Nina Park lips: the 90s make-up trend that plumps up the mouth in a clean gradation

Nina Park lips revive a precise, sensual and highly photogenic 90’s aesthetic. At the heart of the make-up trend, the mouth opposes pencil and soft center. It reconciles vintage allure, quick everyday gestures and wearable results.

Nina Park lips: a 90’s make-up trend

The principle seems simple, yet it changes everything in the perception of volume. Lips are hemmed with a brown pencil, a legacy of the 90s. We also soften the center with a warmer nude, chosen according to the skin’s undertone.

This contrast creates an immediate volume effect, without injections or digital filters. What’s more, the technique can be modulated according to the desired intensity, from discreet blurring to bold contouring. This make-up trend relies on blending, not overpigmentation, which makes it accessible.

Many appreciate the luscious, controlled mouth effect that enhances skin texture. On the other hand, the mouth retains its natural shape and comfort, even after several hours. So, from the office to the evening, you can adjust the look to suit your mood, the lighting and the occasion.

“The mouth is sculpted by the liner, then relaxed in the center.”

How to achieve the effect in 3 easy steps

Prepare lips with balm, then sift off excess with a fine tissue. Then trace the contour with a cool brown pencil, following the natural line without going beyond it. In 3 steps, the relief appears without excess thickness or sticky feeling.

Blend the line inwards with a precise brush, or the pad of your finger, as you’re used to. Then tap a creamy nude in the center, to blend the edges and create a soft gradation. As a result, this make-up trend holds up best with a veil of balm, applied to the center only, to avoid migration.

• Brown pencil, cooler than the central shade.
• Lightly blend inwards, never outwards.
• Warmer center or peach to soften.
• Satin finish for a chic, long-lasting look.
• Touch up with balm, not sticky gloss.

Origins, pop culture and professional realities

Editorial make-up artist Nina Park has popularized this precise contrast on shoots, red carpets and social networks. She also collaborates with luxury houses, including Chanel, which legitimizes the method and its finishes. Her approach favors skin, then a structured mouth, to maintain a modern balance.

The networks are reviving the idea with short, before-and-after tutorials that users can easily reproduce. What’s more, this make-up trend is seductive because it photographs very well, in both natural and artificial light. In short, it remains readable in video and direct light, even on small screens.

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Shades, complexions and finishes: instructions for use

On fair skin, a taupe brown refines without hardening, especially with a pinkish-beige center. Medium skins win with a neutral cocoa, enhanced by a caramel peach in the center. For deeper complexions, an ashy chocolate honors the make-up trend, paired with a warm honey for softness.

For a chic look, aim for a satin rather than a matte finish, to avoid a frozen effect. On the other hand, a thin gloss in the center gives more relief, without moving the pencil, thanks to light pressure. What’s more, a colorless balm prolongs comfort and hold during travel and light meals.

Application tips, care and budget

Moisturize beforehand, then gently exfoliate if necessary, with a homemade or ready-to-use sugar scrub. In this way, the make-up trend reveals contours and shades better, especially on dry or marked lips. Tap off any excess balm to prevent the pencil from running off, at the corners of the lips or on the moustache.

You love luxury, but are looking for a smart, long-lasting option? In supermarkets, cold brown dupes offer a clean line and decent hold for everyday wear. Also, test in-store to set the temperature of the undertone: cold, neutral or warm, depending on your skin.

To retouch, warm up the color with a clean finger, then harmonize the border in small strokes. Then redefine the Cupid’s bow, without adding too much material, to keep the center luminous. As a result, the look goes from day to night without overload, and withstands changes in lighting.

• make-up trends