This Filipino Makeup Artist Is Making a Case for “Bangkay-Bangkayan” Lips

After years of bronzed skin and sun-kissed cheeks dominating the beauty landscape, cool-toned makeup is making its way back into the spotlight. One of its more unexpected iterations? “Bangkay-bangkayan” lips, a term popularized in the Philippines by makeup artist Raffy So to describe a deliberately pale, washed-out pout.

The look is reminiscent of the concealer lip, wherein the lips are painted with a skin-toned nude lipstick—or simply concealer—to neutralize their natural color and create a washed-out pout. According to the Filipino MUA, “bangkay-bangkayan” lips take the same idea in a decidedly cooler direction. For that corpse-like effect, think muted blues and grays, ashen taupes, and bruised purples.

While it may seem like a recent trend—or an edgy look to some—the aesthetic has long been part of everyday beauty for many, particularly those in alternative communities. Their makeup can range from dark and moody to desaturated and experimental, often challenging conventional ideas of what beauty should look like.

Planning to try the look for yourself? Check out some of our recommended lip products below!

The Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil blends and glides effortlessly, as well as delivers instant impact. The shade Endless Cacao, in particular, is a cool-toned taupe brown that creates a perfect base for the rest of your lip routine. Beyond being a lip liner, the multi-tasker can also be used to draw and define the rest of the face.

The Cloud Blur Tint in Tulle by GRWM Cosmetics is a cool light taupe that can be worn on its own or used to mute other lip shades. It provides a velvet matte finish, with a blurring effect and a lightweight feeling.

Described as a muted grayish taupe brown, MAC Cosmetics’ Macximal Sleek Satin Lipstick in Stone is suitable for “bangkay-bangkayan” lips. Its creamy formula delivers a rich pigment payoff, while hydrating the lips with a balmy blend of skin-loving ingredients like pomegranate flower extract and rosehip oils. If you want a monochromatic look, you can apply it on your cheeks too!

The Rom&nd Glasting Color Gloss in Cream Shell is a light and milky nude beige, with a sheen that can make corpse-like lips look a bit healthier. It provides lip volume and improves the appearance of lip lines, too. As it leans closer to warm tones, you can pair it with a cool-toned lip liner for a dimensional look.

For a bolder lip, consider the Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Panther. It reads almost black until the light catches it and reveals a navy tint. Expect full matte coverage that neither cracks nor feathers as time goes by.

Top off your “bangkay-bangkayan” lips with the high-shine Issy Fat Gloss in Rude. The cool creamy beige gloss wraps the lips in a lustrous finish and boosts visible fullness for a plump and supple look.

Want a plum purple lip? The RSG Badass Liquid Lipstick in Ursula may be for you. The gloss-to-matte lipstick delivers intense payoff, while gliding on as smoothly as lipgloss. It sets into a comfortable matte finish that allows the bold color to stay put.