Why Gen Z is ditching lipsticks for tints and blotted lips

Move over crisp liners and opaque lipstick blocks, Gen Z has officially ushered in a new era of lip beauty. Unlike the bold matte reds of the '90s or the full-glam, overlined lips of the 2010s, today’s trending lip look is refreshingly subtle, wearable, and oh-so-effortless. It’s the "I woke up like this" lip, where stains, tints, and blurred edges rule the aesthetic—and it’s redefining how we think about lip makeup altogether.

Gen Z’s new way to wear lipstick

Gone are the days of layering on lipstick to get that full coverage finish. Gen Z is choosing to enhance, not mask. The focus is on embracing the lips’ natural texture and pigmentation while adding soft color to create a lived-in look.

Korean Lip Tints

One of the most popular influences behind this trend is the Korean lip tint style. Lightweight, watery tints that stain the lips and leave a popsicle-like finish have become a go-to for many.

The edges aren’t sharply drawn, and that’s the charm. In a digital-first world where selfies and Reels dominate, this soft-focus finish looks amazing on camera and in real life.

The Blotted Lips Look

Another variation of the trend includes blotted lips, where a creamy or matte lipstick is gently tapped onto the lips and then smudged slightly to blur out the color. Some pair this with a neutral liner that mimics the natural color of the lips, giving that barely-there contour.

Even millennials are loving the new trend

Even millennial celebrities like Alia Bhatt have embraced this new wave. Known for her girl-next-door beauty, Alia has often spoken about swiping off layers of lipstick to create a more natural, lived-in effect. Her approach resonates with Gen Z’s beauty philosophy: minimal effort, maximum impact. No wonder her makeup looks feel so current.

What sets this Gen Z trend apart is the rejection of perfection. It’s less about painting lips into submission and more about expressing individuality. It’s gender-fluid, fuss-free, and very much in line with Gen Z’s broader values of authenticity and self-expression.

Whether it’s a berry-toned stain or a brown-pink blotted combo, the goal is the same: to look like you didn’t try too hard, even if you did!

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