Every time we experience an extreme trend such as super-matte lips, the next trend is always going in the totally opposite direction. So now, glossy lips are here to stay — I guess we all need a little hydration after that dry, chalky lip trend that we’ve all endured. When talking about lip trends, a lot of people stick with what they know suits them in their everyday life. Nudes will always be on-trend, and I’ve noticed a lot of people using gloss to enhance their natural sheen instead of reaching for pigment-rich lipsticks. I like the Glossier Lip Gloss for the ultimate glass lips and Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb for a subtle shimmer.
blurred
How to do it: This is one of my favorite lip trends. Blurred lips are the bedhead of lipstick if you will. It’s a purposefully messy lip trend, with a blurred-edge effect. After the million over-drawn lips that we’ve seen continuously over the past years, it was about time for a messy, french beauté lip styling that stands against the known patriarchy (aka. the anti-liner lip look).
Just apply a regular lipstick and smear the outline with your finger, just blurring slightly into the overdrawn zone but not so far into the makeout-mouth territory. Or you can buy this blurred-lips kit for begginers from Chanel (my favorite shade is the Rosso Pompeiano).
Alternatively, you can apply a very pigmented lipstick to your lip, let it sit for a bit, and then blot the color off with a tissue until all you’re left with is the color that has stained your lips. Seal the lip stain with a matte lip balm (like Nuxe Rêve de Miel or a very, very small amount of Lanolips), and your lip stain will stay for hours.
natural hues
How to do it: The entire beauty community appears to be ditching their matte lipsticks and matching lip liners. But of course, as one trend goes, another one quickly takes its place. The no-makeup-makeup is still a very big thing, so naturally, lips are following suit. I know it may seem weird to put something on your lips to make them look like, well, lips… but let’s face it: we’re already doing that on the rest of our faces, aren’t we? Creamy lipsticks in natural hues and lip-glosses are making their way back in our lives, and honestly, I’m totally here for a low-maintenance, enhancing natural features types of vibe. My favorite ones are the Pat McGrath Labs Lip Fetish Lip Balm in Blow Up, Tom Ford Lip Color in All Mine or Sable Smoke, Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint in Bare Melon, and Too Faced Natural Nudes Lipstick in Skinny Dippin’.
gradient
How to do it: Gradient lips are meant to give that “just bitten” effect, with a darker color concentrated in the center of the lips, then fading out at the edges, or even blending into a different color. In Korea, the look is said to give a more youthful and innocent appearance.
For a dramatic effect: Start off by applying concealer to the lips, then dab the lip stain on the inside of your lips. This method is key, giving lips that bitten look. Start inward and then blend outward, but make sure to blend all the way out. You can do so using your finger, a cotton swab, or a lip brush to blur the edges. That’s it.
If you want a more natural approach, use the same method presented above, but instead of using concealer, apply the lip stain directly on the lip and swipe a thin layer of gloss or balm on top for a more natural look.
metallic
How to do it: Yep, those badass shimmery lip shades are back. Makeup has become part of our identities in this generation, and making a statement is always “in.” Metallic shades are incredibly versatile. You can switch from a day look to a night-out ready look just by layering them on top of your regular lipstick to add dimension. Also, metallic shades concentrated on the center of your lips, top, and bottom, help create a pouty lip. Just think about them as an extension to your regular lipsticks to add the same shine as a glossy or satin lipstick but without sacrificing the longevity of a matte lipstick. I like the Jouer Long-Wear Lip Crème Liquid Lipstick – Metallic in Rose Gold, Kylie Cosmetics In With The New Metal Lip Kit, Fenty Beauty’s Frosted Metal Lipstick in So Chilli, and now I want to try that NYX Love Lust Disco Metallic Lip Topper in That’s My Jam.