Makeup Tips & Tricks, Series 1, Part 1

tips for Hot Lips!

Lipliner

ñ  Lipliners help prevent lipstick moving beyond the lip area (known as feathering or bleeding). Select a shade that matches your lipstick.

ñ  Always sharpen a lipliner; then soften and warm the tip on the back of your hand prior to use. This way it will be much easier to create an even line and not drag the skin.

Makeup Artist Confession . . .

To be honest, we aren’t huge fans of lipliners, but we do use them when we want to give the lips a defined contour.

ñ  Apply lipliner in short strokes. Start at the Cupid’s bow (middle upper lip) and work outwards along the lip’s edge. Similarly, repeat on the lower lip, working from the center to the outer edges.

ñ  You can slightly change the color of a lipstick, by coloring the entire lip area with a lipliner of a different shade first. Applying lipliner over the whole lip also helps lipstick last longer.

Lipstick

ñ  To avoid an uneven lipstick finish, prepare the lip area first. Rub the lips with a soft toothbrush to remove any dead skin cells and then apply a lip balm. Otherwise, the color pigment will appear darker on the dry skin and look patchy.

Not hot!

ñ  Apply natural shades straight from the bullet, or dab them on with your fingertip for a softer effect.

ñ  For a more structured lip, apply lipstick to lined lips using a small, synthetic eyeshadow or concealer brush. These are wider than a regular lip brush and quickly give the lips a full-coverage finish.

ñ  To remove excess lipstick and soften the look, pat your lips repeatedly with your fingertip at the edges.

For a perfect party pout that lasts all night, choose a matte-textured lipstick and drink through a straw!

“Dark shades are the hardest to maintain and the fastest to bleed, so take your time when applying them. Often just working the color in with your fingertip is easiest and looks great. Select matte textures as they have more staying power.”