Curious about lipstick? Avoid it like the plague out of sheer confusion?
Follow these simple steps for a flawless application:
1) Choose your shade. This can be impossible unless you can try before you buy. The first shade to master is the neutral. This is usually in the brown-berry category. Sort of an ideal natural lip, (Think Angelina or Halle Berry in scenes when they are to "appear" as though they aren't wearing make-up).
2) Lip liner. A neutral liner that seems to disappear on the lip. It should NOT be darker than your lipstick shade! Literally invisible. Preferably in a click style pencil or made from a rubberized wood to prevent wood chipping and scratchy edges. Yikes.
3) Lip brush. Small pointed oval shaped brush with at least a 4 inch handle. It should be comfortable to hold and the bristles short and medium stiff for precision. (An art supply store is an excellent place to purchase most make-up brushes).
4) Lip Pampering. The first key step in lip color application is the lip prep. There's nothing worse than flakey lips! Get into the habit of gently brushing your lips each morning with your toothbrush. Just a few light circular strokes. If dryness is a constant problem prepare an exfoliating lip scrub with sugar and a few drops of cooking oil. Rub on lips in a circular motion and rinse. And please ladies, get in the habit of wearing lip chap. Keep one in your purse and one in your night stand.
5) To increase the longevity of your application, first dust lips lightly with a face powder.
6) Using the lip brush, swipe the lip color to deposit onto brush. Using a lip brush will double if not triple the amount of applications per tube. Starting in the centre of the top lip, lightly apply the lip color from centre to outer corner. Do the same on the bottom. Less is more here ladies. A thin application. Also more color in the centre and less in the outer corners.
7) Depending on the look you want to achieve, lip liner can be applied before or after the lip color OR not at all. For those that tend to have the color migrate off the lips, a liner is essential. Lining the lip before the color will create the most natural look. That is my recommendation for the natural colors.
This is a lip I recommend for outings where a face of make up seems a bit much but feeling good is always necessary. You'll look put together but not overdone.
Curl your lashes, 2 coats of mascara and you're done. Beauty.
