Your Guide To Lining Your Lips Like A Pro

Lip liners are a definite game changer. And this is largely because they are the perfect tool for creating your ideal lip shape.

Need some fulness, definition or structure? Lining your lips makes all of this achievable, giving you control over your lip makeup. 

We have compiled expert makeup tips for applying lip liner like a pro.

Prepping 

Like with all forms of makeup, your needs need to be prepped to achieve the desired effect you want with a lip liner. 

The first step is not to neglect your lips, chapped lips are a definite go, and we love some smooth, hydrated lips over here. 

To achieve this, exfoliate your lips to remove excess dead skin. Next, apply a hydrating lip balm to soothe your lips. A lip mask worn before bed ensures you wake up to a super-soft pout. 

Finally, always have a lip liner, blush, lipstick and lipgloss at hand.

Lining Your Lips Like A Pro

• Knowing your lip shape

Everyone has a unique lip shape, and it is important to know yours before applying a lip liner. Knowing what you like about your lips and what you prefer to change is the first step to starting. 

For instance, if you have a full bottom lip, you might want to create more fulness on the top lip to match. 

• Tracing a shape

Once you know what works for you, you can now move on to subtly tracing the areas of focus around your lip. To create a fuller top lip like in our example, start by lightly tracing around the top lip, exaggerating the lips slightly for a realistic fulness. 

Choose a liner that matches what lip colour you opt for. For instance, nude lip liner goes with all lipstick colours and enhances your lip shape. But if nude isn’t your colour, a shade that matches your lipstick shade works best.

• Creating a shadow

Create a small shadow in the centre of your bottom lip with your pencil to create the illusion of a fuller bottom lip. Then slightly outline the lip with a subtle coloured pencil before filling the inner corners with a deeper coloured pencil. Doing this before applying your lipstick adds some contour and shape to your lips.

• Applying lipstick 

Just like we advised earlier, choose a lipstick colour that matches your lip liner and apply it as you typically would, making sure not to stain the corners of your lip.

• Cleaning up

Need to make some changes? Try using your finger to smooth things out lightly or apply some concealer around your lips, making sure to blend with a brush and remove the excess liner with a thin cotton swab.

After which, you can move on to adding some shine with lipgloss. 

Finally, following this detailed step-by-step guide will help you elevate your lip makeup to the final step.