Paying attention to beauty trends on the red carpet is integral to my job as a beauty editor, and it’s clear that all of the hottest celebrity looks from awards season have one thing in common — smudged lip liner. Yes, while you may think lip liner is meant to clearly outline your pout and add crisp definition, this season it’s all about taking a more soft focus approach to your makeup.
Slightly diffused and gently blurred, this is the makeup artist Nina Park Who has undoubtedly been leading the way with this smoky lip liner look. Known for painting the faces of everyone from Zoe Kravitz to Lily-Rose Depp, her approach to effortlessly fabulous “no makeup” makeup that never looks too hard is her trademark. And smoky lips are the epitome of walking the line between looking polished without full makeup feeling overly precise.
Even better, while I like to move away from super-defined lips for aesthetic reasons (honestly, it’s pretty cute!) it’s also appealing because I feel like I have a chance to actually recreate the look for myself at home. As someone who isn’t particularly skilled in the makeup department, the fact that smoky lips actually look wearable — and don’t require a steady hand — means this is a trend I can see transitioning from the red carpet to real life with perfect ease. After all, it would look just as good with bare skin and a little bit of kajal as it would on a face full of glam.
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Ahead, all the smoky lip liner inspiration you need, as well as a makeup artist’s tips for creating the look at home.
smudged lip liner looks
I’m racing to recreate Mia Goth’s juicy berry-bitten lip look this spring.
Emma Stone’s light smokey lip liner looks very attractive and polished.
The combination of honey color and balmy top coat makes Zoë Kravitz’s lips the perfect choice for everyday wear.
Gracie Abrams’ extended nude lip feels so ’90s.
Sadie Sink’s rosy pink lip suits this beautiful makeup look perfectly.
What is smoky lip liner?
Featuring a slightly blurred lip line, the smoky lip look is so popular right now because it gives the illusion of a full, voluminous pout while still looking effortless. “It’s nice because it works with how light naturally hits the face,” explains make up artist emily wood. “Rather than pushing the color inwards, which can make the lips look smaller, smoky lips are all about adding depth around the lips and keeping the center of the lips lighter, which means the lips look fuller, rounder and more balanced.” Wood Explains that this is not the same as overlining. “It’s not about following but enhancing the lip line a little bit,” she says.
how to get the look
Thankfully, this trend is quite easy to recreate at home, as the beauty of this blurry look is that it doesn’t require complete precision. Wood It is recommended to start with a lip liner that is slightly darker than your natural lip color The lipstick should be the same color as your lip shade and add gloss or balm if you prefer a shiny finish.
“Start by lining the lips according to their natural shape, and if you want more density you can extend it a little beyond your natural lip line.” Wood Explains. “Then use your finger or a brush to blur the liner inwards so there are no harsh lines.” Finish by applying your chosen lip color to the outer parts of your lips, leaving the center very light, then apply a gloss or balm to finish. “The key to this look is really blending,” says Wood.
Best Smudged Lip Liner
Ahead, we’ve picked out the best smudgy lip liners to help you recreate this trend. Wood The suggestion is that lighter skin tones will look best on “pinky nudes, peaches and soft mauves”, while darker skin tones will look amazing on “rich browns, chocolates and caramels”. Keep scrolling for our favourites.
If you like a matte lip look then this Refine Liner is great. It offers a really fuzzy, modern finish and comes in six natural-looking shades for a variety of skin tones.
Rhode’s Viral Contouring Lip Shaper makes light work of creating plump, plump-looking lips in just moments.
loreal paris
Blurfiller Blurring Lip Contour Lip Liner
An underrated gem comes courtesy of this smudgy lip liner from L’Oréal Paris. It feels like a more traditional liner than some of the other liners on the list, and boasts impressive staying power, but still gives that beautiful diffused finish.
Ability
Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner
Finally, Merit’s Buildable Lip Liner makes for a versatile option, thanks to the way you can use it to softly define the edges of your lips and give all-over color without drying out your lips.
Revolution
blur lip shaper
Wood Rate this affordable lip liner to easily achieve a lightly smoky look. Enriched with peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, it has a really creamy texture and comes in eight wearable shades.
