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Lipstick & Lip Liners Tips

Read these 29 Lipstick & Lip Liners Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Make-Up tips and hundreds of other topics.

Lipstick & Lip Liners Tips has been rated 3.8 out of 5 based on 2383 ratings and 29 user reviews.
What are the different types of lipstick?

Lipstick Formulas

Lipstick comes in a variety of textures including matte, creme and frost. How should you decide on which formula to use? Read on.

Matte
Matte formula lipstick provides rich color without shine. Matte lipstick lasts longer than other types because it contains less moisture. The downside to matte lipstick is that it can leave your lips dry. Look for a matte lipstick that is also labeled as moisturizing for long-lasting color that isn't dried out.

Creme
Creme lipstick formulas normally last for several hours. These dewy, soft creamy colors will stay in place longer if you use a primer or concealer all over your lips before applying your lipstick. Creamy lipstick is perfect for women of any age, but particularly for more mature women.

Frost/Shimmer
Lipsticks labeled as frost or shimmer have flecks of shiny pigment that reflect light, giving your lips a frosty look. These shimmery lipsticks are great for evening.

To help the color last longer (when applying any type of lipstick), line your lips with a lip pencil and then fill in your lips completely with the liner before applying your lipstick. You can apply straight from the tube or with a lip brush for a more precise look. If you're looking for a lip palette that offers more than one choice, try the 'cinnaMEN MENAGE A DEUX!' Lip Palette from Joey New York, which includes nine choices for your lips. To find this and more lip products, visit Makeup.com.

   
How can I make my lipstick look smooth?

Preparing Your Lips

Just as a painter calls for a clean canvas, your lipstick needs the perfect backdrop: Smooth, soft lips.

  • In order to keep your lips and the rest of your skin hydrated, drink a lot of water. Eight to ten glasses per day is ideal.
  • Moisturize your lips with lip balm on a daily basis. Your lip balm should have an SPF of 15 or higher if you spend significant time in the sun.
  • Exfoliate your lips if they are flaky. Scrub your lips gently with a washcloth when you are in the shower to remove any excess dry skin. When your lips are flaky, your lipstick won't go on smooth.
  • Cover your entire lips with a very thin coat of the lip primer to create a smooth setting for your lip color.
  • Line your lips with a neutral lip pencil that is close to your natural lip color.
  • Buy moisturizing lipsticks. These formulas will keep your lips smooth and comfortable throughout the day.

   
What colors of lipstick will make my teeth look whiter?

Make Your Teeth Look Whiter With Lipstick

Everyone wants whiter teeth. You can't turn on the TV without seeing an ad for whitening toothpaste, strips, gels, bleaching trays, etc. But here's a little beauty secret: you don't need a dentist for whiter teeth; you need a tube of lipstick.

Choose a lipstick shade that has a cool or blue undertone. Go for a medium to deep shade that isn't too yellow or orange in tone. A glossy plum or berry lipstick will maximize the white finish on your teeth making your smile much prettier. If you are having trouble figuring out what exactly a cool shade looks like, head to one of the makeup counters and let a professional do the work for you.

Hint: If you want to do it yourself, head to the Prescriptives makeup counter. All their lip colors are divided into specific warm (Yellow/Orange and Red/Orange) and cool (Blue/Red and Red) color families, so choosing the right shade is a piece of cake!

   
How can I make my lips appear fuller?

Fuller Lips

To make your lips appear fuller, use a deep shade of lipcolor at the outside corners of lips. Then apply a lighter lipcolor (in similar shade) to the center of the lips. Remember that light brings forward, dark recedes.

   
What type of lipstick is best?

Lipstick Choices

The type of lipstick you use depends on your individual taste. There are matte lipsticks that are drier and thus longer lasting. There are cream lipsticks that give good coverage and contain moisturizers. There are hydrating lipsticks that are good for dry lips. There are sheer lipsticks that are moist and give your lips a stain. There are also lipglosses that are fluid and have the most moisture.

   
How can I keep my lips from looking so dry when I put on lipstick?

Dry Lips

Before applying lipstick, try using a lip exfoliator that has moisturizers in it. Avoid matte lipsticks and instead choose a sheer, tinted lipstick or shimmery gloss. This fresh look will stay on longer and keep lips hydrated.

   
How can I make my lips look smaller?

