‘Gym Lips’—the two-step makeup technique consisting of a nude lip liner topped with a clear, high-shine gloss—was the go-to makeup trend for summer. TikTok has spoken yet again, and ‘Movie Lips’ are about to be everywhere this season.
Made famous by Kat James of Shine Malibu, “Movie lips are that effortless, just-kissed, perfect kind of look,” she says in her viral TikTok video. The perfect example of the flushed, sexy look, she says: None other than Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice.
However, unlike traditional makeup trends that point to an exact product to nail the look, James explains that “the problem with movie lips is it’s impossible to recreate, because it’s usually a mixture of colors or a blotted down formula.”
While we can’t divulge secrets only known by makeup artists on-set of said movies—they usually use a mix of lip balms, lip liners and lipsticks, blotted down for a subtle finish—James recommends one product to help recreate the look at home.
According to James, Saie Beauty’s Lip Blur ($24), launched this month, is the perfect product to achieve the look. The key, she says, is in the application. James explains she applies the Lip Blur directly to her pout—”no lining, nothing precise,” she says—and uses her finger to dab the product into the lips for a diffused on-screen finish.
If Lip Blur isn’t part of your makeup routine, any satin-finish balm or lipstick will do the trick. Simply apply a small amount of the product to the center of your lips (you can always build on more later for a more opaque look) and use the warmth of your fingertip to blend across your lips for a just-kissed look.
