When it comes to lips, I typically think the bolder the better. That said, I got lip filler earlier this year, and after two weeks with a botched lip job, I had it dissolved, and I’ve never been happier. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want juicy lips. Recently, I’ve been seeing lip contouring all over my TikTok For You Page, and it got me thinking: could all of my dreams come true with just a little contouring? I’ve contoured my cheeks, my forehead, my nose, and even my eyes, all with great results, but I’ve never contoured my lips.
Lip contouring, although not as widely known, is just like any other form of contouring. The idea is to enhance the lips and, in this case, make them look bigger. It can be done with a contour stick, a lip pencil, or even a self-tanning product. In the videos going viral on TikTok, however, everyone is using a lip stain.
Lip stains have worked their way into my normal makeup routine because of how long-lasting they are, and I’ve been a huge fan of them ever since testing them out for a “double glossing” hack. Most of the videos I saw utilized a peel-off lip stain, but I opted to use the Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Masque ($22) because it can be easily wiped off using a wet paper towel. I first heard about the product on TikTok, but it’s editor-loved here at PS. (One thing to note: the lip stain goes on blue, but don’t be alarmed. That isn’t the final shade.)
Typically, when I line my lips I use a lip pencil, but it only takes me so far. It doesn’t last through eating, drinking, or a steamy make-out session. Hopeful that lip contouring would be my answer to fuller-looking lips and long-lasting color, the decision to test it out was easy to make.
To try lip contouring for myself, I started by scrolling through my TikTok feed for techniques and picking a video with the results I liked best. I went with a simple one from user @Sashasmagicsauce, which only required one product to master.
@sashasmagicsauce Replying to @💕💕
After watching it a few times to make sure I had the instructions down, I began prepping my lips. I used a wet paper towel to quickly exfoliate and layered the SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair ($46) to add some moisture to my lips. From there, I took my lip stain and, following the instructions in the videos I had seen, began tracing. I outlined my entire lips, making sure to line a little bit outside of my lip line for added volume.
Once that was finished, I drew a “V” shape on my top lip directly underneath my cupid’s bow so that my cupid’s bow and the “V” made what @Sashasmagicsauce said looked like a diamond (but I honestly thought it looked like a heart). The last step was to draw a singular line down the center of my bottom lip and then to let everything dry. I’ve found that with the Wonderskin lip stains, the longer you let them sit, the deeper the color turns out. So, I put a timer on for five minutes and did some other tasks around my house while I waited.
When the timer went off, I wiped off the stain with a wet paper towel and surveyed the results. The contouring accentuated my lips and gave them a pouty look, and having the edges lined gave them an almost swollen look that reminded me of how my lips looked immediately after filler (in a good way). It also reminded me of the results I typically get when using a lip plumper, except there was no stinging involved.
Although I could have left my lips as-is, I decided to layer the Ortega Blu Nectar Lip Oil ($21) on top because it’s ultra-hydrating and makes my lips look slick and juicy.
I’ve tested this hack a few times since the initial run-through and it’s always a hit. The lip stain lasts me roughly four or five hours without needing to reapply, even through eating and drinking, so I only need to re-do it around mid-day or later – and trust me, it’s totally worth it for the results.
Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for POPSUGAR. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for POPSUGAR’s TikTok and Instagram accounts.