Making large lips look smaller

To make your lips look smaller, line the inner part of your lip with a neutral color. Use darker, matte colors to make lips appear smaller. Do not use lip gloss or colors with shimmer in them.

   
How can I make my lips red naturally? I am a male.

Natural Color

In order to make your lips look naturally red the best suggestion would be to use a lip stain. You can get a red lip stain and apply it to your lips in order to get the red color you are looking for. The lip stain is a matte color that sinks into your skin so that it doesn't look like you have lip color on your lips. The stain gives you natural color that will last a long time.

   
How do you make lip gloss?

Homemade Lipgloss

The easiest recipe for homemade lip gloss is to take a heaping teaspoon of Vaseline or petroleum jelly and put it in a plastic bag along with about a 1/2 teaspoon of cream blush (to add color) and a pinch of finely ground glitter (for glamour). If you want to have some flavor add a couple of drops of flavoring (just any kind of flavoring used for cooking or other edible products). The flavoring will also give it a smell.

You can buy beeswax and make lip balm yourself with that ingredient. There are many recipes on the Internet, just search "lip gloss recipes." You can buy “lip gloss kits” that are ready for you to make your own creations.

   
What type of lipstick is best?

How to Choose The Right Lipstick

Think about texture and color when choosing lipstick. A single shade can look very different in different textures. Matte means dense color, no shine, little if any moisture. Cream delivers strong color with moisture. Gloss is translucent color, moist and shiny. Stain looks very dark in the tube but goes on sheer. Frosted colors contain sparkly white and are generally more suited to youthful complexions.

   
How do you make your lips look fuller?

Plump Up Your Pout!

Create plump, luscious, pouty and sexy lips without plastic surgery. Line outer part of lips with natural color lipliner, then blend inward with a lipbrush. Follow with a shimmery gloss and don't rub lips together as this will only reduce shine.

   
How do I apply lipstick?

Lipstick Application

A lip brush is the best tool to apply lipstick as you can fill in your lips after using a lip liner pencil. Apply lipstick, blot with a tissue, and reapply. Lipstick color should stay on for hours except for the times you eat, drink, smoke or kiss.

   
What color lipstick is best if my teeth are yellow?

Lipstick and Yellow Teeth

If your teeth are yellow, don't use dark color lipsticks as they will make your teeth look more yellow. Steer free from corals and orange shades. Instead, choose a pink brown, rose or red brown shade. You can also try an at home teeth whitening kit but be careful if you have sensitive teeth as this can make them more irritated.

   
Could there be lead in my lipstick?

Lead in Lipstick?

Emails were sent out to makeup wearers warning that many major makeup companies make lipsticks that contain lead. According to the email, you can find out if your lipstick contains led by rubbing the lipstick with a gold ring and the lipstick will turn black. This is simply not true.

There have never been any documented cases of lead poisoning or cancer caused by lip products. The colorants that go into lipstick are strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Only a certain number of colors are approved for use in cosmetics in the USA, and they must undergo a strict certification process once they are used in a batch of cosmetic items. Plus, there are also regulations about where you can apply those cosmetics, such as different sets of colorants specifically for the eye or lip areas. If you have any kind of adverse reaction to a cosmetic product you can report it to your nearest FDA district office, or call the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at 1-888-SAFEFOOD, and speak with an information specialist.

   
How do I get my tiny lips to appear larger?

Plump Up Your Pout!

Create plump, luscious, pouty and sexy lips without plastic surgery. Line outer part of lips with natural or light brown color lipliner, then blend inward with a lipbrush. Follow with a shimmery gloss and don't rub lips together as this will only reduce shine.

   
Can I wear red lipstick with a red top?

Red Lipstick and Red Clothes

Most beauticians and cosmetic experts agree that lipstick should match your skin tone and hair color, not your clothes. When wearing red clothing, find a lipstick or gloss that will match your skin as well as your clothes! Use a natural lip liner and a sheer red gloss if you can't get comfortable with any other red.

   
How do you make your lips look fuller?

Making Lips Appear Fuller

You can make your lips look fuller by using a lip liner and placing it at the outer edge of your lips. Pick a liner that is close to your lip color. Blend the liner to the center of your lip to avoid a harsh edge. Follow up with a favorite lipstick in a color slightly lighter or the same shade as the lipliner and add gloss to finish with a pout!

