Universally flattering for every lip shape, blurred lips create a soft-focus effect that makes lips appear plumper and fuller.
Better still, the beauty of the blurred lip look lies in its low-maintenance appeal. You can skip the overlined lip liner for a dreamy, blurred finish that’s effortlessly cool – zero precision needed.
Below, we’re sharing everything you need to know about blurry lips and how to perfect the look with our Smushy Matte Lip Balm. Infused with mochi rice powder and sugar ceramides for a weightless, pillow-soft feel, this plush formula blends (or should we say smushes?) out perfectly on application, delivering beautifully diffused colour in seven gorgeous shades.
But first – what are blurry lips?
What are blurred lips?
Blurred lips are a lip style where colour is applied to the centre of the lips and softly blended outward, creating a soft-focus, natural finish.
This method flips the classic lip liner trick on its head. Instead of defining your lips’ edges with a darker shade (and filling them in with a lighter one), you soften them by pushing colour outward for a fresh, undone look.
Blurred lips are versatile enough to provide both a subtle daytime look and a more layered, vibrant effect for the evening. Because it softens the edges of your lips, the blurred lip look works with any makeup style – from pared-back minimalism to full glam.
Where does the blurred lip trend come from?
The blurred lips trend first emerged with the French makeup style known as “bouche mordue” – literally translating to “bitten lips.”
This technique applied lip balm or lipstick to the centre of the lips before gently blotting with a tissue to soften the edges, resulting in a natural, hazy finish.
Later, Korean beauty culture helped popularise the style.
In K-beauty, blurred lips are often created with lightweight lip glosses and lip oils, which deliver a soft wash of colour across the lips without the need for liner. Ultimately, the trend’s popularity comes from its versatility and ease: blurred lips are low maintenance, flattering on all skin tones, and suitable for a wide range of looks and occasions.
Get the blurred lip look in 4 steps with Smushy Matte Lip Balm
Ready to master the lip blur?
With just four easy steps and our soft, buildable Smushy Matte Lip Balm, achieving that dreamy, blurred lip look is effortless:
- Exfoliate and hydrate your lips
- Choose your Smushy Matte Lip Balm shades
- Apply colour to the centre of your lips
- Diffuse the edges
Read on as we unpack each step to nailing the blurred lip look in more detail, below.
Step 1: Exfoliate and hydrate your lips
Start with smooth, hydrated lips – this is non-negotiable for a flawless, blurred lip.
Gently exfoliate to remove any dry skin or flakes, then follow up with a hydrating balm or gloss to prep your lips for colour.
Step 2: Choose your Smushy Matte Lip Balm shade
Cream and matte balm formulas blend effortlessly on application, making them perfect for creating blurred lips. Here, it’s important to pick a shade that feels like you – one that matches your personal style and complements your skin tone.
- Choose Swipe Sesh for a fresh berry pop that brightens fair to olive skin.
- Choose Sweet Smack for a soft pink that complements deeper skin tones.
- Choose Soft Smile for a warm caramel kiss that enhances brown and olive complexions.
- Choose Snuggle SNZ for a cozy, muted nude that flatters medium to deep skin tones.
Each shade is buildable, letting you dial up the intensity or keep it effortlessly blurred.
Our top tip? Try different shades virtually to find your ideal match for this blurred lip look.
Step 3: Apply your colour in the centre of your lips
Next, apply your chosen shade directly to the centre of your lips.
This is where you want maximum colour payoff for the perfect blurred-lip effect – and it’s also where our Smushy Matte Lip Balm really shines.
Its buildable formula lets you control the intensity, so start with a light application and layer gradually until you reach your ideal vibrant centre.
Step 4: Diffuse the edges
Now for the signature move of any lip blur tutorial – gently blend the colour outwards.
There are several lip blur techniques you can try, so pick whichever feels most natural or convenient for your routine:
- Finger method: use the tips of your fingers to diffuse the edges of your lip makeup, blending in gentle, circular motions. No tools required!
- French tissue method: channel effortless Parisian chic by gently pressing a tissue over your lips after application. This removes just enough product to create that soft, blurred lip.
- Kiss-back method: press your lips to the back of your hand in a gentle kissing motion. This naturally removes excess product from the centre while softly blending the edges.
- Makeup brush method: use our Pro Blending Brush and sweep it along the edges of your lips to blend outward. This gives the most control and a professional finish.
- Makeup sponge method: dab a clean sponge around the outer edges, moving the product outwards to soften any harsh lines and enhance your blurred lip look.
Remember, the goal is the same with any technique – work in gentle motions to create a seamless, soft-focus effect. The beauty is in the imperfection, so embrace the lived-in finish that makes blurred lips modern, effortless, and undeniably chic.
Now that you know how to create the blurred lip look, take your beauty game to the next level with our guide to nailing the five-minute no-makeup make-up look.
