Colour is back for 2026 – and, with it, lips boasting a more intense colour payoff. But if crisp lines don’t appeal, look no further than the ‘cloud lips’ makeup trend that is blowing up on social media just in time for Valentine’s Day.

So what exactly are cloud lips? Think smudged-out, ‘morning-after’ lipstick with a hazy finish that hits the sweet spot between being gloriously blurry and still managing to avoid looking messy. “A cloud lip is a just-kissed, blurred lip effect with no harsh edges,” says Jennifer Lyons, makeup artist and national education manager for Nars. Instead, it’s characterised by “soft lip lines with a slightly bolder centre.”

How to create ‘cloud lips’

Creating ‘cloud lips’ is a simple two-part process. First, apply a matte lipstick or lip pencil to the centre of your lips. Once this is done, you can go in with your finger to buff out the formula from the middle of your lips to soften the edges, says Jennifer.

Then it’s up to you to choose your texture preference. Some people prefer to keep the finish matte – a little like the foundations designed for cloud skin on the face. Jennifer prefers to add a very subtle shine. “To make sure the colour is well blended, I like to use a lip balm on top to add hydration,” she says.

“You can also create a soft, diffused, overdrawn lip,” says makeup artist Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury. “Go in, starting at the centre,” she advises. “I like to overdraw the Cupid’s Bow for the most natural heart-shaped effect.”

The products you need to create cloud lips?

In terms of products, Jennifer says she loves to use “a soft pink shade as it’s the truest natural lip colour”, name checking Nars’ Powermatte High Intensity Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita paired with the Triple X Afterglow Lip Balm as her go-tos. Other creamy lip liner options are Summer Fridays’ new SoftLine Lip Line and the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape, which simultaneously enhance the natural shape of your lips.