This genius makeup hack gives you a plumper pout, without over-lining your lips

Another day, another GENIUS makeup hack – this time for fuller-looking lips, should that be a look you’re looking to achieve. And chances are, you probably are. A fuller-looking pout has been the word on everyone’s lips this year. Whether it’s the surge in popularity for the likes of fillers and lip flips or the influx of makeup hacks (‘lip lift’, looking at you) filling our feeds – it’s safe to say the demand for plumper lips has reached an all-time high.

But what if you want something a little more au natural? Something in keeping with your newly acquired skincare-makeup routine… Well, if that’s the case, then you’ve come to the right place.

A seemingly new makeup hack has been doing the rounds on Instagram, which involves the simple and subtle technique of applying contour and shade above the cupid’s bow. Forget heavy lip liner to enhance the lips – this simple makeup trick is all about adding a soft, subtle effect.

While we all know about over-lining the lips to create a fuller look, and we recently got acquainted with Makeup By Mario’s viral ‘Lip Flip’ technique – a makeup hack giving your lips a ‘flipped’ effect by making the space between your lips and nose look smaller and your lips bigger – this more subtle trick helps create natural-looking fuller lips, without a lip liner in sight.

The MUA we have to thank for it? @ellabalinska, who created this ‘soft rosy glam’ look and even added a lip tip for anyone wanting to recreate the look themselves: “make lips look fuller without over-lining ~ take your contour and shade above the Cupid’s bow and right under the Center of the bottom lip.”

According to Dominic Skinner, Global Senior Artist at MAC,  “The key to creating a naturally fuller lip is to use a lip pencil two shades darker than the lip colour you want to wear, to contour and enhance your lip shape.