Applying Lipstick: The Perfect Pout Make Up Technique

How do you get the perfect pout when applying lipstick? Here's how you do it:

Step 1: Disguise To cover imperfections and give a good base, cover the mouth in thin application of foundation and then blot. This also helps to prevent matt lipsticks from cracking and is especially useful when altering a natural lip shape.

* If your lips are full, try applying your lip pencil just inside your natural lip line. Remember, you can also use a lip pencil darker than your lipstick to help the narrowing effect.

Tips: When applying lipstick, matt shades are the best choices. Avoid gloss, as this creates an illusion of fullness. Stick to lighter shades so that you can divert attention away from your mouth by concentrating on deeper eyes.

* If your lips are thin, extend your lip pencil just outside your natural lip line. A pencil lighter than your lipstick will give your lips a little extra fullness too.

Tips: After you have fill in your lips with colour, then add a slightly lighter shade in the centre of your top and bottom lips. Always use a pencil in a natural colour and make sure the foundation has been blotted well to prevent the new mouth colour from travelling.

* If your lips are unbalanced, apply the liner just outside your natural lip line on the thin lip, but just inside on the full lip.

* If your lips go downwards on the ends, you can give yourself a 'lift' by slightly raising the corners of your lips. Here's how - pencil in the corners of your upper lip to turn upwards, or stop the corner short on the upper lip so that the lower lip extends at the corners. Either technique will give the illusion of lips that smile at the corners. Don't overdo it.

Step 2: Outline

With your lip pencil or a lipstick brush turned sideways to make a thin line, draw along your upper lip line from the outer left corner to the centre and then from the outer right corner to the centre.

If you are more comfortable working from the centre to the corners, that is fine too. But never draw one continuous line from left to right or your lips will be crooked. Follow your natural lip line and don't make the bow of your lip too pointed. The peak of the bow is usually under your nostrils. Next, draw your lower lip line, again from each corner into the centre. When drawing the peaks of your lip, always follow the lower peak and adjust the higher peak accordingly.

Step 3: Fill in the base colour for your lips with your lip pencil.

Step 4: In applying lipstick, apply one coat of lip colour with a brush. To make your lipstick stay on longer, blot your lips, powder the lips then reapply a second coat. Add gloss only at the end - when it eventually wears off, you will still be left with a coloured stain which will last you through the evening.

Question: Why do we need lip pencil when applying lipstick? Lip pencil gives your lips definition and keeps your lipstick from 'bleeding' at the edges. They can also be used to cover the lips entirely as a base for lipstick or lip gloss. Lip sticks bleed for two reasons - the formula or your lips. The sheer moist formulae especially in darker colours such as red tend to run more easily, especially in hot weather or on women with oily skin if their lips do not have distinct ridges as boundariers or have feathery lines around the edges.

To correct the problem choose a harder cream formulae - one that pulls a bit as you ally it or a frost. Or avoid moisturiser around the wedge of your mouth. Use a lip pencil to outline your lips and powder your lips before applying the colours. Not every women have lips with a natural outline around the edges. Most of us have lips that blend into our faces and really need to be outlined with a lip pencil. The definition gives us that elegant finished look. Further more, it is difficult to apply your lipstick straight and evenly especially at the corners of your mouth. Another reason to use a lip pencil when applying lipstick!

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