These 3-in-1 Beauty Products Will Make Your Mornings Way Easier

By Kaitlyn Yarborough
Ilia Beauty
A Southern woman’s beauty routine is often a finely honed affair, timed to perfection and performed religiously each morning; but every so often, a moment of simmering dread occurs when we take the first look at our makeup, pre-application and pre-caffeine kick. Sometimes, we just want it to be a little easier and quicker without sacrificing style—gasp!—and dream of a do-it-all product we can rely upon during our most hectic days or spontaneous adventures to get the job done. Enter: the three-in-one. These multi-purpose products streamline your beauty routine by providing a sole tool to enhance your cheeks, lips, and eyes. While it’s a delicate balance to strike, these products do it through careful consideration of texture, shade, and finish. We’ve found cream-to-powder sticks, subtle balms, sheer tints, and even a compelling gel that each potentially make for a fierce addition to your makeup bag. Now, before you get terrified of looking straight out of the 80s after putting these shades on your eyes, remember that they are made subtle enough to wear on the cheeks as well. Not to mention, coral and pink tones are popping up in eyeshadow palettes everywhere, thanks to their ability to make your eyes pop and look downright showstopping. (Quick tip: an eyeshadow primer can help keep the creamier formulas in place if you want them to last all day long.)When considering a multi-use beauty product, there are a few things to keep in mind. Warmer rose or berry hues are the most versatile by far, but sheer peach and apricot hues give a nice sun-kissed glow. Many three-in-ones have a slight shimmery finish, but you can also go matte for a more everyday look. At the heart, it’s all about getting perfectly flushed cheeks, stained lips, and tinted eyes in one fell swoop. And who wouldn’t want that? These products work hard, so you don’t have to. Whether you’re throwing it in your quick overnight bag, rocking it on the weekend, or applying it on the way to work, your three-in-one will have your cheeks, lips, and eyes covered. 
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Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

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NARS Matte Multiple

NARS

Buy It: $39; sephora.com

The NARS Multiple is the original multi-purpose stick that has ruled the trend for years, and its limited edition collection of matte shades is at the top of our Christmas list. The cream-to-powder stick is generous in size and product, fully justifying the price. We’ve been nursing our original shimmery stick for too long to remember, and we can’t wait to revamp it with the matte version.

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Glossier Cloud Paint

Glossier

Buy It: $18; glossier.com

The pillowy, gel-cream formula of this tint makes it super ideal for sheer, yet buildable color that looks flushed and natural. Dab any of the four shades on cheeks, eyes, or lips for a healthy glow; but we personally love the Dusk shade.

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RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek

RMS Beauty

Buy It: $36; sephora.com

This balmy formula hydrates lips and cheeks, while giving a slightly shimmery sheer tint to eyelids. We love the shade, Promise, a warmed-up salmon-pink with subtle golden shimmer.

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Pixi Sheer Cheek & Lip Gel

Pixi Beauty

Buy It: $14; target.com

While Pixi has a great multi-purpose balm stick, we prefer this cool sheer gel formula that gives the best natural flush every time. The gel texture melts into skin flawlessly and stays all day (making it a great subtle tint for eyelids too). We want all three shades to swipe on our lips, cheeks, and eyes!

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e.l.f Cosmetics Workout Ready Lip & Cheek Palette

e.l.f Cosmetics

Buy It: $8; elfcosmetics.com

This creamy palette was developed specifically to withstand workout classes and gym sessions for the lady who wants to hit the gym without looking it. We love the four shades that are infinitely versatile, but each has a definitive strength. The shimmery nude makes a great highlighter, the darker brown gives subtle definition to your eye crease, and the rosy colors work on lips, cheeks, or eyelids.

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Ilia Multi-Stick

Sephora

Buy It: $34; sephora.com

This cult favorite stick melts perfectly into your lips, cheeks, and eyelids and can thank its infusion of organic ingredients such as avocado oil, vitamin E, and shea butter for its creamy application and subtle flush of color. One shade, At Last, is known as the color that looks amazing on almost everyone and blends especially well on eyes to bring the full look together.

