“Jelly Lips” Are the Juicy Makeup Trend We’re Wearing All Summer Long

Summer always has us craving dewy skin, reflective highlighter, and vivid shades galore—but this year is shaping up to be all about "jelly lips". A close cousin of popsicle lips, this makeup trend comprises glossy, juicy takes on vivid shades of red, pink, and purple, resembling your favorite flavors of jelly, jam, and related fruity treats. We spoke to makeup artists Allan Avendaño and Jillian Dempsey to get their thoughts on the K-beauty-inspired look, and we're happy to report that it's easy to recreate and incredibly versatile. Ahead, learn all about jelly lips, complete with our experts' top tips and 12 delicious examples.

What Are Jelly Lips?

If jelly lips bring a familiar image to mind, that's because they're exactly what they sound like. "Jelly lips are essentially tinted lips that look juicy and hydrated," Avendaño tells us. "Some people think it’s just a ton of lip gloss, but it’s actually a trend I’ve seen in Korean beauty for a very long time. I don’t know how else to describe it except for how lips look after you eat a lollipop or a popsicle, but with a juicy finish." Dempsey adds, "'Jelly lips' are similar to an ombré lip—a center lip shade with a topcoat of clear, heavy lip gloss over it to frame it in."

Like Avendaño said, the jelly lips look has a solid history in K-beauty, so it's nothing new. However, it's majorly trending at the moment thanks both to summer makeup trends and beauty creator Jael Dorotan's use of the term "jelly lips" to describe the vibrant, glossy look. Below, she shows how to achieve the look in one step with Yves Saint Laurent's Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Sticks, though you'll see later in the article that there are several ways to create a similar look.

About the Trend

As mentioned, the bright, juicy lip look we now call "jelly lips" originated in the world of K-beauty. "I’ve seen the jelly lip trend for so long, and I think it was from my Korean friends that was the first time I had seen it," Avendaño says. "I have seen it so much lately, but like everything, it always comes back into style. This has definitely always been a staple in Korean beauty."

Dempsey agrees on the origin, adding that "versions of this have been widely used for years." Since popsicle lips were so popular last summer, it's no wonder that this glossy version of the look is catching on as a way to switch things up while maintaining the same lively warm-weather vibes. As trends like Barbiecore, coquette beauty, and milk bath nails continue to grow, it seems like we're all leaning into our sweeter, more whimsical sides these days, and a juicy jelly lips look is the perfect extension of that.

As for how jelly lips stand out from other similar trends, "there is more of an emphasis on high gloss as the finishing touch, and plump-looking lips right to the edge," Dempsey tells us. "It looks effortless, healthy, not overdone, and can make your lips look full and plump," Avendaño adds. "It’s not about over-lining—the volume comes from the glossiness. There’s no opaque color, so you see the texture and natural color of your lips come through."

How to Get the Jelly Lips Look

One of the best parts about jelly lips is that you can achieve them in several different ways, depending on your preferred finish and the products you have on hand. "There are so many ways to achieve this look," Avendaño tells us. "The old school way was dabbing a bit of lip color like Well People’s Optimist Lipstick dotted onto the lips and blended out, then applying a glossy lip balm or ointment such as the Hydrolip Gloss or Lip Nurture Hydrating Balm. You can even just wear the Lip Nurture balm in the variety of colors it comes in!"

For a precise approach, "begin on your inner lower lip and use a matte lip color to tint (stain) the center of your mouth, then gently close your lips and press to make sure the upper lip gets a hint of that shade," Dempsey says. "Use a small nylon lip brush to buff the stain out towards the outer lip, but stop before you get too close—leave that area clean without anything on it, as the idea is to maintain the shape of the desired shade on the inner area of your lip. Then, layer a clear high gloss over your lips, starting on the bottom lip and sweeping over the upper lip. Make sure to not mix the shades together, but rather coat the lips for a lacquer-like feel. The edges of your lips should look plump if done correctly."

As for what products to choose, "the key is to add a tint to your lip that still shows your natural tone and texture and then apply a gloss that gives you hydration," Avendaño advises. "Not too glossy, but just something that makes your lips look intensely hydrated." When it comes to picking a color, it's up to your preference, but Dempsey recommends that you "use shades that are a little brighter, like a rosy red or punchy pink, for a more youthful look."

The Best Jelly Lips Makeup Looks to Try