How to Create an Ombre Lip with Pencil

Start with a darker liner on the outer edges, blend inward with a lighter shade or nude, then blur the transition with your finger or a brush.

  1. Map your gradient. Apply your darker lip pencil to the outer corners and outer edge of your bottom lip. Keep the center of your lips bare for now. This creates your depth points.
  2. Fill the transition zone. Use a lighter pencil or nude shade to fill the middle area between the dark edges and the center of your lips. The key is working in sections, not trying to blend everything at once.
  3. Blur the boundaries. Use your finger or a small lip brush to gently tap and blend where the colors meet. Work in small circular motions to eliminate harsh lines while keeping the gradient visible.
  4. Build and balance. Add more product where needed to intensify the gradient. The darkest point should be at the outer corners, fading to barely-there color in the center.