How to Curate The Perfect Lip Palette

When it comes to makeup, the colors you wear can create a serious statement—which means you want to pick the right shades. As far as your lip color goes, a lipstick set may have all the shades you need to help you create a custom look that truly stands apart from the crowd, but a lip palette does as well—all in one convenient makeup compact. If you’re ready to switch up your makeup look, we’re sharing how to curate your own lip makeup palette and how to use it to pull off a few unique lip makeup ideas.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN LIP PALETTE

While lipstick palettes are definitely a must-have for your makeup bag, we all have our favorite lipsticks that we don’t want to part with. Lucky for you, you can create your own lip palette—whether you’re partial to shiny or matte lip palettes—with all your favorite shades. Here’s how to do it:

STEP #1: GRAB YOUR PALETTE

Of course, to create a lip palette, you’re going to need, well, a palette. You can choose to use an empty lip palette or get creative with a multi-compartment pillbox or paint palette.

STEP #2: BEHEAD YOUR LIPSTICK

Grab your favorite lipstick sets or individual lipstick shades; it’s time to get to depotting. Depotting is the process of removing lipstick from its original tube. For the sake of creating a lip palette, start by winding your lipstick tube up until all of the product is on display. Then, use a knife to carefully slice the lipstick away from the tube before setting it to the side.

STEP #3: GET OUT THE REST OF YOUR LIPSTICK

Don’t toss out that old tube just yet! There’s sure to be more product buried inside. Use the end of a makeup brush to scoop out any remaining product.

STEP #4: PUT YOUR LIPSTICK INTO YOUR PALETTE

It’s time to give all of that lipstick you depotted a new home. If you want, you can melt the lipstick down; that way, when it’s poured into your DIY lip palette, it’s perfectly smooth. You can do so by placing your lipstick onto a metal spoon and holding it over a lit candle until it turns into a liquid consistency. Then, pour it into the palette and stick it into the fridge until it’s back to a solid form. Keep in mind, doing this does risk changing the consistency of your lipstick. As an alternative, you can simply press and pat down your lipstick into each well of your lip palette.

Editor’s note: Don’t worry if the press and pat method looks a little messy. This is the process preferred by professional makeup artists—who always have custom lip palettes in their kits.

STEP #5: REPEAT!

Repeat the process outlined above with the rest of your favorite lipstick shades until your palette is full and ready to go. There you have it—a customized, one-of-a-kind lip palette made especially for you, by you.

HOW TO DO A BERRY MATTE METALLIC LIP USING A LIP PALETTE

If we've learned anything from our Pinterest feeds, it’s that matte metallic lips are about to have a serious moment. Here’s how to get a head start on this soon-to-be makeup trend:

STEP #1: PREP YOUR PUCKER

Before applying color, use a lip scrub to help exfoliate any dead skin cells from the surface of your lips, like the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish & Soften Cocoa Scrub. Then, follow up with a moisturizing lip balm.

STEP #2: PRIME YOUR POUT

Use a lip primer to help create a smooth base for your lipstick application.

STEP #3: APPLY YOUR COLOR

Use a dark berry shade, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Ultra Matte Highly Pigmented Nude Lipstick in Berry Extreme, for this look. With a lip brush (a lip palette must), apply this shade to the center of your upper lip. Work your way to the outer edges of your top lip, following the contour of your mouth. Then, paint the color across your entire bottom lip.

STEP #4: ADD A METALLIC SHEEN

Once you’re done with your matte lip color, use a brush to apply a highlighter shade, like a metallic lipstick, to finish your pout with a shimmering sheen.

HOW TO DO AN OMBRÉ LIP USING A LIP PALETTE

Although the ombré trend started with hair, this gradation technique is now popular when it comes to lipstick, too. Here’s how to get the look using multiple shades from your lip palette.

STEP #1: BREAK OUT THE LIP LINER

Grab a lip liner, like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Anti-Feathering Lip Liner - Smooth Application, that is slightly darker than your natural lip color, outline your lips to help add dimension and give the appearance of a fuller-looking pout. Focus the color on the outer corners to create depth, which you’ll deepen later on. Using lip liner can also help prevent your lipstick from feathering into the lines surrounding your mouth.

STEP #2: CHOOSE TWO SHADES

You’ll need two lip colors to get this look, one lighter and one darker. Select your shades from your customized palette, then move right along to the next step.

STEP #3: START WITH YOUR LIGHTER COLOR

Use a flat lip brush to blend the lighter of the two shades from the center of your lips out toward the edges.

STEP #4: FOLLOW IT UP WITH THE DARKER SHADE

Since this look is all about gradation, apply the darker color to the corners of your lips where you initially shaded with lip liner. Use your lip brush to blend the two colors together at the points where they meet. This part might take some practice, but you’ll be a pro in no time.

STEP #5: HIGHLIGHT AND CONTOUR

Using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof, Full Coverage, apply a light shade of concealer above your lip to accent your cupid’s bow, followed by a touch of darker concealer just below your bottom lip to create the illusion of a fuller, more luscious pout.

If you want more lip makeup ideas, check out our article, The Best Orange Lipstick for Every Skin Tone.