Feathering

Feathering is also called bleeding. It happens most with creamy, oily and glossy formulas, which can move as they warm on the lips, and it is most visible with deep or saturated shades, where colour outside the line stands out against the skin. Fine lines around the mouth, which become more common with age, give the product channels to travel along.

Common ways to reduce it are a lip liner drawn along the natural lip line, which acts as a barrier, and drier formulas such as matte and liquid lipsticks, which move less once set. Blotting removes excess oil that would otherwise migrate, and a thin layer of powder or primer around the lip line can also help.

Feathering is different from overlining, which deliberately draws colour just past the natural edge with a clean, defined line.