   
How can I keep lipstick on better?

Keep Lipstick On

No matter what color lipstick you choose ,apply lip liner to the outline and fill in your lips. You can then follow with a gloss or lipstick. When wearing a red lipstick, use a brown lipliner all over first as the red pigment will last longer.

   
How do you apply lip gloss?

Applying Lip Gloss

Lip gloss comes in many forms including tubes, pots, wands and sticks. Gloss is easy to use, giving you a splash of color and a lot of shine.

Many women like flavored lip gloss, which adds shine, flavor and scent. The key when applying lip gloss is to not use too much. Lip gloss can get sticky if you apply too much product, leaving your lips looking messy and overdone.

Line your lips in a neutral shade closest to your natural lip color before applying lip gloss. Dab lip gloss into the center of you bottom lip and then gently press your lips together. This will make your lips look luscious and shiny.

You can also wear gloss over your lipstick to add extra shine to your favorite lip colors. At Makeup.com, you can find a variety of different lip gloss formulas from top brands such as Cargo, Joey New York, Lola Cosmetics, Too Faced and more.

   
How can I keep my lipstick from bleeding?

Make Smart Lipstick Decisions

Toy around with semi-matte lipsticks until you find one that you like. Then, after applying the lipstick, blot with a Kleenex until it looks almost sheer. Remember to follow with a natural gloss for shimmery lips. Go for dramatic eyes and natural lips or vice-versa, never do eyes and lips dark shades together!

   
How can I apply lipstick to dry lips?

Dry Lips

Before applying lipstick, try using a lip exfoliatior that has moisturizers in it. Avoid matte lipsticks and instead choose a sheer,tinted lipstick or shimmery gloss. This fresh look will stay on longer and keep lips hydrated.

   
How can I conceal very deep lines above my lips?

Deep Lip Line Solutions

Make up can be used to conceal deep lines and wrinkles above your lips, but this is just a temporary fix. You can use thicker make up like "pancake make up" which will actually fill in the deep lines on your face. There are beauty products that claim to correct the wrinkles and/or get rid of them. Estee Lauder carries a product called Diminish, which will help slow the aging process and actually helps fill in the collagen in your skin to correct deep lines and wrinkles.

There are procedures like laser treatments and botox that have also become popular fixes when it come to deep line and wrinkles.

   
How do I apply lipliner?

Outline The Lips

A lipliner should be used along your natural lipline unless you have very thin lips. In that case, extend outside of the natural line. A natural shade of liner is best or you can add more drama with a bright or darker shade. Be sure to blend the lipliner and the lipstick with a lipbrush.

   
How can I keep red lipstick from bleeding?

Keep Red Lipstick From Bleeding

To keep red lipstick from bleeding, cover your entire lip with a lipliner first. You might prefer a matte lipstick, as it would contain the least amount of moisture. You can also blot your favorite lipstick with a tissue, and then reapply.

   
What lipcolor is best for fair-beige skin?

Lip Color for fair skin color

Picking a lipstick color for fair skined women can be a critical task. Make sure you look for natural color lip liners and sheer, shimmery glosses.

   
How can I make my large lips look smaller?

Making large lips look smaller

Tip: To make your lips look smaller, line the inner part of your lip with a neutral color. Use darker, matte colors to make lips appear smaller. Do not use lip gloss or colors with shimmer in them.

   
How can I make thin lips appear fuller?

All About Lips

Do you have small, thin, even tiny lips? Apply a dab of high shine lip gloss in the center of your lip to make lips appear fuller.

   
What helps get rid of vertical lip lines?

Verticle Lip Lines

To reduce the appearance of lip lines over time, you need to use an anti-aging product that helps to firm up the skin and prevent the deterioration in elasticity around the lips. Use a lipliner and fill in with lipstick and gloss to create a lipline that was not there!

   
I am African American with very dark lips. How do I make them pinker?

Naturally Dark Lips

If you're of darker skin tone, a deeper lip color will give you the most flattering look. You can apply a light color creamy foundation to your lips and then apply lipliner, lipstick and lipgloss in your favorite colors for a long lasting look. You can also set your lip color by blotting your lips between two applications of lipstick. Try not to use colors that are bright, pastel, or too shimmery; this makes lips look weird.

   
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