july 16, 2011 Tips For Lipstick

Makeup artists divulge their best tactics for applying lipstick, lip gloss and everything in between.

By Ilona French

We asked top makeup artists for their best advice regarding lip makeup—and they delivered. Check out thesemakeup tips for the lips, where the pros discuss how to create plumper lips, when to use lip gloss, the best products to rescue chapped lips, and more. Here are 10 things you can do today:

1. Help repair cracked lips by multitasking in the morning. If you wake up and find that your lips are dry and cracking, sneak in the following trick before applying lipstick: “After you wash your face and applymoisturizer, use your hydrating lip balm and apply heavily and let it sit,” says Kimberly Bragalone, makeup artist, Los Angeles, California. “Do your normal routine—hair, makeup, etc.—and by the time you are finished, your lips should be prepped, smooth and ready to go. You will find your lips and lipstick will feel and look 10 times better.”
2. Flaunt pouty lips. Full, plump lips can be easily created with the right products. “Use a nude lip liner to exaggerate the natural curve of your lips,” says Jessica Romano, a.k.a. Glam Fairy, partner and makeup artist, Glamorous Cosmetics. “Next, apply a neutral shade of lip color. Using a high-shine gloss with a little shimmer, apply gloss in the center of your lips for an effortless pout.”
3. Reduce the appearance of large lips. “To minimize naturally large lips, avoid lip gloss,” says Romano. “Choose a darker, matte shade of lipstick and liner. Line lips inside natural lip line.”
4. Slough off dead skin. Dry lips can be prevalent any time of year but especially during the warmer months when the sun robs them of moisture. “If your lips are dry, a scrub is nice to have to clean off the dead skin,” says Erica Maniscalco, makeup artist/beauty editor, The Fashion Journal, New York, New York. “Some form of chapstick or balm is a must.”
5. Use moisturizing formulas that penetrate rather than coat lips. Maniscalco’s favorite lip balm, for example, is Korres Guava lip butter. “It is extremely moisturizing without being too greasy,” she says. “I hate lip balm that doesn’t feel like it is penetrating the lips. With almost all Dior and Chanel lip glosses, I love the colors, consistency and smell. I actually have an entire case of lip glosses. And my new favorite is Pearl by Arbonne. I just love the way a gloss makes you look.”
6. Stop lipstick from running. Smudge-proof lip color is a must. “If liner isn’t your thing, but you still like the definition it provides, use a lip brush with concealer on the tip and run the brush along the outside of your lips,” Romano says. “This will also help your lip color from feathering.”
7. Avoid the daunting task of constantly reapplying lipstick. If you don’t have time to touch up your lips, keep a tinted lip conditioner on hand. “Keep your lips looking healthy and supple and your mouth smelling like mint with Tarte 24.7 Lip Sheer,” says Romano.
8. Ensure that your lips are voluptuous, but not overdone. Practice makes perfect when exaggerating your lip line, but you should always feel comfortable with your look. “If you feel like the lines don’t look natural,” says Bragalone, “try keeping the application of the liner on your top lip closer to your actual lip line.”
9. Go glossy, but only when appropriate. To gloss or not to gloss? That is the question. Remember, light, neutral colors with a gloss help make lips appear larger. For minimizing large lips, Bragalone says, “Stick with matte formulas, neutral shades, and no gloss.”
10. Change your lip color, for free. Just because your pockets are bare, it doesn’t mean your lips have to follow suit. Instead, mix and match your old lip products to create something new. “I love using my neutral lipsticks and applying an orange shade of gloss on top,” says Romano. “Voila…. Popsicle lip color.”