How Top Makeup Artists Master the Blurred Lip Trend

If you’ve scrolled through Instagram in the last few weeks, you’ve probably noticed a wave of 2016 makeup looks popping back up. While styles from the previous decade are making a comeback, one trend is quietly taking over feeds and causing a stir online: the blurred lip look. Focused on soft, naturally diffused color, it favors an effortless finish over overly defined dark liners or high-shine gloss. Below, two celebrity makeup artists break down the trend and share how to recreate the look.

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Lived-in styles are leading beauty trends right now, helping the blurred-lip look gain momentum. Like the clean-girl aesthetic that came before it, the blurred-lip trend favors diffused, natural finishes, making it especially wearable. “Think of it as a soft, natural lip that can be easily applied and worn throughout the day,” says celebrity makeup artist Kelli Anne Sewell.

Harsh lines are avoided, and overlining is kept to a minimum. Instead of faking a plumped-up pout, the trend is designed to emphasize the shape, color, and definition of your natural lips. While it can still create an overlined appearance, celebrity makeup artist Melissa Hurkman says the goal is to highlight different lip shapes rather than conforming to a uniform look.

The beauty of this trend lies in the application. You don’t need to be a skilled makeup artist or have an arsenal of products and tools to recreate it. All that’s required is a smooth base, a good lip liner or soft matte lipstick and a blending tool. Start by gently exfoliating your lips and applying a hydrating lip balm to prep.

From there, getting the blurred effect right comes down to the formula you use and how you diffuse it. A creamy lip liner with a domed tip works best for creating a softened shape. “You want to slightly overline your lips to create structure and enhance your natural shape,” says Hurkman. Follow with the lip product of your choice. “Dab a little on your ring finger, then dab in the center of your lip and pull outwards,” she continues. Sewell adds that your finger is the best tool for creating the blurred effect, though a small eyeshadow brush can also help diffuse edges and soften any harsh lines.

Rhode’s Peptide Lip Shape has a unique domed applicator, making it perfect for this trend. “It creates a more natural application and the shades mimic lip tones perfectly so you get a softer, more natural, defined lip,” says Sewell.

Not every lip stain works for this trend, but L’Oréal’s latest option is spot on. It delivers a light wash of color without skewing too sheer and hydrates lips to maintain a smooth, blurred appearance.

If you’ve tried Bisou Balm before, you know the hype is genuine. Falling somewhere between a lipstick and a balm, it provides just enough pigment to create a your-lips-but-better look.

These liquid lipsticks have a whipped consistency that creates a cushion-like look on the lips. To achieve the blurred effect, try wearing them all over and skipping lip liner. The creamy formula won’t feather without it, leaving behind a softened, lived-in finish.

These slim lipsticks combine the velvet finish MAC’s Powder Kiss bullets are known for with a moisture-infused formula. The flat applicator delivers diffused color in a single swipe. If you’re worried about harsh lines, simply use your finger to lightly pat them away.

This creamy formula helps blur lines for a smooth finish. For this trend, Hurkman suggests applying it with your fingers to build pigment gradually. “Blurred lips are about soft intensity—you don’t want hard edges or loud color,” she says.

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