If you’re a beauty lover who keeps an eye on international trends, then you’ve probably noticed the buzz around lip mud. This isn’t just another lipstick dupe, it’s a whole new lip experience. With roots in the Korean and Chinese beauty scenes, lip muds started gaining traction for their soft-focus matte finish and uniquely plush texture. Now, they’re going global, and beauty lovers are paying close attention.
What Exactly Is Lip Mud?
Picture a lightweight, whipped formula that glides on like a dream, but settles into a smooth, blurred matte finish that enhances your natural beauty. Lip muds often come in small pots or sleek tubes and apply with the feel of mousse or soft clay. It’s this innovative consistency that gives lips a velvety look without the dryness or flaking associated with many matte lipsticks.
For Black women, lip muds are proving especially popular thanks to their blendability and high pigment payoff. Whether you’re working with a deep mocha complexion, golden caramel undertones or rich espresso skin, lip muds tend to apply evenly and boldly without the need for multiple coats or lip liners.
They also offer a fresh alternative to traditional lipsticks and glosses, allowing for soft glam or editorial-inspired looks without feeling too “done.”
- Best for Soft, Airy Matte Finish: INTO YOU Matte Lip Mud
- Best for Dual Lip & Cheek Use: FOCALLURE Velvet-Hazy Matte Lip Mud
- Best for On-the-Go Multi-Use: COLORKEY Bouncy Multi-Purpose Mud
- Best for Hydration and Comfort: Jelly Lipstick Mud
- Best for Bold Color & Built-in Applicator: FOCALLURE Misty Matte Lip Mud
A Beginner’s Guide to Lip Mud: 5 Must-Try Products
Best for Soft, Airy Matte Finish
This crowd favorite stands out for its semi-solid texture that applies silky smooth and sets into a soft-matte finish. Packed with moisturizing ingredients, it avoids the dreaded “matte crack,” while still giving your lips that plush, diffused look. Bonus points for its high color saturation and versatility, making it perfect for lips, cheeks and lids.
Best for Dual Lip & Cheek Use
Don’t let the luxe feel fool you. This lip mud is a multitasking powerhouse. The velvet-hazy formula glides on like cream and dries to a smooth, diffused matte. With a pudding-like texture that turns featherlight on skin, it’s ideal for women who want bold color without the bulk or stickiness. It also looks amazing on darker lips.
Best for On-the-Go Multi-Use
This one brings major fun energy. With shades inspired by gelato, it melts on contact to create an airy, natural matte finish. It’s designed for lips, cheeks and eyes, and the compact size makes it easy to carry around. This option has a soft mousse texture, rich color, perfect for natural, all-day wear.
Best for Hydration and Comfort
A must-have for those with dry or sensitive lips. Enriched with aloe vera and vitamin E, this lip mud locks in hydration while delivering a suede-like matte finish that lasts all day. It glides on effortlessly, fills in fine lines, and feels soft. It’s great for subtle glam or everyday wear.
Best for Bold Color & Built-in Applicator
If you’re into high-impact color and serious staying power, this is the one. The oil dispersion formula smooths over lips without caking or settling into lines. The built-in sponge applicator makes it easy to blend on the go, and its natural plant-based ingredients keep your pout nourished. Use it for a quick monochrome look when you’re short on time but still want to slay.
What’s the Difference Between Lip Mud and Lipstick?
While lipstick and lip mud both fall under the same umbrella of lip color, they serve different purposes and offer distinct finishes. Most people grew up with classic lipsticks; solid sticks of color that deliver either a satin, cream, or matte finish. Then came liquid lipsticks, often with a drying formula that promised all-day wear. Lip mud is the next generation of lip color, combining the best parts of both without the drawbacks.
Lip muds feature a semi-solid, mousse-like texture that’s easy to spread, super blendable and surprisingly hydrating. Instead of sitting on top of your lips like a thick coat of paint, lip mud melts into your skin, creating a soft, blurred edge that gives off an effortlessly cool vibe. If you’ve ever wanted that just-bitten, editorial “model off-duty” lip look, then lip mud is your go-to.
Another major difference is the feel. Traditional matte lipsticks can dry out your lips and emphasize texture or lines. Lip muds, however, often include moisturizing ingredients, like aloe vera, vitamin E, or plant oils, to keep lips looking smooth and supple all day. That means you get the aesthetic of a matte lip without sacrificing comfort.
There’s also the versatility factor. While lipstick is typically reserved for the lips alone, lip muds are multi-use products by design. Whether you’re dabbing a rosy shade onto your cheeks for a natural flush or using a deeper hue as a creamy eyeshadow base, lip muds adapt to your needs. This is especially valuable for those who often seek multi-purpose products that show up vibrantly on deeper complexions and reduce the number of steps in a routine.
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