Lipstick should enhance the beauty of the lips and not appear like a red gash at the opening of the mouth. Always apply lipstick with a lipstick brush. Draw the outer line with the brush or with a lip pencil and then fill in the colour with a lipstick. A darker colour should be used to define the lip' line and a lighter shade should be used to fill in. After application, place a tissue between the lips and press.This will remove the excess colour.



Apply Lipstick

Find the best shades of lipstick for your lips. For full lips, it is best to stick with medium tone colors and subtle shades. Stay away from pale shimmering colors, plums and dark brown shades.

Clean off the dry, dead skin from your lips using a dry, soft bristled toothbrush or a wet, warm washcloth.

Apply liquid foundation to your lips and let it dry. You can also brush some face powder onto your lips if you wish.

A dusting of powder or bit of foundation beneath lipstick can maximize its staying power. Either can dry lips, though, so use a creamy formula lipstick.

Stretch your lips and starting at the center of top or bottom, glide color to corners. Blot, reapply and blot again for longer-lasting color.

Lipstick staining your teeth makes you look extremely shabby. To avoid this, pucker your lips in an extreme 'O' and then apply the lipstick.

Even if your lipstick smudges to the insides of your lips, wrap your finger with a tissue and put it into your mouth, and twist it slowly to eliminate any extra color.

You can also highlight your lips by using a light film of eye shadow color coordinated with your lip color in the center of the upper and lower lips.

First prime your lips with a good base of foundation and powder to remove all color from your lips.

Outline your lips with a lip pencil - The same shade or just a shade darker than your lipstick, Define the center curve on the upper lip with two precise strokes.

Continue the line of the upper lip, keeping your mouth closed and relaxed. Use short strokes, as they are easier than a continuous line.

On the lower lip, work form the center to the corners.

To make a small mouth look larger, apply a touch of foundation to your lips to smooth out the edges, add a little powder to make your lipstick last longer, then trace the outline of your lips with lip liner, enlarging the corners and thickness of your lips.

To make a large mouth look smaller, tone down the edges of the lips using foundation or concealer, retrace the inside edges of your lips, reducing the gap at the corners, then apply a soft shade of lipstick for a natural effect.

Lipstick will stay on longer if the whole lip is filled in with lip liner before lipstick is applied. If you decide to use this technique, be aware that darker lip liner will darken the look of your lipstick. And, if you are going for a light look use a light lip liner.

Now that lips are filled in, apply lipstick with a lipstick brush (using a lip brush will give you more control). When lipstick has been applied, with lips closed, lay a tissue across both lips to blot.