lip color woes

Lately I've been noticing a lot of lip color missteps.  And that is bound to happen when a new lip trend (such as red) comes into play and people don't know how to properly apply lip color in general. It is never enough to apply just a lipstick. Ask any celebrity makeup artist and they will tell you that no one steps foot on the red carpet without at least two to three different products on their lips. And that's why they look perfect and luscious! Throw away whatever misconceptions you have of lip liner because it is your best friend! Lip liner drawn on the outer areas of the lips creates dimension and fullness that would otherwise be lacking and it makes your lip color last longer. Just make sure to use a shade that is the same color as your lipstick or a little bit darker. And don't draw a thin line around the lips, draw on about half of each lip. I would suggest a liner even when using long wear formulas.

Another very important thing to consider is your lip shape. Not every trend works for every person. If you have pencil thin lips definitely stay away from bright and bold colors and stick to lights: nudes, pinks, and peaches. Dark colors make areas look smaller and lights make spaces appear larger. I see lots of older women sporting the darker colors and it really doesn't work because it highlights the fine lines around their mouth and unless they are using fillers, their lips usually have lost volume. So I think a better option would be light colors or even glosses (which are great b/c they moisturize too!)

Also it is great to top off your liner & lipstick (blot it lightly first) with a bit of shimmery powder for staying power, in the middle of the lips to add even more dimension. If you're going to wear a gloss on top sometimes it's best to keep it isolated to the middle of the lips so as not be crazy shiney and sticky looking.