You guys may remember the ombre lip trend that I first spotted backstage at World Mastercard Fashion Week last March? Another huge trend right now is the gradient lip that has been popular in Korea for years. Bright lips of any kind can be a great beauty accessory and this August, bold lips are getting blurred with Maybelline new Color Blur Matte Pencils by Lip Studio ($11.99 CAD). The new mechanical lip pencils have a matte formula and an exclusive smudger that helps you achieve a blurred effect. Whether you are looking to replicate the gradient lip trend or just add a wash of bold matte colour to your lips, Maybelline’s new Matte Pencils have you covered. 

Product Details

These retractable lip pencils have a creamy, matte colour on one end & a blurring silicone smudger on the other. Each shade can be worn as an all-over lipstick or the smudger can help you recreate one of Korean beauty most popular lip looks by producing a blurred gradient effect on the lips. To achieve the trendy look (see how-to below), apply more colour towards the center of your lips and less towards the outer lip area, using the smudger to blur the colour so it almost “bleeds” into the outer area. I think this trend looks incredibly natural and subtle – almost as though you’ve been sucking on a lollipop. What do you think?

photo credit: beautylish.com

The new lippes are very pigmented and the colour selection is great! Like most matte products though, pigments can easily get trapped in the dry cracks and fine lines of your lips so just make sure you properly exfoliate and hydrate your lips before using them. Application is easy and very controlled. I didn’t find that the product tugged at my lips at all and love that you could build up colour intensity. The formula itself is soft and velvety, which is nice for a matte product. The smudger is made of silicone and feels rubbery. I wish it was smaller (I have small lips) but really like the effect it provides.

Shade Selection & Swatches:

• Pink Insanity (#5)
• Fast & Fuchsia (#10)
• Berry Misbehaved (#15)
• Orange Ya Glad (#20)
• Cherry Cherry Bang Bang (#25)
• Partner in Crimson (#30)
• Plum, Please (#35)
• My-My Magenta (#40)
• I’m Blushing! (#45)
• I Like to Mauve It (#50)

How To: Gradient Lips

1) Line the outside of your lips with any concealer or nude lipstick making sure your lip line matches your skin shade

2) Apply your favourite Maybelline Color Blur Lip Pencil (red or bright pink looks great!) to the middles of your top & bottom lips, staying close to the inside of your mouth. 

3) Blend in the colour using the smudger.

Have you tried these lip pencils?

What do you think of the Korean lip trend?