The beauty world is buzzing about blurred lips—and our scientists and editors in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab are too. Any given day in the GH Beauty Lab, you may see one of us sporting the of-the-moment lip look. “Blurred lips are effortless, soft, and natural,” says Kelly Zhang, a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles. “Instead of a sharply defined lip, it creates a diffused, soft-focus effect that looks polished without feeling overly done.” Blurred lip color formulas have matte finishes and include sheer, balm-esque lipsticks and mousse-like lip color creams. The feather-weight textures glide on like satin, come in shades from neutral to bold, and are easier to wear than heavy full-color lipsticks. Here’s everything you need to know about blurred lips from our experts and makeup artists.
The GH Beauty Lab says:
Blurred lips are another trend that can be traced to K-beauty. “The airy mousse texture of these lip products is a formulation type that is popular in K-beauty,” explains GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. Though they have a matte finish, “they feel light and fresh on lips,” she adds.
Blurred lip colors are a staple in GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann’s makeup wardrobe. “They impart an out-of-focus, voluptuous look and softness, so they can make an impact and add color without the harshness of a lip liner,” she says. “Plus, they suit both fuller and thinner lips, as well as young and mature ones.”
In addition to the look, GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek is impressed with the texture and feel of blurred lip color formulas. “They feel lightweight, really comfortable on lips, and not drying,” she says. “I also like how they smooth out lips.”
The makeup artist says:
“While the trend’s roots are in Korean beauty, more recently, celebrity makeup artists have embraced this aesthetic, bringing it into mainstream beauty through red carpet and editorial makeup,” Zhang explains. “I think it's especially popular now because people want makeup that looks fresh and enhances their features rather than looking heavy or overly perfected, and blurred lips fit perfectly into that philosophy.”
One of the biggest benefits of the blurred lips trend is that it's flattering on almost every lip shape, she adds. “The soft edges create the illusion of naturally fuller lips without obvious overlining,” Zhang says. “It's also very easy to apply because you don't have to create a perfectly precise lip line.”
How to get the look
“Use a lip liner that's slightly deeper than your lipstick to softly define the Cupid's bow and slightly overline just the center of the upper lip and the center of the lower lip to create a naturally fuller shape,” Zhang advises. “Lightly line the rest of the lips, then blend the edges with a sponge tip to diffuse and create a soft-focus effect.” Finish by dabbing a matte lipstick on top.
You can also opt for one of the new blurred lip color products, like the below. These are formulated to create the hazy effect and can be applied straight to lips either with the applicator or a finger.
Our Blurred Lip Product Picks
This is Wizemann’s and our beauty director’s holy grail. “When I leave my house, I always have it with me. It gives perfect impact whether with minimum effort and feels cushiony on lips,” Wizemann says.
Wnek is a fan of this blurring liquid lip tint in the shade Rosy Nude, praising its “air-whipped texture.”
Both our beauty director and Wnek love this “silky balm” formula. The shade Whisper gives the perfect your-lips-but-better hint of color.
“It glides on like a liquid but has the soft, airy feel of a whip,” Wizemann says. “I like the hazy effect it gives, and how lightweight and comfortable it feels.”
“When I want to feel polished, I wear this with the matching liner, but most days I simply swipe it on sans mirror for a touch of color and hydration,” says GH Temporary Beauty Editor Celia Shatzman.
“This formula feels featherlight and satiny on lips and gives a wash of diffused color that doesn’t look like makeup, just as if your lips happen to be perfectly rosy,” GH’s beauty director says.
The bottom line
While countless beauty trends come and go in the age of TikTok, our experts agree that the blurred lips trend has staying power thanks to its truly universally flattering effect and effortlessness. “Because it's wearable, timeless, and easy to personalize, I think it's a trend that will be around for years to come,” Zhang says. Chef’s kiss to that!
