Ombré lips makeup: straight from the 90s, a beauty trend that never goes out of style
Chokers, crop tops, and bum bags as far as the eye can see: the colorful 90s and grunge style have made a major comeback, not just in our wardrobes but also in beauty.
So as well as experimenting and traveling back in time to the pre-internet era with unkempt hairstyles, mom jeans, and fluorescent colors, it’s the perfect time to dig out a much-loved trend, the ombré lip.
Discover how to recreate a two-color blended lip look in a flash!
What are ombré lips?
The choice of the colors to use is totally up to you! Just remember that to create the perfect ombré lip you will want to select a darker lipstick or lip pencil to outline your lips, and a lighter lipstick to use on the inside.
A flawless result can be achieved with the right technique and the right tools.
If you are just now learning about this trend, you should know that using lipsticks with a matte finish is great for this look since they will quickly dry leaving only a small margin of error.
Prepping your lips
First of all, prep your lips to create a smooth base to work on.
If you haven’t done your exfoliation routine for the week, grab your lip scrub and apply it in circular motions onto your lips. This way you will get rid of dead cells and deep clean your lips.
After a few minutes, you can wash it off and apply your lip balm which will nourish and keep your lips hydrated.
Proceed by applying your eyes and face makeup and leave the lips for last. This way you are sure that you are getting the most out of your lip balm.
When it’s time to create your amazing ombré lips, just gently dab a tissue onto your lips to remove any excess lip balm.
How to create vertical ombrè lip
For the first step use KIKO MILANO’s lip pencil or lipstick in a mid to dark shade.
Outline your lip contour using a lip pencil in your preferred shade (remember to choose a color that is darker than the lipstick you’re going to use on the inside of your lips).
If you prefer, you can use a pencil to fully define your lip contour, then apply a matching lipstick – this should be in the same shade for a flawless result.
To avoid creating too much of a contrast between the inside and outside of your lips, don't just draw a line with the darker pencil but blend it into the center with a lip brush.
The second step consists of choosing a lipstick with a paler shade than the lip pencil and applying it to your inner lips.
Once you have applied it, it is time to blend the two shades right where they meet, this way you will create a nice transitioning effect.
If you need to, you can also sweep your lip brush onto the lipsticks to get more pigment.
Dégradé lip makeup in nude shades
To emphasize the lips with a sophisticated look for any occasion, you can opt for a nude dégradé lip, playing with tonal contrasts.
Here’s how:
1. Choose two matte nude lipsticks, one slightly darker and one slightly lighter.
2. Apply the darker lipstick to the outside of the lips, focusing on the outer corners.
3. Now apply the lighter lipstick to the center of the lips, as well as to the Cupid’s bow and the lower edge of the lip to achieve a less defined effect and contrast between the two shades.
“Reverse” ombré lips: pale on the outside, brighter on the inside
An interesting and fashionable alternative for creating a blended-effect lip look is to use the classic technique...inverted.
The darker shade of lipstick is therefore not applied to the outside, on the outline of the lips, but inside and subsequently, the paler shade will be blended around the outside.
With a coat of KIKO MILANO’s sheer lip gloss, you’ll make the dégradé effect even more sophisticated: apply it evenly to the lips to make them super shiny.
What colors to use for ombrè lips
There are so many color combinations to choose from for this look. You can use your creativity and experiment to create an amazing ombré lip!
If you don’t have a lot of experience with ombré lips, here are a few color combinations you must try!
● Dark Brown and Red
● Plum Purple and Peony Pink
● Beige Rose and Natural Rose
● Cyclamen Pink and Coral
● Rosy Brown and Nude
● Dark Blue and Teal Blue
● Metallic Bordeaux and Metallic Red
For a complete makeup look, a great idea is to use the same colors you used for your eyeshadow.
An easy way to draw more attention to the center of your lips is to apply some highlighter or a shiny eyeshadow using a packed brush!
Although this makeup trend can seem a bit difficult, by following this guide you will achieve amazing results!
Ombré lips will add something extra to your look, making your lips and your smile definitely stand out!
