Wearing monochromatic makeup is the perfect way to create a put-together, fresh look using two or less products to make over your entire face. In a pinch, your lipstick itself can do double duty: “Use it on your lips and then dab the excess on your cheeks,” says Romy Soleimani, Beauty.com Beauty Director at Large. But new products that are specially made for use on both lips and cheeks make it even more obvious that one one color really does fit all.
To help you streamline your operation, we rounded up our favorite products that work well on both the lips and cheeks. Feel free to experiment with intensities and formulas, and even try some out on your eyelids. Your face is your canvas!
1Coral
For a more sheer application, apply a lip and cheek stain (like this Sonia Kashuk one) directly onto cheeks and lips. If you want bolder color, you can layer on top of a cream blush or lipstick, says makeup artist Sonia Kashuk.
“Coral is perfect on medium skintone,” says Soleimani, “and pale peach looks great on lighter skintones.” Play with different variations until you find the color that’s best on you.
Try: Sonia Kashuk Dewy Luxe Lip & Cheek Balm in Charmed, $10, Clarins Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Grenadine, $30, Laura Gellar Baked Gelato Vivid Swirl Blush in Papaya, $28
2Nude
There’s a lot of flexibility when working with a nude color scheme. Brown, taupe, beige… the variations go on and on. You can use any hue in the color family and still achieve the pretty one-color look.
Try: Tarte Cheek Stain in Exposed, $30, Tarte LipSurgence Power Pigment in Exposed, $24, Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop, $21
3Bronze
A bronze palette can be really chic and beautiful, especially in the summertime. “Mix a bronzey eye and cheek and go with a more coral on the mouth,” Kashuk recommends. Don’t worry that the colors aren’t exact matches—as long as they have the same tones, they will work seamlessly together.
Try: Maybelline Master Glaze Glisten Blush Stick in Warm Nude, $9, Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Defiant Coral, $30, Topshop Bronzer in Mohawk, $18
4Rose
Bright pinks and corals a little too bold for you? A lighter pink like this dusty rose will give you a warm glow for a pretty, natural look.
Try: Lipstick Queen Vesuvius Liquid Lips in Vesuvian Blush, $24, Revlon Powder Blush in Racy Rose, $7
5Fuchsia
If you’re going to match your eyeshadow too, Kashuk recommends just using a light wash of color—no smokey eye or any contouring. “I think its prettier and sexier when you’re using one or two shades on the eye and that’s about it, keeping it a little more simplistic.” To make sure pink doesn’t look too red on the eyelids, keep it soft, even if you’re going bold on the lips.
Try: Shu Uemura Tint in Gelato Lip and Cheek Color in Milky Framboise, $28, Laura Geller Love Me Dew Moisturizing Lip Crayon in Dragon Fruit Sorbet, $16
6Bourdeaux
A deeper berry or plum shade looks great on darker skintones, says Soleimani. For an elegant look in the colder months, focus on this deeper color palate with a mauvey or bourdeax-colored cheek, lip and eye.
Try: Flower Kiss Me Twice Lip and Cheek Chubby in Raisin the Roof, $10, Palladio High Intensity Herbal Lip Balm in Blooming Berry, $7
