Juicy, colorful, and coated with a mirror-like shine, jelly lips are popping up everywhere we look. This irresistible trend combines the high shine of a glossy lip with the just-bitten flush of a matte popsicle stain—two looks we love that are made infinitely better when combined.
Like most other viral looks taking over your TikTok, jelly lips aren’t an entirely new invention. “They’re inspired by the washes of jelly and jam-tinted shades we’ve been seeing all over in K-beauty,” says Sara Wren, Milk Makeup’s Director of Artistry. Super shiny and a lot of fun, the look is the perfect way to remix your favorite spring and summer lip shades. (Think “coral, pink, berry, and red,” says Sara.)
Jelly lips are one of the best lip looks we’ve tried because they’re a breeze to recreate, but there are a few tips to keep in mind if you want the jammy finish to last long and look as smooth as possible. First, set your lip liners to the side. “The idea is for your lips to look stained, almost like you’ve been kissing for a few hours,” says Sara. “A lip liner will give too much structure and definition to a lip that is meant to look more like jelly.”
Ready to nail it? Here’s a step-by-step tutorial for getting the juiciest jelly lips ever with our clean, vegan, and cruelty-free lip MVPs.
How to Do Jelly Lips1. ExfoliateJelly lips need a super smooth base to shine, so do a little skincare routine for your lips before you go in with color. “Start by exfoliating to avoid any dry bits or patchiness,” says Sara. For a quick lip treatment, go in with your favorite scrub or warm washcloth to sweep away dead skin cells. Sara likes taking a small scoop of Hydro Ungrip Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm on a washcloth to gently cleanse and leave her lips soft and buildup-free.
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2. MoisturizeDry lips are a drag. Jelly lips are the opposite. Just remember: the more moisturized, the better. After creating a clean canvas, give your bare lips a couple minutes to soak up some moisture from your favorite lip balm or nourishing lip oil. This step ensures your lip look will last without going patchy or flaky, says Mimi Sanchez, Sr. Sales & Education Executive for NYC, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Mimi’s favorite lip oil for the job is the highly hydrating KUSH Lip Oil in Green Dragon, formulated with hemp seed oil to nourish and condition, along with coconut oil, vitamin-E rich sunflower oil, and camellia japonica seed oil. Slick on a coat, let it sink in, then gently wipe off the excess. |
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3. StainTime to build your jelly lip base. There’s only one product you need for this step, and it’s our viral Cooling Water Jelly Tint, a one-of-a-kind bouncy lip stain that glides on for budge-proof sheer color. “It ensures you’re getting a long-lasting wash of pigment that stays put no matter what you layer on top,” says Sara of our best-selling stain with hundreds of five-star ratings. Mimi also loves our Jelly Tint for this trend because it gives an instant “bitten lip look.” You can apply your tint two ways: directly from the stick, or with a lip brush for added precision. Sara likes to apply it directly onto her lips to “create a soft stain,” focusing the color on the center of her top and bottom lips to create a gradient effect. If you want a less blurry effect, Mimi likes painting her Jelly Tint on with a lip liner brush, creating a soft outline, and then filling in her lips with a watercolor stain. |
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4. GlossHere’s what takes your stain from popsicle lips to jelly lips: a layer of glossy shine. Grab a lip oil or non-sticky lip gloss and slick it on for an instant jelly effect. Our KUSH Lip Oil and Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss both get the job done. “Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss will give a more pigmented look or shimmery effect to your jelly lips,” says Sara. “KUSH Lip Oil gives more of a glasslike shine without as much tint.” Because jelly lips are translucent, you can really play around with any color combo you want. But if you’re looking for some expert-approved layering duos, Sara and Mimi have some suggestions. Mimi loves pairing Jelly Tint in Splash with Odyssey in Voyage for a “plum-berry look,” or layering any Jelly Tints under our sheer, shimmery blue Globetrot for an icy finish. Sara’s favorite combos include Jelly Tint in Spritz under KUSH Lip Oil in Dream Machine and Jelly Tint in Splash under KUSH Lip Oil in Cookie Dough. Or, finish any tint with Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss in Journey, a clear topper that keeps the original color of your stain. “Consider it the perfect top coat for any of your jelly lip looks,” says Sara. Want to make things even easier? We dropped five new Jelly Lip Duos to help you try the trend. From Cherry Crush (a rosy twist on the classic red lip) to Icy Pink (candy pink topped with frosty shimmer), these juicy combos do the work for you. We’re calling it now: It’s officially the year of jelly lips. |
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Meet the Experts:
Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.
Mimi Sanchez (she/her) is the Sr. Sales & Education Executive for NYC, New Jersey and Philadelphia. In her role, she oversees her markets and works to increase their sales volume by providing educational training, in-store support, and spreading brand awareness through eventing. When she's off the clock, Mimi loves spending time with her niece, getting her nails done, and catching brunch with friends.