After Testing 47 Shades, These 12 Lip Combos Are Worth Every Penny

Photo Credit:@justicejwilliams

I spent hours literal hours a few weeks ago standing in the middle of Ulta with swatches climbing up my arm like a paint chart. I swatched every lip liner they had, and I do mean every single one. NYX, KIKO, Morphe, e.l.f., MAC… if it had a cap, I opened it.

Then I went home and disappeared into Pinterest and beauty TikTok for what turned into a two-month research spiral. I wanted to answer one simple question that so many of us type into Google at 1 a.m.:

Do lip liners really work?

Are lip liners worth it?

And what are the best lip combos that will work with my skin tone.

After testing shades on bare lips, glossed lips, dry lips, and the “my kids stressed me out today” lips these are the 12 viral lip combos that actually look good in real life. No ashy tones. No weird gray cast. No chalky pinks pretending to be nude. Just combos that work on brown skin the way the internet promised they would.

If you’ve ever stood in the makeup aisle confused about how to put on lipstick and lip liner without looking overdone, these combos are your shortcut.

Let’s get into the good stuff.

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The 14 Viral NYX (and Friends) Lip Combos Worth Trying

1. Cranberry Pie + Brown Liner

NYX Butter Gloss “Cranberry Pie” + Chestnut or Club Hopper Liner

If you want that juicy winter-berry lip without going full vamp, this combo is your girl. The brown liner grounds the berry so it doesn’t turn fuchsia. It’s bold but wearable — perfect for date nights or “I need to look alive” days.

Amazon

Non-Sticky Lip Gloss - Cranberry Pie (Mauve Purple)

$5.97

MAC

Lip Liner Pencil Chestnut

$25

Ulta

Suede Matte Lip Liner Velvet Soft Vegan Lip Pencil (Club Hopper)

$6.00

2. KIKO 34 Chestnut + NYX Milky Gloss “Milk It Pink”

Soft pink on melanin can be tricky, but this blend is buttery, smooth, and surprisingly grown woman. The brown liner warms up the pink so it looks wearable, not chalky.

Amazon

KIKO Milano Creamy Colour Comfort Lip Liner 24

$13.00

Amazon

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Butter Gloss, Non-Sticky Lip Gloss - Eclair (Pink)

$5.97

3. NYX “Natural” + NYX “Nude Truffle” Liner

This is the default everyday nude. It’s giving “clean girl, but she pays attention.” Works with glam, works with errands, works with everything.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Butter Gloss, Non-Sticky Lip Gloss - Madeleine (Mid-Tone Nude)

$5.97

NYX

Slim Lip Pencil

Natural-looking long-wear lip liner

$6.00

4. NYX “Spiked Toffee” + NYX “Nutmeg” Liner

Caramel nude perfection. If your everyday makeup vibe is warm, soft, and bronzy, this should live in your purse.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Butter Gloss Brown Sugar, Non-Sticky Lip Gloss - Spiked Toffee (Brown Mauve)

$5.97

Ulta

NYX Slim Lip Pencil Nutmeg

$6.00

5. NYX “Ginger Snap” + NYX “Nude Truffle”

The brown nude that never fails. This is the neutral you wear when your outfit is doing a lot and your lips need to stay in their lane.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Butter Gloss Brown Sugar Non-Sticky Lip Gloss Brownie Drip Deep Brown & Ginger Snap Chocolate Brown

$11.94

6. NYX “Cinnamon Roll” + NYX “Club Hopper”

Cool-toned brown lips without the dead look? Yes, it’s real. This is the combo beauty creators swear by for that sculpted, mysterious lip.

NYX Butter Gloss Brown Sugar Non-Sticky Lip Gloss Butterscotch Neutral Light Brown & Cinnamon Roll Grey Brown

$11.94

7. Nude Truffle + MAC Honeylove + NYX Fortune Cookie

Contoured, soft, creamy, and a little ‘90s. The matte center + glossy shell combo eats every time.

MAC

Matte Lipstick ~Honeylove~

$34.99

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Butter Gloss, Non-Sticky Lip Gloss - Fortune Cookie (True Nude)

$5.97

8. Club Hopper + Prune + e.l.f. Money Mauve

A grown, moody mauve. The deep liner shapes, Prune adds richness, and Money Mauve finishes everything with a glassy sheen.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick - Club Hopper (Brown With Reddish Undertone)

$8.50

NYX Nyx suede matte lip liner smll35 prune/glitz

$13.99

Amazon

e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain Power Mauves

$7.00

9. Sephora Lip Stain #74 + NYX Crème Brûlée or Butterscotch

Matte and gloss in the perfect peace treaty. It’s soft, romantic, and ideal for minimal makeup days.

SEPHORA COLLECTION 
Cream Lip Stain 10HR Liquid Lipstick

$16

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Butter Gloss, Non-Sticky Lip Gloss - Creme Brulee (Natural)

$5.97

10. NYX Espresso + NYX Smooth Whip “Pancake” + NYX Madeleine

Think: latte makeup. Warm, creamy, cozy the ultimate brown girl everyday combo.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Slim Lip Pencil, Long-Lasting Creamy Lip Liner - Espresso

$5.47

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Smooth Whip Matte Lip Cream, Long Lasting, Moisturizing, Vegan Liquid Lipstick - Pancake Stacks (Cool Beige Nude)

$5.72

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Butter Gloss, Non-Sticky Lip Gloss - Madeleine (Mid-Tone Nude)

$5.97

11. NYX Hot Caramelo + NYX Soft Matte “Abu Dhabi”

If you want a matte nude that still looks hydrated and alive, you’ll love this one.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Lip Lingerie XXL Matte Liquid Lipstick - Hot Caramelo (Warm Caramel)

$9.99

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Soft Matte Lip Cream, Lightweight Liquid Lipstick - Abu Dhabi (Deep Rose-Beige)

$6.97

12. e.l.f. Dark Cocoa + e.l.f. Boss Gloss “Pink-Me-Girl”

Affordable and fire. This trio delivers that brown-pink blend that flatters every undertone.

Amazon

e.l.f. Cream Glide Lip Liner

$3.00

Amazon

e.l.f. Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25

$7.24

Are Lip Liners Worth It?

Short Answer: Yes. Long Answer: Absolutely Yes.

If you’ve ever wondered why your nude lipstick disappears or looks flat, it’s because lipstick has no structure.

Lip liner:

• shapes the lip

• adds dimension

• keeps gloss from bleeding

• balances lighter shades on deeper skin

• makes cheap glosses look expensive

Even one $5 NYX pencil can change everything.

How to Apply Lip Liner (The Foolproof Way)

1. Start with moisturized lips.

2. Outline your natural lip shape (you don’t need to overline unless you want to).

3. Shade the corners slightly — this adds contour.

4. Add your lipstick or gloss in the center.

5. Blend with a finger or brush so the lines melt.

This is how you get the brown lip combo Black girls love — depth on the outside, softness in the middle.

The Best Lip Liner Shades (Beginner-Friendly)

If you don’t want to think too hard, start with these:

• NYX Nude Truffle $6.00

• NYX Espresso- $5.97

• NYX Club Hopper $ 8.50

• MAC Chestnut $25.00

• e.l.f. Dark Cocoa $3.00

One of these will work with every gloss or lipstick you already own.