so creamy and hydrating that it feels like a lip balm on my lips." — Eleanor Vousden, beauty editor Who What Wear UK
4. Victoria Beckham Beauty Lip Definer in 03 + Hourglass Phantom Blur Balm in Whisper
"If you asked me to choose one lip combination to wear every day, this would probably be it. Victoria Beckham Beauty's Lip Definer in 03 is the perfect cool brown-pink—it adds just enough definition to subtly enhance my naturally thin lips without looking like I'm obviously wearing liner. The formula is creamy enough to glide on effortlessly but sets down so it stays put for hours. I then swipe on Hourglass's Phantom Blur Balm in Whisper, which has the most beautiful soft rosy-nude tone. It smooths over the liner, blurs everything together, and gives my lips that plush, softly diffused finish that looks incredibly polished. It's understated, effortless, and somehow works with every makeup look I wear, whether it's barely-there skin or a full evening face." — Grace Day, freelance beauty editor
5. Merit Signature Lip Liner in Coupé + Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil in Pointelle
"When I'm in the mood for something glossier, this is the lip combination I reach for every time. Merit’s Signature Lip Liner in Coupé is a beautiful neutral pink-brown that gives my lips just enough definition without ever looking harsh, and I like to softly blend the edges inwards so it almost melts into my natural lip line. I then layer Merit’s Shade Slick Lip Oil in Pointelle over the top, which adds the prettiest sheer wash of cool-toned pink and an incredibly juicy shine without feeling sticky. Together, they create that effortless, healthy-looking lip that feels fresh and clean rather than overdone." — Grace Day, freelance beauty editor
6. Westman Atelier Lip Shape Lip Liner in Je Reve + Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in Je Reve
"I'm a huge fan of monochromatic lip combinations, and these two products were clearly designed to be worn together. The Je Rêve liner has a beautiful rosy-brown undertone that softly sculpts the lips without looking too sharp, while the matching Lip Suede Matte Lipstick creates the most sophisticated blurred finish. Although it's matte, it never feels dry or flat—instead, it has that velvety texture that makes lips look naturally fuller. I love that the colour sits somewhere between a nude and a muted rose, making it wearable every day while still feeling polished. It's the kind of lip combination I reach for when I want to look put together without having to think too hard about the rest of my makeup." — Grace Day, freelance beauty editor
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