TikTokers have an appetite for food- and beverage-inspired beauty trends these days. Latte makeup spilled all over TikTok, Hailey Bieber made strawberry girl summer a thing, and things just got a little bit sweeter (and shinier) with honey lips taking over screens and mouths everywhere. The trend, coined by beauty creator Eva Larosa, is inspired by the golden color 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.
TikTok content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
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. Larosa recommends sweeping the eyeshadow on the center 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 U.S., we love Mac Eye Shadow in If It Ain’t Baroque for a similar luxe finish. If you prefer something more subtle, Betancur recommends Lumi Glotion from L’Oréal Paris in shade 904 (Betancur 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, Larosa and the pros recommend defining your lips with lip liner in a neutral pink or brown shade that matches your lip color. Opt for a slightly darker shade if you want more definition. Larosa uses a nude lip pencil from the U.K.-based brand Primark. Our rec? 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. 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 Allure Best of Beauty winner Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in the shade 01 Honey.