Are rom-com lips the new beauty rage of 2025?

Move over, blush blindness—a new trend has entered the chat. Rom-com lips are taking over this spring. Characterised by soft, semi-matte lips reminiscent of Y2K rom-com heroines, this lip look is not just trendy but very wearable as well. When you think of romcom actresses, it’s never about bold, dark lips, but rather that natural, just-kissed look; think Drew Barrymore and Meg Ryan in the 90s, and Katherine Heigl and Anne Hathaway from the early 2000s. 

This style emphasises a subtle flush of colour with a blurred, lived-in effect, moving away from the sharp lines, deeper shades and glossy finishes that we’ve seen in more recent lip trends. It was even spotted on Renée Zellweger, who will always be Bridget Jones to us, in her latest instalment of the hit romcom series, where she plays a 50-something mum of two. Closer to home, too, younger actresses like Janhvi Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have been flaunting this barely-there lip look and acing it. And that’s another wonderful thing about rom-com lips—it suits everyone and has no age limits! It’s just about finding a shade closest to your natural lip colour. 

In fact, rom-com lips seem like the perfect balance between K-beauty’s blurred look and the natural appearance of the viral MLBB (my lips but better lips) look! 

Getting the look

“Rom-Com lips are all about soft, natural pink shades like dusty pink, peachy rose, and baby pink,” says Saikat Chakraborty, MAC Cosmetics India’s national artist. “Think fresh, cute, and flirty vibes—just like the characters in your favourite rom-coms. It’s the perfect look for feeling feminine and romantic without overdoing it.” 

While the look is all about its effortless appeal, there is, in fact, some work that goes into it. Chakraborty gives us a step-by-step breakdown on recreating rom-com lips. 

Step 1: Hydrate and prime

Start with a moisturising lip balm to keep your lips soft and prep your lips. This helps your colour apply smoothly and lasts longer!

Step 2: Lip pencil

Pick a lip pencil in a pinkish shade close to your natural lip colour. Outline your lips gently, and enhance the cupid’s bow by making the outer edges a little deeper. Then, blend the liner inwards for a soft finish. 

Step 3: Lipstick or lip tint

Go for a satin, velvet matte or sheer lipstick for that soft look. Want something lighter? A lip tint works great for a subtle pop of colour. 

While rom-com lips are all about soft focus lips, if you’d still like to add that sheen, you can top it off with a hint of clear or pink gloss in the middle of your lips for shine and a fuller look. 

Tips to remember

Prepping your lips is vital for this look, as this will help smoothen your lips and keep the colour in place, without feathering. Additionally, you don’t have to stick only with lipsticks; lip and cheek tints, which are all the rage these days, are perfect for this look as they give a soft, natural flush of colour and can be worn on the lips and cheeks for that dreamy monotone look. 

Chakraborty also shares that for thinner lips, overlining can help create a fuller look, but it’s all about being subtle. “The key is to keep it delicate and blend it well, ensuring the look stays soft and natural,” he signs off. 

Here are some essentials to help achieve the rom-com lips look.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur - Pillow Talk Medium, ₹3,400

NARS Air Matte Liquid Lip Colour - Dolce Vita, ₹2,500

Mac Cosmetics MACXimal Sleek Satin Lipstick - Sitting Pretty, ₹2,550

Rom&nd Zero Velvet Tint - Petal Tassel, ₹890

Fae Beauty Lip Whip - Edge, ₹650

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour - Abstrait, ₹4,750

Lead image credit: IMDb

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