A nifty lipstick technique for full and pouty lips

I often get asked what lipstick I use, and truth is, I rarely use just one single item. Don’t stop reading just yet as this isn’t one of those posts where you’re told to layer 5-6 different lipsticks, balms and lipglosses – I promise I’m about to reveal a really nifty little trick with no need of a lot of products.

As you’ve probably read somewhere, adding a bit of a shimmer or light colour on your Cupid’s bow (which is the center part of the area above your upper lip) will make your top lip look fuller and more pouty which means no need of striking the duck face pose. Avoid using a matte concealer in a lighter shade than your skin tone though, as this can easily end up looking like a milk moustash instead. The way to go with this is to dab either a light shimmery lipstick or a liquid highlighter on the Cupid’s bow, and then dab a slightly darker but more colourful lipstick on the rest of the lips which will make the lips appear sensual and pouty (yet still with no need of the duck face). That’s all. If done correctly, it can make a massive difference to your whole face.

Playing with light and dark contrasts allows you to harmonise any difference between upper and lower lip volume as well. Apply the lighter and more shimmery product to the lip that you want to appear fuller and bigger. Word of advice, avoid using a lipstick of the same colour as your skin as that can easily result in the corpse look. It’s just disconcerting. If your lips are very thin and lack volume, then dab the lighter shade in the center of the lower and upper lip while carefully lining up the lips with a lipliner in similar colour to your natural lip colour. The light colour in the midle will give the lips volume, while the lip liner while enhances your lips.

In the highly unlikely event that you feel your lips are too full, you can use a darker matte shade to slim them down.

In the picture below I’ve used Benefit High Beam on the Cupid’s bow, and dabbed a bit of Estee Lauder Barcelona kiss on the rest of the lips.

Favourite lipstick brands: Chanel, YSL, Mac and Nars. Nars does both high quality lipstick and lip pencils in lots of beautiful shades.
Favourite lip liner: Subculture lip liner by Mac, it’s the perfect nude lip liner. And despite the large range of lip liner shades, a nude lipliner will work with any lipstick shade as it’s the same colour you have naturally anyway.
Favourite all round highlighter: High Beam by Benefit (which I used on my Cupids bow in the picture above). A liquid highlighter can be used on the cheekbones to make them appear higher, eye brow bones to make the brows appear higher, Cupid’s bow to make your lips more pouty, along the bridge of the nose to slim down the nose, by the tear duct for brighter eyes and on collar bone to appear skinnier.. the list goes on. Every girl should have a good liqud highlighter because they don’t cost much and they last almost forever.

Where to get it?

♥ Chanel and YSL can be found in Sephora or other beauty stores.
♥ Nars lip products can also be found in Sephora, and here (worldwide shipping).
♥ Benefit high beam can also be found in Sephora, and here or here (worldwide shipping).
♥ Mac products can be found online, or in Mac stores.

What are your favourite lip products?