We’ve all been there: 40 lipsticks at the bottom of your makeup bag, and somehow… not the right one.
Enter: the lip capsule wardrobe. Just three products—a liner, a lipstick, and a gloss—from Lip Lab, pre-matched and ready to morph into whatever vibe you’re feeling.
Ahead, tips to help you pick your perfect shade, plus how to create totally different looks using the same trio of products.
If you’re near a Lip Lab location, you can create your own custom shade IRL. You can choose the finish, formula, and even scent.
Do the quick “shade math”
“Finding the perfect lipstick isn’t just about color, it’s the vibe you feel when you put it on. It’s chemistry,” says Whitney Carter, a Color Expert at Lip Lab. “Focus on your undertone and features, then experiment until it clicks. It’s not about rules, it’s about what reflects your vibe and natural beauty.”
While we’re all for tossing the rulebook, a little logic helps before you’re 13 swatches deep in lipstick purgatory. Here’s the cheat sheet: undertone + depth + finish.
Undertone: Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light (hold something white nearby to neutralize the background). If they skew green, you’re warm; blue or purple means cool; if you can’t tell, you’re likely neutral.
Depth: How light or dark are your natural lips? Go one or two shades deeper for a “my lips, but better” match; jump several shades for drama.
Finish: The finish you choose plays a major role in the overall vibe. Essentially:
- Matte = polished and powerful
- Satin = classic and balanced
- Gloss = playful, fresh, and maybe a little flirty
Pro tip: Test on your actual lips (not your hand) and look in natural light. If your skin suddenly looks brighter and your eyes pop, that’s your sign.
Lip Trios
Price: $105
Lip Lab
A color-coordinated set of Lip Lab’s bestsellers: a precision-tip lip liner, cushiony lipstick, and super shiny lip gloss (plus a bonus lip brush). Choose a monochromatic trio if you want a seamless, same-shade moment, or go dimensional for a slightly deeper liner that adds contour and pop.
(Poosh tip: take advantage of the free custom engraving, available for the lipstick and lip gloss.)
Here are a few of our favorite ways to create totally different looks using the same products:
a. Quick and polished
TL;DR: You overslept, your kid needed toast in the shape of a dinosaur immediately, and you just realized your upcoming Zoom is cameras-on. Whenever you need to look put-together fast, this look comes in clutch.
How to: Line your lips, use the lip brush to blur the edges, swipe on gloss, and bada-bing bada-boom: “It’s an effortless way to feel pulled together in seconds,” Whitney says.
b. Softly stained
Slightly undone, intentionally low-maintenance, and somehow sexier because of it—this look adds a touch of mystery. Like maybe you were just kissed… or maybe you just had a croissant. Who’s to say?
How to: Tap the lipstick on with your ring finger for a subtle, blurred tint. Smudge a tiny bit of liner at your cupid’s bow and center of your bottom lip for low-key definition.
c. Full glam
You’re not just going out—you’re arriving.
How to: Line your lips (don’t worry, the precision tip on Lip Lab’s liner makes it super easy), then fill in with lipstick. After carefully blotting, add gloss: dab it just in the center for a plumper look, or sweep it everywhere for high-shine drama.
Bonus tips:
- Buff, don’t wipe: Use Lip Lab’s lip brush (or any clean synthetic brush) to soften liner edges.
- Lock it in: If you want your lipstick to outlast your latte, try this old-school hack. After applying your first coat of lipstick, gently blot with a tissue. Then, press translucent powder through another tissue onto your lips (yes, through the tissue—very pro move), and finish with a light layer of lipstick.
- Coordinate your blush: Keep your cheek and lip in the same undertone family for that “something about her” harmony. Warm lip? Lip Lab’s new blush lineup makes it easy to keep things matchy-matchy in a not trying too hard way.
The bottom line? You don’t need a dozen lip products to create unique looks. You just need a smart trio and a few tricks up your sleeve.
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