Lip-Lab Nashville
Apply one lipstick, and sure, you’re good to go. Apply one lipstick, after one liner, topped with one gloss? and you’re READY to go.
- I had an appointment scheduled for my 3 besties and I to have an experience making our very own lipsticks from scratch. <3
The activity had me all over it, making it the perfect birthday excursion. It’s also nearby a Sephora - which if I wasn’t going through birthday motions, I would’ve actually registered seeing and spent all my money that day (because I needed to claim my birthday gift ofc). This was the ONE appointment I technically wasn’t late to, because I pushed it back to 3:30 😍
We parked inside the Assembly Food Hall parking garage, and walked a short distance to The Lip Lab:
Head south on Broadway toward 6th Ave S.
The Lab will be on your right at 5014 Broadway 102 5 Space, Nashville, TN 37203.
We were all in heels or boots, and there was an escalator nearby, which I loved because it was a cold gloomy day.
I’ll give the experience an overall 7 or 8 out of 10, and please, do allow me to explain why…
- AFTER I drop my personal guide to mastering the science of a bomb Lip Combo.
I’ve received a lot of questions since moving, but especially when I was in the peak of sales. It seemed like EVERYONE was constantly on the mission to discover their next best pout pairing, and honestly - I feel it. Hopefully these tips help out my Dolls that are looking to configure different ways to pair products, OR to understand what TRULY works for you
because after all, lashes and lip combos take you from a girl to THAT girl, yk?
General Tips:
Nude Lips: For a natural look, match your liner to your natural lip color or a shade slightly darker.
Bold Lips: For a dramatic look, use a liner that's a shade or two darker than your lipstick.
Blending: Always blend your lip liner into your lipstick for a seamless finish.
Undertones: Pay attention to your skin's undertones (warm, cool, neutral) when choosing colors.
Testing: The best way to find your perfect combinations is to experiment, go spend an hour swatching in Ulta or Sephora !
When in doubt, a neutral brown or a liner that matches your lipstick shade is ALWAYS a safe bet.
It's a lil tricky to give truly UNIVERSAL color combos, as preference and undertones (warm, cool, neutral) within each skin complexion play a HUGE factor.
However, I can provide some general guidelines, references, and popular combos:
For the Fair/Light Skin Dolls who have:
Cool Undertones:
Lipstick: Mauve, cool pinks, berry tones.
Liner: Rosy brown, cool-toned plum, or a shade slightly darker than the lipstick.
Combo Example: Cool pink lipstick with a mauve liner.
Warm Undertones:
Lipstick: Peachy nudes, coral, rose gold.
Liner: Nude beige, warm brown, or a soft terracotta.
Combo Example: Peach nude lipstick with a warm brown liner.
Neutral Undertones:
Lipstick: Rosy nudes, light berries, pinky browns.
Liner: a neutral brown, or a liner that matches the lipstick.
Combo Example: Rosy nude lipstick with a neutral brown liner.
For the Dolls with Medium Skin:
Cool Undertones:
Lipstick: Berry shades, rosy browns, medium plums.
Liner: Deep rose, plum brown, or a rich mauve.
Combo Example: Berry lipstick with a plum brown liner.
Warm Undertones:
Lipstick: Caramel nudes, warm corals, brick reds.
Liner: Warm brown, terracotta, or a deep nude.
Combo Example: Caramel nude lipstick with a warm brown liner.
Neutral Undertones:
Lipstick: Mauve, mid-tone pinks, bronzed nudes.
Liner: A medium brown, or a liner matching the lipsticks undertone.
Combo Example: Mauve lipstick with a medium brown liner.
and the Dolls with Olive Skin could consider:
Lipstick: Terracotta, warm reds, golden browns, and deep mauves.
Liner: Brown, warm brown, or a terracotta shade.
Combo Example: Terracotta lipstick with a warm brown liner.
https://jethrojeff.com - image source
and then if you’re a Doll like me, with Dark/Deep Skin:
Cool Undertones:
Lipstick: Deep berries, rich plums, cool-toned reds, fuchsia.
Liner: Deep plum, espresso brown, or a dark burgundy.
Combo Example: Deep berry lipstick with an espresso brown liner.
Warm Undertones:
Lipstick: Chocolate browns, warm reds, caramel browns, and deep oranges.
Liner: Rich brown, deep terracotta, or a warm espresso.
Combo Example: Chocolate brown lipstick with a rich brown liner.
