The Blurred-Lip Trend Is 2026’s Answer to 2016 Matte Lipstick

December 4, 2025 - By dfxuwl

Collage: Ingrid Fowler; Source images: Courtesy of Violette_frSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

I have an ungodly amount of shiny lip products in my possession. I have oils, glosses, and treatments in every corner of my home and work desk. And while glossy lips have been my go-to, I’ve been feeling a little inundated and bored with them.

We’ve been a glossy society for the past few years as beauty brands resolve to drop more lip products than anyone actually needs. In 2026, though, it seems we’ve reached peak gloss fatigue because matte lips are on the rise—with a needed upgrade. Blurred lips are the latest trend making its way into feeds. It isn’t drying or restrictive (the way some of 2016’s matte lip looks were). Instead, it’s a soft, diffused flush of color.

The popularity of blurred lips is, in part, thanks to Chanel makeup artist Nina Park, who works with stars including Zöe Kravtiz, Emma Stone, and Kaia Gerber. Park is known for her dreamily soft glam makeup, and one element of her artistry that people can’t get enough of is the feathery lip she creates. It has that slightly bitten, lightly flushed look that’s matte but not dry.

She’s not the only makeup artist leaning toward mattes this year. Says Joseph Carillo, a makeup artist in New York City: “A blurred lip feels more emotional and lived-in. It’s the difference between candlelight and a ring light. And right now we need candlelight.”

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While blurred lips are having a moment in the United States, it’s certainly not a new look—especially if you ask women in France and South Korea. Makeup artist and Violette founder, Violette Serrat, notes that blurred lips have long been a beauty staple for French women. She referred to the look as “bouche mordue” (which means bitten lips in French) in a TikTok video in 2024. In South Korea, you’ll find countless lip stains that, when wiped off, leave a subtle gradient of color.

The blurred lips that hit the red carpet recently aren't as effortless as they might appear. Makeup artists rely on a few techniques and tried-and-true products to achieve sultry, blurred lips that last from the carpet to the after-party.

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The key is a blurry, yet slightly over-drawn lip line and an undone gradient of color that is most pigmented in the middle and sheers out toward the lip line. To avoid dryness, hydrate the lips with balm before doing the rest of your makeup and wipe a bit of it off when you’re ready to create your blurred lip. Carillo recommends Maybelline Baby Lips for its long-lasting moisture and subtle tint. The easiest method for the blurred effect is to “apply your lip color in the center and work it outward [with the applicator],” says Carillo. “Press the lips together, but stop before it looks fully blended. If it looks perfect, you’ve gone too far.”

Makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes likes to first minimize the natural contour of the lip by buffing a small amount of concealer over the lips with a brush. She then reestablishes the shape of the lips by applying a dark lip liner and blurring it out with a small brush. She blends the pigment over the Cupid’s bow rather than following the shape. “The more you blend, the better it will be,” she says in a TikTok video. She then applies a buttery matte lipstick in the center and smacks her lips to disperse the color outward. As an optional last step, you can (very) softly outline your lips again with lip liner for definition.

If you’re a lip combo novice (or that all just sounds like too much work), thankfully, there are a handful of products made specifically to achieve a blurred-lip look in one swipe—no blending required. Violette_Fr Bisou Balm was created to replicate a feathery, just-been-kissed lip; Fwee Lip & Cheek Blurry Pudding Pot boasts a soft-focus finish when applied to the lips with your fingers; the Cloudtopia Cheek & Lip Blush Mousse is a pigmented mousse-like formula that’s airy to the touch and leaves the lips looking and feeling soft all day; and the Peripera Ink the Velvet Lip Tint is a K-beauty lip stain that gives you the cloud treatment with weightless, soft matte color that lasts all day.

Next time you do a full face of makeup, but it feels a little lackluster, wipe off your gloss and throw on a blurred lip to add a natural yet sultry touch to your glam.