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Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer

Sephora

Buy It: $62; sephora.com

This is a special splurge, but so worth the glamorous kick you’ll feel whenever you apply it. A delicate dropper dispenses the sheer formula that can be used to illuminate, contour, highlight, or flush your skin depending on which shade you choose. Shades range from luminescent beiges to warm shimmery bronze to rosy mauves.

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Benefit Chachatint

Benefit

Buy It: $30; sephora.com

Benefit has always blown us away with the staying power and natural look of its signature liquid tint. This sheer shade gives a sun-kissed mango touch to cheek, lips, and even eyes—the sunset color palette for eyes is popular right now, and we’re loving the warmth it brings to the face.

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Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge

Bobbi Brown

Buy It: $30; bobbibrowncosmetics.com

The iconic brand labels this product one of its all-time cult classics for a reason. You get buildable tint in a creamy, compact package that will flush your cheeks, stain your lips, and accent your eyes. We love the warmer shades for fall and winter, such as Blushed Rose, Raspberry, and Chocolate Cherry; but the lighter shades look fresh for spring and summer.

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Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Balm

Sephora

Buy It: $23; sephora.com

This classic brand always has our heart when it comes to simple, reliable makeup and skincare products, which is why we fully trust in the Chubby Stick for all things beauty. This balm offers four different shades depending on your taste, but if you’re looking for a cheek, lip, and eye tool, Amp’d Up Apple and Plumped Up Peony will be your secret weapons.

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NYX Whipped Lip & Cheek Soufflé

NYX Cosmetics

Buy It: $6; nyxcosmetics.com

This whipped soufflé is a unique texture that allows for true buildable coverage, but we love to use it as the slightest of natural tint. The rosy and pink-nude shades look great on eyes too, making this little pot a favorite.

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Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick Kit

Charlotte Tilbury

Buy It: $90; charlottetilbury.com

While this kit technically includes two products, it’s still a darn good deal when that’s all you’ll need for a glowing complexion. The bronzer works well on cheeks and eyes for a sultry shimmery tan, and the dewy blush warms cheeks and lips for that perfect flush.

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Tarte Cheek Stain

Dermstore

Buy It: $30; dermstore.com

This stick is the closest competitor to the NARS Multiple in terms of creamy application, subtle shimmery finish, and impeccable blending. It nourishes skin, while giving a natural glow. We love almost all of the colors, but this golden peachy pink goes super well on eyes too.

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Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek

Sephora

Buy It: $24; sephora.com

This stick incorporates mango butter, peach nectar, and avocado oil for a hydrating, buildable product that absorbs flawlessly into skin, which is why we like to dab a little on our eyelids as well. The mauve shade works super well for most skin types, while the coral looks great on fair skin and the berry looks amazing on olive or darker skin.

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Josie Maran Argan Color Stick

Josie Maran

Buy It: $22; josiemarancosmetics.com

This brand loves using natural ingredients to get glowing, healthy skin; and this color stick is infused with apricot and mango seed butters, lemon tea tree oil, and menthol for a refreshing and hydrating formula. We are personally coveting the Guava Goodness shade for its lips, cheeks, and eyes versatility—it’s the perfect warm rose.

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First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Mango Butter Multi-Stick

Sephora

Buy It: $20; sephora.com

This cream-to-powder stick stands out because of its rich mango butter infusion that will leave skin soft, glowing, and hydrated. The Rosé shade gives a warm sun-kissed look, but the Champagne gives a highlighted glow that's amazing for the holidays.

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Wet N Wild MegaGlo Makeup Stick

Target

Buy It: $4; target.com

These two shimmering shades are great for a luminescent look, and you can either go with a warmer rose or pretty peach. We like to switch them out from season to season and keep them in our purse for a quick glow-up! 

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