The Gilded Lily: Cute Gradient Lips Trick (with variations)

Are you tired of using the same old, boring swipe of lipstick to complete your look? If you are, I have a neat little trick to liven up your lip color.

A great way to add a little fun and life into your lipstick is to use a gradient effect. It stands out, but isn’t so over the top that you can’t use it during the day. It’s also extremely easy to achieve. Let’s give it a try, shall we?

Version 1: Lovely Pink Gradient

Tools:

Ulta Lipstick in Sheer Rose

M.A.C. Lip Glass in Pink Fade

The Color Workshop Professional Series Lip Liner in Red

Lip balm

A lip brush

Step 1:

You want to start off by picking out the right lip products. You’ll want a liner, a lipstick, and a gloss that are all from the same color family. The liner should be the darkest, then the lipstick, and the gloss should be the lightest or even clear. I chose the Color Workshop liner used here, because even though it is a red, it has a lot of magenta mixed into it, which will look very nice with the pink.

Step 2:

Prep your lips by rubbing on some lip balm. Here I am using Bliss’s fabulous balm. Use one that doesn’t dry up easily or is too solid and it might help if you put on a little more than you normally would. To really make the effects of the gradient work, you need your canvas to be slippery, so apply away!

Step 3:

Apply your lipstick. Make sure it’s a nicely pigmented shade that stands out on your lips.

Step 4:

Take the lip liner and line your lips, perhaps a little thicker than you normally would. Don’t worry if you’re starting to look like The Joker!

"Why so serious?"

Step 5:

Take your lip brush and start blending the liner into the lipstick in small, gentle strokes. You want to blend it away from the edges of the lip, not towards it. Be careful not to blend it all away or all the way to your mouth’s opening. The effect should start taking place!

Step 6:

If the liner is no longer visible or if you want to deepen the color at the edges, go ahead and line your lips again, but take care to keep this line very thin. You don’t want to spoil the work you already did!

Step 7:

Apply the lip gloss carefully in the middle. You don’t want it to smear the liner. The main purpose of it is to highlight the lightest part of the gradient.

Step 8:

You’re done! Take care not to press your lips together while wearing this look. If you put on too much lip gloss, dab at it carefully with a tissue. Voilà!

Version 2: Cool Violet Gradient

Tools:

Nyx Lipstick in Power

Ulta Lip Gloss in Charmed

Yves Saint Laurent Eye Pencil (Yes! Eye pencil!) in #10 Purple Silk

This style can also look great with cooler colors. However, sometimes finding the right shade of lip liner can be a little bit of a hassle. How to fix this? Using a colorful, matching eyeliner, of course! If you can safely use an eyeliner on your waterline, then you’ll be able to apply it on your mouth.

However, eyeliners might be a little bit trickier when it comes to blending them in. Make sure to coax them a little harder with the lip brush and don’t forget your balm!

Version 3: Dramatic Orange Gradient

Tools:

M.A.C. Lipstick in Morange

Profusion Diamond Shine Lip Gloss in A10- Orange

Sephora Nano Lip Liner in Really Red

Sometimes the lipstick you already have might be a little too rich and bright for this look (Any fans of Morange can attest to this!) The key is to not apply it in a stroke, but to dab it softly onto your lips with a light hand. Don’t be afraid to lift some of it off with a tissue, until it is light enough to work with.

While the effect might not end up being as striking, it is still very beautiful!

Version 4: Romantic Peach Gradient

Tools:

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté

Profusion Diamond Shine Lip Gloss in A10- Orange

M.A.C. Lipstick in Morange

Lipstick? No problem! Gloss? Check! Liner? Uh-oh…

Not everyone is a fan of lip liners (or colorful eye liner!) and while this look is hot, who’s gonna go out and buy a product they’ll have no other uses for? ;) So what’s a gal to do?