Matte lips? So last season. Since 2025, it has all been about high-shine, juicy lips that look good enough to eat—literally. Enter the ‘Tanghulu Lips’ trend, inspired by the candied fruits on a stick that have taken over social media and local food stalls. Think plump, glass-like lips that radiate hydration and sweetness, proving that the era of flat, dry, and cracked finishes is officially over.

While actual tanghulus are fruits coated in a hard, glossy sugar shell, its beauty equivalent are lips drenched in glossy, shiny (and sometimes glittery) finish that gives a wet, plumped-up effect. Unlike sticky glosses of the past, today’s products combine hydration, color, and mirror-like shine, creating a lip look that’s both comfortable and striking. This trend started gaining traction in 2024, with beauty influencers showcasing the magic of combining a nude lippie, liquid lip balms, hydrating lip oils, and sheer glosses but it involved a lot of steps and products so we’re stoked to share our new discovery which can bring the same effect in just one step.

How to Achieve ‘Tanghulu Lips’ with Multiple Products:

Step 1: Prep and Hydrate

Smooth, plump lips are the foundation of this look. Exfoliate gently with a lip scrub, then apply a nourishing balm to lock in moisture.

Step 2: Add a Sheer Wash of Color

Opt for a tinted lip balm or lightweight stain in juicy fruit-inspired shades like cherry red, apricot, or rosy pink.

Step 3: Layer on the Shine

The key to ‘Tanghulu Lips’ is the glass-like finish. Use a hydrating lip oil, vinyl gloss, or clear plumping gloss to achieve that wet, reflective look.

Step 4: Define

For extra dimension, lightly overline with a soft, neutral lip liner before applying gloss. This gives a fuller, more sculpted effect without looking too harsh.

How to Achieve ‘Tanghulu Lips’ with One Product:

If you’re an always-on-the-go girly like me who can’t be bothered with multiple makeup steps, then the new GRWM LIP MAXX is for you. In just one application, you can already recreate the look without going through a lot of products. Plus, the beauty of liquid lip balms like this is its ability to merge skincare and makeup effortlessly.

One tube already contains nourishing powerhouses – Vitamin E and Grapeseed Oi, which hydrates and protects your lips and ensures that they stay smooth and healthy all day long. It also has a cooling effect which is a plus, given the tropical climate of the Philippines. Menthol-loving gals would love the “plumping” sensation it gives, too! Unlike regular glosses, GRWM LIP MAXX comes with a jumbo applicator for ease of use, giving you a flawless finish in a matter of seconds.

It comes in 12 morena skin tone-flattering hues and in a limited-edition clear sparkly balm for those who are just after the shine. I personally love Kismet which is a cool wine brown color, Love, Charlie in neutral cherry red, Mimosa in neutral coral pink, and Disco Ball – a limited edition shimmery clear lip balm that works well on its own or on top of regular lippies.

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A post shared by Ces | Manila Millennial (@hello_ces)

Other shades include:

• Hello, Apollo – warm light caramel brown
• Bellini – warm strawberry pink
• Maui – warm muted almond brown
• Slush – warm burnt coral
• Hot Choco – neutral cocoa brown
• Fringe – cool rouge pink
• Frisbee – cool cherry red
• Tto–tto – neutral muted nude rose
• Confetti – cool dusty mauve

“Tanghulu Lips” are more than just a passing trend. This beauty movement embraces the return of high-shine lips, nourishing formulas, and effortless radiance. Whether you’re a longtime gloss lover or just now ditching matte finishes, one thing’s for sure: lips have never looked juicier than this!

*GRWM LIP MAXX is already available nationwide for only Php 399.

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