Over time we’ve learned that certain things belong together. Seeing as eyeshadow and lipstick are two products most commonly worn together every single day, experimenting with combos can be endless fun, especially If you’re in the mood to be creative. Digging deep into our makeup bags and figuring out all the things we can pair together helps us discover different ways to use the products we currently own and inspire us to try new ones. “My biggest source of inspiration and where I look for reassurance on some of my color choices are art, nature, and fashion,” says professional makeup artist Valeria Ferreira.
Feel overwhelmed at the thought of figuring out which colors work best together? While it may feel like a daunting task to some, there’s no reason to worry—we’ve got you covered.
Keep scrolling to see some great eyeshadow and lipstick pairings to put on your face right now.
Lilac and Hot Orange
A soft lilac or even violet eyeshadow paired with hot orange lipstick creates a beautiful color contrast and is seriously flattering on almost any skin tone. The bold punch of the orange lip color doesn’t compete with the eyeshadow, and both colors come together to create something chic and playful, like on British songstress Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Shimmery Silver and Fuschia
Actress Gemma Chan rocks a soft silver shadow and a bright fuchsia lip. These two colors can be worn all year round no matter the season, which is great news for anyone who doesn’t want to change their appearance often. Not to mention, fuschia lipstick looks great in both matte and shiny formulas, so depending on your mood, you can try both finishes and see which one you prefer to wear more frequently. Ferreira loves the idea of “super-matte, bold fuchsia lips, and a silvery lid—boom!”
Try silver and fuschia as a refreshing, cool-toned alternative to the typical gold-eye-and-red-lip combo you see at holiday gatherings and other parties.
Chocolate Brown and Pinky-Nude
“This is a classic combo and a super-safe palette. You can’t go wrong with this combination!” assures Ferreira. The chocolate shadow can be as simple as you want, all you need to do is blend a light wash of color over the lids like Alexa Chung wears above, and if you want to intensify this, you can increase the color by applying more. Pinky-nude lipstick is a staple shade found in almost every makeup bag and wears well with other shadow colors if you want to test it out with some other palettes.
Smoky Gray and Deep Berry
A decadent duo, deep smoky gray shadow, and berry lipstick are always a win in our book. Whether you want a bold berry lip or more of a stain-like finish, either one will work with the gray color since it has so much depth already. “I love the Onyx Lid Lustre by Victoria Beckham Beauty,” recommends Ferriera. “It’s slightly metallic, has a sparkle to it, and has great longevity.” This combo is one of actress Kerry Washington’s red-carpet staples.
Bronze and True Red
“When I think of this look, I have images of icons such as Cindy Crawford, Salma Hayek, and Eva Mendez,” says Ferriera. If there’s any eyeshadow combo to make eyes appear brighter and teeth whiter, this one’s it. Bronze eyeshadow brightens the whites of the eyes and brings out eye color giving them an extra sparkle. A blue-red lipstick is a sure-fire way to brighten up your pout and your smile. What’s better than that?
Taupe and Dusty Rose
Pair your neutral eyeshadow look with a touch of dusty rose lipstick for a combo you’ll love wearing during the day. The soft taupe on the lids gives just enough color, while rose lipstick adds a natural finish to lips and helps brighten the complexion, like actress Madison Iseman’s gorgeous pink pout.
Peach and Fire Red
A little sweet, a little spicy, peach eyeshadow, and fire red lipstick is a hot combo that certainly brings the heat. Want to take an extra step? Match your textures: keep everything matte, as actress Lilly Collins did here, or add a little gloss on top of lids and lips if you want a patent leather shine. “This is a more daring combination,” says Ferriera. “I imagine the eyeshadow to be a light peach with a touch of pink and the lips to be the star of the look.”
Emerald and Peachy Nude
From emerald tones to deep, hunter green—this is the dynamite color duo that keeps on giving us all the reasons to wear it. Whether you opt for matte or shimmery shadows, either one will work with the lipstick color. Play around wearing the green as an eyeliner, a lid color, or even create a smoky eye with it, as actress Kat Graham has here. The options are endless, and you’ll have so much fun with all the different results.
If you’re going for a strong eye, it’s a good idea to have more than one shade of your desired color on hand. “When I am creating a strong eye makeup look, I tend to team my eyeshadows,” says Ferriera. “I layer shades and tones to create depth and richness.”
Whether you’re using navy blue eyeshadow as a liner, or all-over lid color, pairing it with mauve lipstick is such a win, you’ll be reaching for this combo often. Queen of the editorial eye, Tessa Thompson reaches for this duo often, seen above with a sheer wash of iridescent navy shadow and a soft, shimmering mauve lip.
A good tip to remember if you’re wearing the shadow as a liner is to wet an angled eyeliner brush first before applying the shadow. It will intensify the color payoff and make the shadow last longer
Smoky Black and Beige Nude
For maximum drama on the eyes, blend the smoky black shadow to your heart’s content—the more drama, the better! Keep the edge on the eyes and leave just enough to the lips with a soft, beige nude lipstick to seal it all in place. Is there a better example of how to wear this stunning duo than the glamorous J.Lo? We submit that there is not.
Pastel Blue and Soft Coral
Pastel colors are just as soothing as they are pretty. Pairing a soft pastel blue shadow with a coral lip (you can opt for sheer or bold coverage) is a happy color combo that is a serious vibe; actress and model Laura Harrier provides us with plenty of proof of that. Ferriera says, “glossy all the way!” for the lips on this look.
Rust and Baby Pink
Rust-colored eyeshadow might not be the first hue that comes to mind, but it can make any eye color stand out, which is one of the reasons why it’s so special. When worn with delicate baby pink lipstick, it makes it even that more noticeable—just look at how it makes Demi Lovato’s eyes really pop. “A rust eyeshadow will most certainly be the star of this look,” says Ferriera. “I feel the pink on the lip should have some kind of beige-taupe undertone.” This color combo can be worn from day to night and just might become your next favorite look when you discover how easy and well it wears.
