Ovallining is the lip-lining technique that promises a plump pout in seconds

The beauty corner of TikTok has just unlocked yet another oldie-but-a-goodie lip lining hack that will get you your best pout yet, and they’re calling it ovallining.

TikTok has historically graced us with a minefield of hacks, and shortcuts, and reminded us of techniques that may well have gone out of fashion but need to be bought TF back as their powers to amp up your beauty looks are yet to be matched. It’s no wonder that #LipHacks has amassed a colossal 750+ million views on the app, with users sharing tutorials, before and afters, and reviews on the best ways to enhance your million-pound smize.

I’m sure you recall us obsessing over lip wings, then there was the brownie glazed lip which sparked conversations over appropriation in the beauty sphere, and not forgetting of course the siren lips Vs. doe lips challenge where we saw creators comparing lining lips using sharp edges and lifting accents techniques, versus a contrasting softer, more innocent-looking doe pouts.

Ovallining seems to have been crowned the lip hack of the moment. A user on TikTok commented on the video above by user @katiahaek: “It actually worked OMG I’ve tried sooooo many techniques and this is the ONLY one that worked THANK YOU SM MUCH BEAUTIFUL ????????????”. And other users agreed, with another one saying: “I tried this technique yesterday and the result was amazing ????????”. Other users also shared how the hack became life changing to their makeup game. “YOU SAVED MY LIFE OMG IT LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER”. Amongst the ones discovering this hack, there are also the ones who have been familiar with it and are happy to see the trend going mainstream, with a user sharing: “That’s what I literally do everyday”. So how exactly does it work?

Here is everything you’ll need for ovallining:

Ovalling is similar to the doe lips makeup trend, which also features a soft and innocent-looking finish. The technique is simple and the name gives away exactly what it does. All it requires is for you to draw on an oval shape in the centre of your lips using a dark lip liner. You can do so by drawing a short line over your cupid’s bow and then another one parallel to it at the centre of the lowest part of your lower lip. Those two lines can sit just over your natural lip line and they are the only ones you will want to actually overline your lips with. You then connect them together in a curve, creating an oval contour mimicking a porcelain doll’s lips shape.

The outer corners of the mouth are then filled in. By smacking your lips together you can then create a gentle and natural gradient that emulates that reverse contour technique we often use to create the illusion of dimension and a flawless no-makeup-makeup base. You can then go in and add a pink-ish toned lipstick in the centre of your lips, inside the shape you’ve drawn on. This will further highlight them and give the illusion of fuller and more plump-looking lips. Finish off by going over your lips with the juiciest lipgloss you’ve got. 

Although an optional step, some users also cover their lips with foundation or before application so they can better recreate that ovallining effect. How very mid-2010s of them.

Like many other users, this is one of those beauty hacks that has been GLAMOUR team-approved for quite some time. If you haven’t tried it yet, what are you waiting for?

For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona