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Spring makeup trends always feel like a breath of fresh air, but this year, it's the lips that are setting beauty fans' hearts aflutter. Don't get me wrong. I'm loving the soft-purple eye shadow on everyone's lids this season (this red carpet trend has legs!), but I've always been one to experiment with a statement lip over doll-like eye looks. This season, inspiration abounds for the pout.
Like clockwork, the moody plum and rich berry of winter make way for petal-soft rose and punchy red . That said, lip trends go far beyond a seasonal color story. According to makeup artists, different finishes, like dewy or matte, cycle in and out of the spotlight—as do liner techniques and elements of nostalgia. Ballet-slipper lips , anyone? I've spent several weeks creating my own spring lip mood board based on these expert takes, and below, I'm sharing my findings. Keep scrolling for the ultimate spring lip lineup.
Velvety Blurs
Long live the Nina Park lip ! The iconic makeup artist is known for bestowing her celebrity clients with a soft, halo-like look that appears full yet never overly lined. It's a difficult balance to strike, but according to celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg , it all boils down to the right lip liner . "Use a neutral shade [of] liner that reflects the color of your lips to offer a blurred effect," she notes, adding that it will "make every user still look perfectly polished versus overdone." Celebrity makeup artist Nikki DeRoest , cofounder of Ciele Cosmetics , agrees. "Instead of a sharply defined outline, I'm seeing a lot more diffused liner, where the color is blended slightly into the lip," she says.
You'll want to make sure that neutral shade is cool toned as well, something Justine Wu, VP of product development and innovation at Versed, took into account when creating the brand's Lip Frame Defining Lip Liner . "With cooler tones, your lips still look like your lips—just a little fuller and more defined," she says. The liner itself has a thick, rounded tip as opposed to a precise pencil tip, which is A+ for achieving a perfectly blurred perimeter. "Our Cashmere Color Lip Blush is one of our best-selling makeup products, so we knew consumers wanted a softly blurred lip," she adds. "As we were developing Lip Frame, we were just starting to see consumers inch toward a more diffused look, so we knew we were going in the right direction." Indeed, the creamy, soft-matte formula creates a soft, natural-looking shadow.
Mauve Moments
In terms of colors, "rosy, nude, mauve shades are a trend I keep on seeing," shares Greenberg. "It adds a neutral, sultry look that is perfect for day or night, especially as we enter into spring." You might associate mauve lipsticks with a dated '90s look (hi, Rum Raisin), but the cool, brown-toned hue looks quite chic and actually very spring coded with fresh and dewy skin, matching blush, and a fluffy brow. Bonus points if you add a smattering of faux freckles across your nose to elevate the sunny vibe.
Frosty Finishes
Speaking of '90s nostalgia, we can expect frosty lips to hold sway this spring. Thanks to one specific TikTok-viral frosty shade (ahem, L'Oréal's Ballerina Shoes ), a slew of Gen Z ers have been swapping their warm-toned lippies for a swipe of icy pink. Of course, frosted lipstick is nothing new, especially if you're a millennial who swore by it in the early aughts, but we can't ignore how strongly it's taken over the current pop-star scene. See Zara Larsson's tour looks. To update the look for 2026, makeup artists suggest pairing Y2K pastels with slightly edgier contemporary elements, such as a flick of liner or sculpted contour.
Monochromatic Bronze
"I love an allover bronzed look for the spring. Think golden and brown tones on eyes, lips, and cheeks," celebrity makeup artist Ash K. Holm previously told WWW about spring makeup trends . I certainly cosign this trend, especially on mornings when I can't be bothered to unzip my makeup bag while getting ready. Snag yourself a multitasking product (I adore Embryolisse's new Color Balm 3-in-1 Stick); dab it on your lips, lids, and cheeks; and call it a day. You'd be surprised by how much impact one bronzy-brown product can make.
Strawberry Glaze
For those craving a spring statement, might I suggest a coat of raspberry glaze? "One thing that feels a little underrated right now is sheer berry. It gives just enough depth to wake up the face while still feeling modern and easy, especially when paired with glowing skin and minimal eye makeup," shares DeRoest. Look no further than Iris Apatow for inspiration, who attended a 2026 Oscars after-party with a glassy ruby lip courtesy of Tatcha's Reddo Melting Lip Balm .
Dewier than your average satin finish yet not quite vinyl-like, her pout reflects the move toward a healthy, "just right" dollop of shine, a texture trend DeRoest predicts will only continue to grow. "In the past, trends tended to swing between extremes, either very matte and sculpted or ultra-glossy. Now, we're seeing a middle ground where lips still have dimension and shine but feel softer and more skin-like," she says. "It's a more modern approach to lip color that focuses on comfort and wearability."
