Blurred Lips: How to Do the Perfect Lip Blur

The nature of seasonal makeup trends is that they have a short shelf life. However, blurred lips are the exception that proves the rule – offer enduring, effortless appeal that transcends fleeting makeup looks and that you can flaunt all year round.

Crisp, sharp lip liner and perfectly full lips have been a staple in recent years, but blurry lips take a more subtle, lived-in approach to makeup that’s undeniably chic.

The beauty of a lip blur is that it doesn’t require perfect technique and precise application – which makes it easy to achieve in just a few steps. In this guide, you’ll learn expert techniques to create this artfully ‘undone’ lip look.

What are blurred lips?

Blurred lips are the result of matte lipstick that’s been softly blurred at the edges. A lip blur has the appearance of a gradient, where colour is more concentrated in the centre of the lips and diffuses outwards.

This type of application technique gives the lips a freshly kissed appearance, with lines soft and out of focus. The concept is derived from the French term ‘bouche mordue’, which translates to “bitten lips”.

In addition to being quintessentially French, blurry lips are also a staple of Korean beauty looks, however, they tend to feature a more noticeable fade toward the outer edges and a dewier finish.

What makes blurred lipstick so chic?

The look of strategically ‘undone’ lipstick has plenty of appeal: it’s the perfect counterpoint to precise, overly lined lips that have dominated lipstick trends in the past few years.

Many of the chicest makeup techniques take a minimalist, more natural approach that mimics the behaviour of real skin. Blurred lips do the same – giving the lips the appearance of just being bitten or kissed.

The result is soft-focus lips and a subtle wash of colour that’s inherently more laid back and effortless than other lip looks. A lip blur is also highly versatile; subtle enough for day wear, while remaining elegant and romantic for evening looks.

How to do blurry lips: 5 steps

The most important thing to remember about blurred lips is that this makeup trend doesn’t require perfect technique – just the opposite. That being said, nailing the blurry lip look might take a couple of attempts, so we’ve simplified it into five easy steps:

Ensure your lips are hydrated and supple.
Select the perfect matte lipstick formula.
Focus application on the centre of your lips and keep it light around the edges.
Gently blur your lip line.
Keep your lips matte – or finish with a gloss.

Read on as we guide you through each of these steps and share our product recommendations to help you recreate this intentionally imperfect aesthetic.

1. Start with a nourished base

Soft, moisturised lips are the basis of any lipstick look to ensure your products glide on smoothly and cling to the lip surface. This is even more critical for blurry lips since you’re going to be working with matte lipsticks.

If you notice a buildup of dead skin cells on your lips, consider lightly exfoliating with a clean, damp washcloth or a dedicated lip scrub. Once your lips are dried, coat them with the YSL Loveshine Candy Glow. This tinted butter lip balm is packed with maracuja oil and shea and jojoba butters to nourish the lips for up to 24 hours.

2. Select a matte lipstick

Matte lipsticks are the ideal choice for a blurred lip look: they’re long-lasting, deliver buildable pigment, and blend easily for a softly diffused finish.

Bullet cream lipsticks are particularly effortless to blend and buff, so you can reach for the Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Velvet Radical for your blurry matte needs. Its anti-dry formula is perfect for colour diffusion, while the tapered square grape allows for precise application – negating the need for a lip brush.

While it is best to steer clear of satin and gloss formulas when creating this look, you can opt for a liquid matte like the YSL The Inks Blur. A blurring matte lip stain, this unique formula dries down into a smoked blur finish and the rounded tip gives your lips naturally soft edges.

3. Apply lipstick to the centre of your lips

To achieve the subtle gradient effect of blurred lipstick, you’ll need to apply more heavily to the centre of your lips, while keeping the edges soft and imprecise.

Using the matte lipstick of your choice, apply your colour in the centre of your lips and lighten your touch as you move outwards. You can apply your lipstick straight from the applicator or by taking your product on a small lip brush.

Remember, this doesn’t need to be flawless – you’ll be blurring the lip contour soon enough – and you can always add more colour later if desired.

4. Blur the edges of your lipstick

With your lipstick applied, it’s time to give it that ‘just-bitten’ effect. To achieve an effortless lip blur, you’ll need to gently smudge the edges of your lips to remove any solid lines.

Precision is less important here, so you can either use a small lip brush, a cotton bud, or even your finger to create this softly diffused lip line. The goal is a hazy, out-of-focus gradient; your lip colour should be visible but gently blurred.

5. Pick your finish: true matte or gloss

Now, the previous step might be the final flourish to your blurry lips, or you may choose to blot your lips with a tissue or by kissing the back of your hand. This will tone down intensity and amplify your matte blur. You can even put a dusting of non-tinted setting powder – like the All Hours Hyper Finish in ‘Universal’ – over your lips to lock in that blurred lip finish.

However, you might prefer to take a K-beauty approach and opt for a glossy or shiny finish. In this case, we suggest finishing with the YSL Loveshine Candy Glaze in a shade that matches your matte lip colour. This lip gloss stick imbues the lip surface with a dewy finish and nourishing ingredients.

If you loved experimenting with the blurred lip trend, expand your lip makeup knowledge with our guide on lipstick, lip stains and lip gloss.