The 7 Best Lip Combos for Winter, According to Byrdie Editors

With winter in full swing, it's only right that we update our beauty routines accordingly. The first order of business? Choosing a signature lip combo to wear while the weather is cooler. Each season, we find ourselves inspired to pick out a gloss, lipstick, and liner lineup that feels fitting for the months ahead. And this winter, our editors have put together some stunning lip looks that run the gamut from neutral to bold. Ahead, find Team Byrdie's seven favorite lip combos for winter. 

Jasmine Phillips, social media editor

I’m relatively new to the lip combo game, as I prefer just swiping on a lip oil or gloss, but I’ve been feeling inspired to step up my makeup game lately. For my first attempt, I used Buxom Power Line Plumping Lip Liner ($21) in the shade Creamy Chocolate. I’ve seen many brown-skinned girls use brown lipliner, and it’s definitely going to be my go-to shade. I then used Ami Colé’s Lip Treatment Oil in Romance. This red lip oil is the perfect deep hue for the winter and has the non-sticky shine I love.

Olivia Hancock, editor

While I usually opt for a statement lip, my go-to lip combination this winter is a bit more subtle. Lately, I've been lining my lips with Hourglass' new Shape & Sculpt Lip Liner ($29) in Candid and applying several layers of the brand's Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm ($36) in Rouse on top. Both shades are described as a "true chestnut" hue, and together, they create the most beautiful sheer, brown lip look. 

Star Donaldson, associate social media director

My go-to winter lip combo starts with my favorite lipliner, Makeup Forever's Artist Color Pencil ($22) in the shade Full Red. When I fully fill in my lips with this as a base, my red lipstick never bleeds throughout the day. Then, I apply Chanel's Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour ($44) in shade 99 Pirate, which gives me a classic and vibrant red lip with amazing coverage.

Madeline Hirsch, news director 

A makeup artist at Charlotte Tilbury recently blew my mind with a quick tip. She lined my lips with a nude shade slightly darker than my skin tone (you can use whatever shade works for you) to create the perfect lip contour. Rather than using the same shade as your lipstick, this technique acts as a contour, putting your pout front and center for a luscious, defined Cupid's bow and pillowy lower lip. Just add gloss (right now, I'm into this plumping formula), and you've got a glamorous party-worthy look.

Bella Cacciatore, news editor

I would love to say my go-to winter lip is a bold red or something more interesting, but I have super dry lips that only get worse in the cold, so my tolerance for bold colors is low. That said, I love a browny-nude shade, so I take the chance to lean in. Fara Homidi's Smudge and Contour Lip Pencil ($36) in Minky is perfect in texture and color—stiff enough to add definition without dragging and a pink-toned nude, respectively. I often wear the lip liner on its own for the perfect pouty look, but I also love to layer the Ilia Balmy Tint Lip Balm ($28) in Memoir on top. The balm feels hydrating and comfortable on my dry lips and is the most unique nude shade I've ever seen. One coat gives me a subtle mauve shade, but if I build it up, it becomes an almost purple-toned brown that feels cool and very '90s.

Ali Webb, associate editor

One of my favorite lip products is the Violette_FR Bisou Balm ($28) in Amour Fou—it's a stunning red with a buildable, nourishing formula that allows you to create a range of looks from a subtle tint to a matte lipstick moment. While I love the product's bouche mordue finish—French for "just bitten"—on its own during the day, when evening arrives, or I'm feeling fancy, I like to take it to the next level with a gloss, like Live Tinted's Huegloss ($20) in Smart. Together, these products help me create a subtly glam yet wearable red lip that feels perfect for winter days.

Zizi Strater, news writer

A pink, glossy lip is my go-to. In fact, as my all-black outfit alludes, my lips are usually the only place I like to play with color. That being said, I have tried dozens of pink-tinged lip products to give me that sweet, playful pout. Recently, Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bomb Heat ($26) in Glass Slipper and Glossier's G Suit Matte Liquid Lip Crème ($22) in Pilot have been my signature combo. Though I have always been a fan of Fenty Beauty's glosses, the lip-plumping version has given me all the goodness I never knew I needed. When layered over the lip crème, it gives my lips a natural-looking bright pink color on top of a gorgeous plump.