Lipstick and Lip Liner

Looking for luscious lips? Applying lipstick and lip liner properly will ensure that it lasts and using the proper technique for your lip type is crucial.

Applying Lipstick and Lip Liner

Lipstick adds the finishing touch to makeup. It should help unite the other colors you have used and really bring your face alive. However, if it is badly applied, it will look clumsy and unsubtle. The answer is to use a lip liner to give lips a neat, defined edge and to build up color using a lip brush.

Soften the lips by gently rubbing on a small amount or moisturizer. This will help the lipstick to glide on more easily. Apply a very light touch of your normal foundation to act as a base and help even out the color. Outline the natural edge of the lips with a lip liner that is not more than one shade darker than your chosen lip color. This keeps color From bleeding
and gives a guideline For applying lipstick.

Use a lip brush to apply lipstick; this gives you more control over direction. Relax your mouth so that it is slightly open and brush on color from the corners to the middle point of both lip. Press lips gently with a tissue, but be careful not to smudge the color or to remove too much. Then brush on more color to create a deeper effect.

Thin Lips

Make thin lips look fuller and accentuate their shape by outlining just outside their natural edge with a lip liner. Brush on a lip color inside the line you have drawn. Avoid using very matte colors as these can make lips look even thinner and slightly glossy colors will make lip look fuller.

Uneven Lips

Balance an uneven top lip by outlining just outside the thinner half of the lip and along the natural edge of the fuller half using a lip liner. Check that the line is even, then outline the lower lip. Brush on a lip color inside the line. If lips still look uneven, add more color to the thinner half of the lip.

Shapeless Lips

Give lips more definition by outlining the top lip with a lip liner to emphasize the "m" in the middle and so create more of a cupid's bow. Outline just outside the natural edge of the lower lip to make it look fuller. Brush on a strong lip color to help give the lips a more even definition.

Full Lips

Make full lips appear thinner by lightly covering them with foundation to help blur the edges. Using a lip liner, outline the lips just inside their natural edge, then brush on a lip color being careful not to go outside the line. Avoid pearly or glossy colors as these will make the lips look even fuller.

Uneven Color

Balance different colored lips by covering both with a little foundation. Outline the lips with a lip liner, then brush a darker shade or your chosen lip color onto thc lip that looks lighter and a lighter shade onto the one that looks darker. Purse the lips gently together to even out thc color more.

Don't forget about your eyes. Learn how the professionals apply eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara.