Visit Kano Media

I predicted experimental lipstick trends were going to start popping up everywhere—just look at the Cherry Cola lip trend—and this latest TikTok craze further proves it. While part of the buzz surrounding the look involves determining whether you naturally have a double lip line, you can also create the appearance of one with liner, which also makes your lips seem fuller. But whether you were born with it or not, the look is being praised for sculpting your pout and helping your lipstick stay put longer. I wasn’t so easily convinced, so I asked three experts to share more about this new trend and how to create one.

• Nydia Figueroa is a celebrity makeup artist with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She started out as an artist for MAC Cosmetics before becoming a well-renowned makeup artist. Her work has been featured at New York Fashion Week, Miss Universe and Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. 
• Tamara Boyd is a professional makeup artist and a brand ambassador for Black Radiance. She has over 10 years of experience in the Los Angeles area. She specializes in bridal and special events makeup with a heavy emphasis on flawless finishes. 
• Tisha Thompson is a makeup artist and founder of LYS Beauty with over 20 years of experience in the industry. She was previously a makeup artist at MAC Cosmetics as well as a vice president of marketing for PÜR. She launched LYS Beauty in February 2021 to dispel the myth around selling clean beauty and deep shade ranges around an affordable cost. 

Want more beauty tips sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here.

It started gaining traction around 2022 with creators like Sarah’s Super Spa teaching her followers how to apply lipstick on a double lip line. However, Black fashion journalist and content creator, Śola, went viral for showcasing multiple videos on how to embrace and wear makeup as someone with a natural double lip line. “As a Black woman with naturally full lips, I couldn’t figure out why my lip liner never looked good when I put it on. So, I began researching and learned about the vermillion border,” she told Refinery 29. 

According to Thompson, a double lip line can create a fuller, more defined lip and has been a staple for makeup artists for years. “Double-lined lips naturally make your lips look fuller and plumper, because the outer line acts like a built-in lip liner, creating the illusion of depth and casting a light shadow around the edges,” she says. “Just like how a lip liner enhances the shape of your lips, a double lip line can give that same defined effect with the right products and application.”

According to Figueroa, the best way to check if you have a natural double lip line is by analyzing your lips in the mirror and checking if there’s a raised line around your lips. “Make sure there’s good lighting and begin moving your face in the mirror to show the different contour lines of your lips. This [method] will help you see the natural outer edge,” she says. 

Another option is taking a photo of yourself. Boyd suggests keeping your lips in a relaxed position before snapping the pic. “Zoom in on the photo to see if there’s a line that separates your lips from the surrounding skin. Also check if the double lip line appears evenly on both sides. A natural double lip line should be symmetrical, enhancing the overall shape of your lips,” she explains. Upon inspecting my lips for a few minutes in the mirror (and combing through countless selfies), I’ve definitely noticed a darker line along my lips. Mind. Blown. 

If you weren’t blessed with a natural double lip line, there’s still a beauty hack for those with thinner pouts to try out. Follow these three simple steps below. 

1. Grab a liner that’s two shades darker than your natural lip color. “A deeper shade is a great way to enhance the double lip line in a subtle way,” says Figueroa. Start lining the highest point of your lip before blending it gently with your finger or a precision brush.  
2. Use a second liner that’s a shade closest to your natural lip color and begin lining slightly above the first line before blending it out (making sure not to smudge both lines together so you don’t lose the double lip line). A helpful MUA tip: “Focus on the cupid’s bow and the outer corners for definition,” adds Boyd. 
3. Apply your favorite lipstick below the lines and find a shade that complements the second liner color. You can leave as is and admire your new defined lines. Or, you can top the lip look with a gloss, lip oil or tinted lip balm for more shine.  

Figueroa says lip liner is still helpful in applying lipstick to a natural double lip line. “Use a lip liner first to determine if you want to line outside the vermillion border to make the lips look bigger, or within the border, to make the lip line look more natural,” she says. “I love to do something I call ‘Lip Pillowing,’ which is a technique using a small fluffy brush to tap on your lip color, so it goes on more airbrushed than opaque. This is great so the lipstick looks natural when applying to a double lip line. If you do want the color to look more bold, I would use a synthetic lip brush to apply the color on your lips.”