Korean Gradient Lips Tutorial for 2023

Author: Editorial Team
Editorial Team
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Editorial Team
We review Korean and Japanese beauty products, so you don't have to do it! With years of experience studying and trying various products, this team has honed its skills in identifying the most useful, reliable, and high-quality Asian beauty products.

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The Korean gradient lips hit the beauty scene in Korea a few years ago, and has now gained popularity all over the world.

Long are gone the days where women were trying to get the perfect Korean gradient lips by putting lipstick in the inner center of the lips and spread it out. Nowadays, different techniques have been developed, better lipsticks have been released, and the Korean gradient lips are way easier to achieve.

If a few years ago Korean gradient lips meant “I just-sucked-a-weird-popsicle”, nowadays it’s all about simplicity and, at the same, perfection in the definition of seamless ombré gradients that are everything but childish.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything about Korean gradient lips and you’ll have access to an easy gradient lips tutorial to get the perfect lips in 2023.

What are gradient lips?

Gradient lips are supposed to give your lips a natural color, by blending different lipsticks or different products and fading them out. In their early days, they were known for their almost scruffy effect, just like when we eat a popsicle and we get color on our lips. Today, gradient lips rhyme with ombre lips, a style in which two or more shades are worn on the mouth or simply more products are put on the lips to give them a distinctive look.

What products do I have to use to get gradient lips?

If you want to keep things simple, just use a lipstick (matte or tints) and fade it out with your hands or a brush. If you want to get a more sophisticated look, then you need to use concealer, blush, powder and just at the end, you can put lipstick on.

Korean Gradient Lips Tutorial

We’ve collected the four most known tutorials to get the best Korean gradient lips: you can choose the one you prefer, according to the result you want to get.

Gradient Lips Tutorial: Method Number 1

  • Exfoliate your lips by brushing them with a toothbrush and warm water or by using specific products to remove dead cells;
  • Apply your lipstick, glossy or matte, only to the center of your lips;
  • With a lip brush or your fingers, blend the color outward. If you want to give your lips some glam, apply some neutral lip balm over.
gradient lips

Gradient Lips Tutorial: Method Number 2

  • Exfoliate your lips by brushing them with a toothbrush and warm water or by using specific products to remove dead cells;
  • Apply a nude lipstick or a concealer on your lips to make the center of your lips popping out;
  • Apply your lipstick, glossy or matte, to the center of your lips;
  • With a lip brush or your fingers, blend the color outward. If you want to give your lips some glam, apply some neutral lip balm over.

Gradient Lips Tutorial: Method Number 3

  • Exfoliate your lips by brushing them with a toothbrush and warm water or by using specific products to remove dead cells;
  • Make sure you’re using 2 lipsticks with one shade darker than the other;
  • Apply the darker one to the center of your lips;
  • Apply the lighter at the edge of the lips;
  • With a lip brush or your fingers, blend the color outward. If you want to give your lips some
  • glam, apply some neutral lip balm over.

Gradient Lips Tutorial: Method Number 4

  • Exfoliate your lips by brushing them with a toothbrush and warm water or by using specific products to remove dead cells;
  • Apply concealer just along your natural lip line, being sure to blend well;
  • Apply some powder all over the lips to seal the concealer;
  • Apply the first layer of your lipstick and blend it with your finger;
  • Apply a matte blush in a similar shade as your lipstick. Blend the edges of your lip colour to get a seamless look;
  • Apply a transparent lip gloss if you want the romantic effect or leave it as it is.

What’s the best method to get gradient lips?

Method number 2 is perfect if you want the “I’ve just had a lollypop” look. Method number 4 is best for women looking for a subtle lip color, that is more elegant and less evident.

How can I make my lipstick stay on all day?

The trick is not to rub your lips against each other but to open and close them gently so that the lipstick won’t go away. Another trick is to blot your lips to remove any oil: once you’re done with your gradient, just use some blotting paper and pat it on your lips to seal the color and make sure it will last longer.

The gradient lip is super easy to do, so in case your lipstick will fade away, simply reapply it, perhaps following method number one if you don’t have enough time.

Best Products to Achieve Korean Gradient Lips

Here you have a selection of the best lipsticks and products to achieve the gradient lips look.

Peripera Ink The Velvet

Peripera Ink The Velvet

Available in 13 different colors, Peripera Ink The Velvet glides on smoothly and offers long-lasting vibrant color. It’s perfect to get the gradient lip look, and it stays for a long time. Apply a moderate amount to the center of your lips and gently spread outwards.

3CE Mood Recipe

3CE Mood Recipe

If there’s a lipstick that you can use for perfect gradient lips, this is 3CE Mood Recipe: it’s a matte-type lipstick with a creamy texture, that is highly pigmented without being too aggressive. Number 218, Mirrorlike, is one of the best nude lipstick ever: it’s an extremely feminine rose beige, that is perfect for women looking for natural makeup.

Read Also: Best 3CE Makeup Products

CLIO Rouge Heel Velvet

CLIO Rouge Heel Velvet

CLIO’s Rouge Heel Velvet is available in 10 shades all of them with a matte and velvety finish. This lipstick is perfect to achieve the gradient lips look. Two are the shades that really pop when it comes to Rouge Heel Velvet: the bold Opening Teaser and the sophisticated Good Mauve.

Peripera Ink Airy Velvet Stick

Peripera Ink Airy Velvet Stick

The Ink Airy Velvet Stick is available in 8 different shades and has a special characteristic: it’s natural. Even the boldest colors are natural when applied on the lips for a no-makeup look and feel that is perfect for your everyday makeup. Two of our favorites shades are Coral Mashmallow and Bestie Pink.

Read Also: Best Korean Lipsticks of 2023

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.

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