TikTok’s Cherub Lips Trend Made My Lips Look Better Than Filler Does
I’ve been obsessed with my lips for as long as I can remember. You see, I’ve always wanted plump lips — and that’s because I never had much to work with in that department. When I finally got to the point in my life where I was OK with the idea of a needle piercing through my lip, I jumped at the chance to get lip filler injections in the hopes of getting closer to the size I’ve always wanted.
Despite all the filler over the years, I still couldn’t quite achieve the look I was going for. I was looking for more of a lifted, turned-up upper lip that no amount of lip filler or lip-flipping Botox could achieve. Aside from aesthetic treatments, I’ve also tried so many different liners and, of course, every lip-plumping gloss I could get my hands on.
But TikTok’s new cherub lip trend, named and popularized by makeup artist Ehlie Luna, takes the art of applying liner to your lips for some plumping action to a whole new level. After watching her viral video tutorial, I could see why it’s all over TikTok — it looks pretty easy. Seeing the ease at which she applied the lip, I had renewed hopes of finally achieving the height and plumpness that I’ve wanted for so long.
It’s certainly an aptly-named trend: a cherub is a winged, angelic being, and that’s exactly what the trend conveys. It can also best be described as a doll-like look. “With all the ’90s and Y2K nostalgia, I was thinking about the Fiorucci logo a lot. I’ve always loved that shape,” says Luna. “It’s been referenced by makeup artists for decades in fashion… I wanted to share my approach to getting that look. I love sharing options. It’s scary when everything gets too cookie cutter in beauty.”
To start, Luna suggests grabbing your favorite lip pencil and lipstick. “I’m very into MAC and r.e.m. beauty lip pencils, but I love to encourage everyone to use what they have and already like.” However, if you really want to get technical, makeup artist and TikTok creator Angelica Coronado suggests adding a lip liner two shades darker than your natural lip shade, and then topping it off with a reflective or shimmery lip gloss. (Allure loves the Best of Beauty-winning Merle Norman Cosmetics Plush Lipliner and Pley Beauty Lust + Found Glossy Lip Lacquer.)
“To get the cherub look, it’s about accentuating the volume of the top and bottom lip,” Luna says. “Try ignoring any dip you may have around the Cupid’s bow. Sketch straight across. [It] instantly makes the top lip look fuller.” As you tackle your upper lip, Luna says that you need to make sure you’re curving into your natural lip shape, while avoiding over-lining the sides.