Refy’s New Liners Are the Secret to the Blurred Lip Trend

I’ve always been enamored by the K-pop multiverse. Not necessarily just for the music, but for the internationally influential beauty trends that the idols kick off: ethereal glass skin, straight brows, gradient popsicle lips, aegyo-sal eye makeup. As an Asian-American beauty lover, I’m always curious as to which trends trickle into the Western beauty landscape. The latest trend to do so? Blurred lips, which just got a lot easier thanks to Refy’s newest launch.

Launching on September 10, Refy’s Blur Liner was made with the blurred lip look in mind. With a wide domed tip and a creamy matte formula, the product is made for imperfection, and is the first of its kind in the American beauty market. Ahead, read on for all the details about the Refy Blur Liner and what Byrdie editors think of the launch.

The Trend

Look no further for proof of the blurred lip trend than the face cards of K-pop idols—virtually every artist, from Le Sserafim’s Huh Yunjin to Blackpink’s Jennie—has taken on the trend. In South Korea, the ultra-velvety blurred lip (think: diffused yet defined edges, pigment airbrushed to matte perfection) has had its moment in the spotlight for the past few months. By creating the illusion of a blushed, fluffy lip, the blurred lip trend strikes the perfect balance between just-bitten lips and Instagram-approved overlined lips.

So it’s no wonder that the blurred lip trend is finally gaining traction in America. This past summer, we saw berry stained lips and popsicle lips dominate our For You Page—the blurred lip trend is a natural progression from that: a dreamy, diffused, and delicately blurred take on the overlined matte lip.

The Product

When I first tried out the blurred lip trend with a regular lip liner a few weeks ago, it required a bit of makeup improv and a lot of smudging. Refy’s Blur Liner, was made to simplify that process. “We have simplified another routine that you didn’t even know needed simplifying,” Refy co-founders Jess Hunt and Jenna Meek tell Byrdie. “Blur Liner is the only Lip liner on the market that creates a fuller lip with no need to blur, soften, or blend.” With a wide domed tip that hugs the edges of the lips, the Blur Liner was made with effortless, hassle-free application in mind.

Formula-wise, the Blur Liner is infused with blurring technology in addition to moisturizing oils for a velvety yet non-drying formula with a matte finish. The liner comes in six shades that correspond with natural lip tones for a soft contour effect: Opal, for light pink, cool toned lips; Mauve, for medium pink toned lips; Berry, for deeper pink, red toned lips; Stone, for light brown, cool toned lips; Umber, for medium brown toned lips; and Teak, for deeper brown toned lips. 

The Reviews

Derek Deng, associate content editor

“The blurred lip trend defies conventional lip wisdom: it’s lived-in, imperfect, and whimsical. Trying out the trend felt somewhat off at first, but with this liner, it felt—and looked—so right. The formula strikes the perfect balance between creamy and dreamy, giving the lips a diffused finish that’s both ethereal and relaxed. The wide domed tip and a mindful shade range make for a lips-but-better moment that gives the illusion of a soft plump.”

Star Donaldson, social media director

“I was skeptical that one product could help me achieve the blurred lip trend, but I was pleasantly surprised by Refy’s newest launch. The shape of the pencil is blunt and round which makes for wider/blurry strokes. The shade Mauve is closest to my natural lip color so it works perfectly for a seamlessly blended lip line. I feel like my lips look fuller without being obviously overdone!”

Bella Cacciatore, news editor

“These liners are so pretty! I love the soft, diffused look they give to my lips, and they make them look poutier without being obviously overlined. They’re super easy to apply thanks to the rounded tip and silky smooth formula, and don’t feel chalky or waxy. They also look great on the entire lips for a fully-blurred effect.”