This fall, I’m going to treat myself to a mini makeover, with a healthier diet, more face cleansing, upgraded products and regular facials. Or maybe instead I’ll just take the easy way out and buy a new lipstick, something from one of the French girl makeup brands to help me pass for a soignée Parisienne. It all starts with a blurred lip. That’s right, I’m all for a makeover that starts with the mouth, especially if it results in the sexy and kissable makeup looks I see on women outside fashion shows and cafes in Paris.
The Blurred Lip Is My Favorite French Woman’s Makeup Hack
It says *you can kiss me now*
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Published Sep 9, 2025
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Edward Berthelot/Getty Images(2), Violette_Fr, Nars, Mohammed-Jalal Nekkach/Getty, Dave Benett/Getty Images for ISAMAYA
What Is a *Blurred Lip”?
Broadly, it’s a subtly or brightly hued kisser that looks like you have pretty makeup on, but doesn’t make you look like you have a goopy layer of sticky gloss or paint. There are no super-sharp edges to the lips, nor is there the kind of shine associated with heavy gloss. The effect is one of “I just dabbed on some color in the back of a taxi with no mirror on the way over” rather than “I can’t touch my puffed-up mouth pillow on anything, since I’d leave a gross stain. Plus, I’d smear my lipstick and need to re-apply!” While the blurred lip isn’t exclusively French, I daresay those gamines perfected the look; too, they’ve created the best products to get it.
How Does One Create the Blurred Lip?
Achieving the perfect feather-matte lip is all about a light touch and a focus on diffusion. Here's a step-by-step guide:
1. Prep Your Lips: Start with a smooth canvas. Exfoliate your lips gently to remove any flakes using a simple sugar scrub or a soft toothbrush. Follow up with a light layer of lip balm to moisturize (or overnight with a lip mask). Blot off any excess before you begin.
2. The Dab and Diffuse Method: Forget the traditional method of drawing a sharp line. The key to the blurred effect is to apply the product to the center of your lips first. Use the doe-foot applicator to place a small amount of the product on the inner part of your top and bottom lips.
3. The Blend: This is where the magic happens. Instead of using the applicator to fill in your lips, use your fingertip or a small, fluffy eyeshadow brush to gently dab and blend the color outward. Use a tapping motion, not a rubbing one, to diffuse the pigment toward the edges of your lips. This creates a soft, hazy border rather than a defined line.
4. Build and Perfect: The beauty of this formula is its buildability. If you want more intensity, repeat the process: dab a little more product in the center and blend it out. Continue to build until you've reached your desired level of boldness. You can also use a small concealer brush with a tiny amount of foundation to clean up the edges if needed, but remember, the goal is a soft, not a sharp, line.
5. The Final Blot: For the most natural, lived-in look, a final gentle blot with a tissue can help to press the pigment into the lips and remove any excess, leaving a stain-like finish that is both long-lasting and incredibly comfortable.
Dana Dickey
What Are the Best Lipsticks for the Blurred Lip Look?
Violette_Fr just came out with the Plume Lip collection, which is a feather-light matte whipped formula you put on with a doe-foot applicator that I like to use to dot across my lower then top lips and blend in. It’s got the coverage of previous generations of matte lipsticks, but doesn’t dry or flake the way those did (nor does it fade in the middle, leaving an unattractive line around the edges of the lips). I’ve been wearing the Mon Cheri shade, a buildable brick red, on repeat and like the way a single layer lasts all day, then a darker swipe or two creates a dramatic sexy shade suitable for night.
Rouge Dior lipsticks come in glossy and velvet formulations; the latter comes in dozens of shades and is highly pigmented, made to last up to 12 hours. I have never had mine last quite that long, but I do like to wear it for occasions when there will be photography without a chance to freshen my makeup. Also, Dior gets props for its wide range of nude tones.
Nars Powermatte High Intensity Lip Pencil comes in 13 shades and has a smooth crème-to-matte texture. In my experience, it’s especially long-lasting and easy to apply with just a couple swipes of the pencil, then smoothing the product outward with your pinky.
Pro Tip
Use a blurred lipliner that matches your lip tone if you want to make your lips look larger or change the shape of your lips. I like the Refy Beauty Blur Liner to fill in my cupid’s bow and clean up the sides of my lower lip, without making the effect look too noticeable.
