Grammy Award–winning Nigerian superstar Tems made a stunning appearance at the 2025 GQ MOTY Awards, turning heads in a breathtaking white ensemble by Salih Balta. While her outfit was effortlessly elegant, it was her lips that stole the spotlight. Deep, glossy, and utterly luscious, Tems’s red carpet lip combo, masterfully created by celebrity makeup artist Kayla Perez, quickly became the beauty obsession of the night, flooding Instagram feeds and inspiring countless double-taps.
We’ve put together an exclusive guide so you can recreate Tems’s photogenic, show-stopping lip combo and channel the red carpet magic for yourself.
Here’s your full guide to recreating it.
Prep like a pro
Tems’s lips looked healthy, juicy, and buttery-soft, meaning prep is essential. Start with a nourishing lip mask, a light lip scrub, and a hydrating balm to lock in moisture. This creates that plump, smooth base Tems is known for on red carpets.
Sculpt with a deep, defined liner
The secret to her bold look is the dramatic, sculpted outline. Choose a rich plum or deep burgundy lip liner and outline slightly above your natural lip line, especially at the cupid’s bow. Blend the edges inward, this soft fade is what makes the final look lush instead of harsh.
Add the berry lip punch
Tems’s lip colour sat somewhere between black cherry, plum, and berry wine, bold yet wearable. Go for asatin berry lipstick, Or a creamy plum shade tapped gently into the lips rather than swiped. This keeps the centre hydrated and dimensional.
Don't skip the gloss moment
The shine is what made Tems’s lips look expensive. You want a high-gloss finish, reflective, juicy, and red carpet, ready. Use a clear glassy gloss, Or a subtle berry-tinted gloss layered in the centre for depth. This recreates her signature “wet but not sticky” finish.
Highlight for the red-carpet effect
A tiny bit of concealer around the lip line sharpens the edges and makes the lips look even fuller, a technique Tems’s glam team uses often.
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