Okay, so last month I’m at this taco joint in Astoria, chowing down on a quesadilla, when my coworker Jess goes, “Girl, your lips look poppin’—what’s the secret?” I nearly spat out my guac. Secret? Ha! It was just me messing around with lip liner after watching one too many TikToks. That moment made me wanna master overlining lips naturally, ‘cause who doesn’t want fuller lips without dropping a grand on filler?
Overlining lips naturally is all about faking a plumper pout without going full-on Instagram filter. It’s not about drawing a whole new mouth—trust me, I tried that and looked like a cartoon villain. It’s subtle, it’s strategic, and it’s me fumbling through my makeup bag at 7 a.m. while Muffin judges my life choices.
My First Try Was a Total Trainwreck overline lips
Picture this: I’m in my bathroom, the one with the peeling wallpaper and a lightbulb that flickers like it’s auditioning for a horror flick. I grab a cheap lip liner—some nude shade I got at CVS because I’m broke—and start tracing way outside my lip line. Big yikes. I looked like I was channeling a 2000s pop star in the worst way. The trick to overline lips naturally? Go barely outside the line, like a sneaky little nudge, and blend it like you’re erasing evidence.
- Exfoliate first: I use a janky homemade scrub—sugar, olive oil, and a prayer. Smooth lips make everything easier.
- Choose the right liner: Pick a shade close to your lips, maybe a tad darker. I’m obsessed with MAC Lip Pencil in Spice.
- Blend, blend, blend: Use your finger or a tiny brush to smudge that line inward. No sharp edges allowed.

My Kinda-Okay Routine for Natural Lip Overlining
So, after a few disasters, I’ve got a routine for overlining lips naturally that’s, like, 80% foolproof. I’m perched on my bed, the one with the lumpy mattress that creaks every time I move. My desk fan’s humming, blowing papers everywhere, and I’m trying not to knock over my coffee. Here’s how I make my lips look plumper without looking like I’m trying too hard.
Step 1: Prep Like a Pro (Or at Least Try)
I start by scrubbing my lips with that DIY scrub—olive oil, sugar, and a splash of “I hope this works.” It’s messy, and half of it ends up on my chin, but it gets my lips smooth. Then I slather on some CeraVe Healing Ointment ‘cause it’s cheaper than fancy lip balm and does the job. Dry lips and liner are a hard pass.
Step 2: The Lip Liner Struggle overline lips
I grab a nude lip liner—something close to my natural lip color but a smidge deeper. I trace just a hair outside my lip line, focusing on the cupid’s bow to make it pop. Pro tip: don’t go ham on the corners; it looks fake. I blend inward with my finger, which is usually covered in coffee residue because I’m a mess.
Step 3: Gloss It Up, But Chill
I finish with a slick of Glossier Lip Gloss in clear—it’s shiny but not “I’m a disco ball” shiny. Too much gloss, and you’re in duck face territory. I learned that after a Zoom call where my boss was like, “Uh, you okay there?” Mortifying.

Mistakes I Made (And Still Make, TBH)
Oh man, where do I start? There was the time I overlined my lips so much I looked like I was ready for a drag show—in a bad way. Or when I used a bright pink liner with nude lipstick and ended up with a vibe that screamed “I got dressed in the dark.” My biggest lesson for overlining lips naturally? Keep it subtle, or you’ll regret it. Also, don’t trust dim lighting—my apartment’s wonky lamp led me astray too many times.