Neutral Undertones:
Lipstick: Deep nudes, rich reds, and deep mauves.
Liner: Deep brown, or a liner that is a shade darker than the lipstick.
Combo example: Deep nude lipstick with a deep brown liner.
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Personally, I’m the kind of person that usually sticks with what works. I don’t veer off into trying crazy lip colors that I already have determined do not really work FOR me? But as an MUA - I do understand that it’s not that any one color doesn’t work for you. It’s all about finding the right hue, or combination of products to make it work. They were trying to convince me to try shades unlike what I came in wearing, but I’m pretty firm in my preferences - so I chose a bright aquamarine color… AND THEY DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A MATCHING LINER. smh. I understand it’s not your typical lip shade, but if you offer it in stick form, why not offer the rest?
I expected us to have a little “gear up” moment, maybe sporting some medical grade hairnets, masks, and latex gloves.. or maybe even the opportunity to play with a lipstick mold? Possibly even the opportunity to engrave the lip STICK itself, not just its cosmetic hardware. Idk, I didn’t have HIGH expectations… but definitely expectations.
and I know, I know… I was a bit overdressed for my “expectations”, but like that’s fine? It’s like meet me where I’m at yk? The activity had me all over it, making it the perfect birthday excursion. It’s also nearby a Sephora - which if I wasn’t going through birthday motions, I would’ve actually registered seeing and spent all my money that day (because I needed to claim my birthday gift ofc). This was the ONE appointment I technically wasn’t late to, only because I pushed it back to 3:30, but a win is a win bitch. 😍
I remember arriving and being met with an interesting seating style, to say the least. It was more like bar, interactive Benihana style seating (if that even makes sense?) In the photo, you’ll notice you can only see my boyfriend and I - but what about my three friends? the fact that the mirror range didn’t allow them to be in the photo, kind of demonstrates the weird shape.
I was thinking we’d be able to sit at our own little table, or maybe that there would be stations we’d alternate to prevent area crowding. So the seating was the FIRST thing to catch me a little off guard, because I felt it prevented me from interacting with my friends like I should’ve been able to? It was the kind of seating that sort of prevented conversation to flow freely, and sure we could’ve sat ANYWHERE - but I should literally be able to be sat ANYWHERE and not feel isolated from my general group.
The upside to this weird seating arrangement was how close in proximity we were to the scientists that actually DID make the lipsticks for us. Our group really enjoyed the two women we were assigned to, but like… imagine we fucking didn’t find ourselves so fond of their energy? What a shit-show it could’ve been.
I did really enjoy how they start with placing information and options in your face. They had some laminated cards, displaying everything from your choices in colors, scents, and pencil options. I’m pretty sure there was also an iPad present - not sure what else it was utilized for, other than scanning my man’s card info for payment… but I expected more out of the iPad too 😂. I was for sure that the iPad was there because it had an interactive makeup try-on app - because how else would we try out the different colors???
But, no.
Apparently, they wanted us to remove OUR lips! and like…. it was my birthday. So you know I had on my signature combo , and you KNOW I was a little pissed off by that.
butttt then they did provide us with the opportunity to play with a lil lip scrub action, PRIOR to having us try on the color/hue of our choice. (and the scrub didn't taste that great, not that it should? but I do remember that vividly so I feel that it is worth mentioning)
The whole reason I felt inspired to write this post is because I was both enamored and offended by outcome. Realistically, at the time I was mentally clouded and going through a lot, on top of the birthday bubbly? but once it was all over, I realized how sad I was that I didn’t get to make the lipstick myself. I took a phone call from a family member that totally disrupted my energy, and I almost felt like I wouldn’t have had the time to answer that call if I was SO occupied and immersed into the activity of lipstick making.
The personalities and hard work provided by the lab scientists - immaculate. They were a super good time, and did well with handling an uncomfortable situation (because they don’t get paid to be therapists to strangers, nor are they obligated to overshare details about their personal lives.. but they were comfortable doing both). Still, just would’ve preferred play the scientist role myself, and simultaneously enjoy the company of friends - but of course you can’t have everything you want in this world.
idk if you’ve ever seen those videos of celebrities and influencers touring their own cosmetics warehouses, or filming some form of a lab tour/walkthrough??? yeah that’s what I expected for myself lmao.
Instead it was more like watching your rolled ice-cream be made, but for $85.00 USD.
