Things just got a little bit sweeter (and shinier) in the makeup department with honey lips taking over screens and mouths everywhere. It’s hardly surprising given TikTokers have an appetite for food- and beverage-inspired beauty trends these days.
First, latte makeup spilled all over TikTok, then Hailey Bieber made strawberry girl summer a thing.
Now there is honey lips, a trend coined by beauty creator Eva Larosa and inspired by the golden colour of the condiment — without any of its stickiness.
That said, save your pot of honey for your tea. A shimmery, gold eyeshadow and juicy gloss are the keys to the glassy, tacky-free finish. “This hack brings a gorgeous, luscious glow that’s almost dripping off of your lips,” says makeup artist J Guerra, who also notes that it “adds warmth to any makeup look.”
With 2.9 million views on the hashtag #honeylips already, we had to find out the best way to create the look.
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The first step to these shiny, smooth lips is exfoliation. Buff away flakes and dryness with a lip scrub: The Burt’s Bees Conditioning Lip Scrub and Lush Honey Lip Scrub both nourish with hydrating honey while gently scrubbing away dead skin.
Miami-based makeup artist Claudia Betancur suggests making your own by mixing a dab of actual honey with sugar and massaging it over lips in a circular motion. (Your scrub doesn’t have to be honey-based, but we love a theme.)
Once your lips are soft and supple, it’s time to add some shine. For the ultimate glitzy finish, makeup artists recommend using a gold eyeshadow… on your lips.
Eva advises sweeping the eyeshadow on the centre of your lips with your fingertip — focus on your cupid’s bow and the middle of your lower lip. In her videos, she uses NYX È L’Utopia Gold Di (though it’s only available in Europe).
As an alternative for anyone trying to get the look in the UK, we love MAC Dazzleshow Eyeshadow in I Like To Watch for a similar luxe finish. If you prefer something more subtle, Betancur recommends L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion in shade 904 (Claudia is an ambassador of the brand), a sheer liquid option. To cut down on the mess factor, a foam shadow applicator is a great way to avoid makeup-covered fingers.
After this, Eva and the pros recommend defining your lips with lip liner in a neutral pink or brown shade that matches your lip colour. Opt for a slightly darker shade if you want more definition. Eva uses a nude lip pencil from Primark. Also good is the super pigmented, buttery Nars Precision Lip Liners.
Finally, and most importantly, comes the dipped-in-honey-like finish. A high-shine gloss or lip oil will do the trick. Larosa finishes her look with a swipe of Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow, a shimmering rose. J Guerra recommends playing up the theme by using a honey-infused lip oil or a gold-tinted gloss like the Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil or Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in the shade 01 Honey.
After following these four simple steps, our lips were aglow — and we got the buzz on honey lips.
A version of this article originally appeared on Allure.