This Simple Trick Is the “Outfit Sandwich” for Beauty

When you match your lipstick to your nail polish, there’s a good chance your glam is going to eat. There’s a reason for that, and I hope you’re extra hungry… because it’s called the “sandwich” technique.

Or a take on it, anyway—as any fun chef would say when presenting their new menu concept featuring something that’s definitely been done before. But this time? It’s paired with a new, fun dipping sauce, baby. Or… nail lacquer!

Not to be confused with the celeb-favorite Beauty Sandwich facial, this red carpet-approved technique has deep roots in the styling world. Outfit sandwiching involves picking two pieces of clothing that are the same color (that will be your “bread” in this metaphor). Then, you’ll add a contrasting piece in between as the “meat.” Think pink ballet flats and a pink shirt alongside your favorite jeans. The beauty version involves picking two matching glam aspects—ideally your nail polish and lipstick—to make another part of your look pop.

Ahead, discover everything you need to know about this delicious fashion-turned-beauty technique—including inspiration from your favorite celebs.

How to Make the Perfect Beauty Sandwich

The most important thing here is picking a kind of bread—ie. nail polish and lipstick shade—that you really like. Especially if you’re getting a gel manicure, this is what you’re going to be eating for a long while. Pumpernickel (electric blue) might sound fun, but you’re not going to want to wear Kylie Cosmetics’ Skylie Lip Kit every time you leave the house. In fact, that thing is so old you should probably throw it away.

While there aren’t many brands that specifically design lip and nail products in the same shade (though Pat McGrath just dropped her Taylor Swift-approved shade Elson as a limited-edition polish), the good news is that your nails and lips are far enough away that no one will really be able to tell if the pigments are slightly off. Just get as close as you can.

In a Reddit thread begging for matches to Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk Medium, sleuths recommended Cirque Colors’ Marsala Jelly and Essie Mrs. Always Right. Clinique’s famous Almost Lipstick in Black Honey can go with OPI’s We the Female, and MAC’s Ruby Woo would look gorgeous with OPI’s I’m Not Really a Waitress (two icons!).

It’s also not a bad idea to bring your lip color to the salon with you and compare swatches. And if you can’t find the right shade? A company like Blank Beauty can mix up your perfect nail polish for you.

Selena Gomez’s Classic ’80s Sandwich Technique

While you can make the trick work with any shade, there’s something very special about a bright red moment. Selena Gomez is an excellent example; her matching nail polish/lipstick moments are both a testament to her taste and her glam team’s ability to work toward a shared goal.

For the 2025 SAG Awards in February 2025, the actress wore a matching ’80s red lip and manicure via her Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lipstick in Devoted and an upcoming red polish launch from her manicurist, Tom Bachik. Both pops of color were made more prominent by her contrasting gown, a satin navy off-the-shoulder design by Celine.

Angelina Jolie’s Classic Take on the Trend

Always one for a matching moment, Angelina Jolie also exemplified the concept recently with another completely coordinated red lip and nail color. She paired hers with a pretty nude lace dress for the 2025 Critics Choice Awards.

Cameron Diaz’s Burgundy Look

When you’re appearing on the red carpet for the first time in literal years, you have to do it up. Enter, once again, the sandwich technique. In January, Cameron Diaz promoted her movie Back in Action with burgundy lips and nails that popped against her all-black outfit. Days later, she did the same thing with an all-white outfit for a photocall in London.

This is a good place to note that a sandwich moment is not the same as a monochrome look. Like Diaz, you’re more than allowed to change up your blush shade; as long as those two bread slices can hold the look together, play around as you please.

Keke Palmer’s Deep Red Lips and Tips

Keke Palmer switched things up by matching her deep burgundy nails to her lip liner. (I guess in the sandwich metaphor, that would be the crust?) The coordination and attention to detail brought an ultra-polished feel to her otherwise casual sweater and jeans outfit.

Hailey Bieber’s Espresso Sandwich

Leave it to Hailey Bieber to whip up an espresso beauty sandwich. That sounds kind of disgusting, but I never thought the word glaze would hold as much appeal as it does, either.

Throwing it all the way back to fall 2023 (is there a sandwich from years ago you’re still dreaming about, too?), the model paired some dark brown lip liners (today she’d just use her own Rhode Peptide Lip Shape in Flex) and her Peptide Lip Tint in Espresso with a glossy brown polish.

Honestly, Bieber is so good at this. We’ve also seen her give it a spin with red nails and red lips, and of course there’s the lip gloss manicure, which works great with any of her beloved peptide treatments.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Cherry Girl Sandwich Technique

Here’s one for the cherry girls. In June 2023, Olivia Rodrigo posted a selfie wearing the prettiest blood-red lipstick that was an exact match for her deep red nails, both of which popped against her striped button-up top.

At the time, Byrdie recommended Deborah Lippmann’s Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in Lady Is A Tramp and Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick in Red Carpet Red to get the look. The match still holds strong, as does our passion for the juicy hue.

So, what’ll you have? I was apprehensive when Telfar released their corned beef color way… but now I’m thinking it would be the perfect shade for any kind of sandwich.