Lips that look full can be wildly popular thanks to certain reality TV stars, but not everyone wants full lips. We're sure you've heard enough about how to make lips look fuller with makeup. But that's not your only option. The power of makeup knows no bounds and can also be used to make your lips look smaller. If you don't know how to do it, here are some tips.
Start with primer
There is one important step in your makeup routine that you may be routinely ignoring:primer. Just like priming your face, lids and lashes are essential to achieve a makeup look that lasts and looks flawless, the same goes for your lips. A primer not only keeps your lip liner and lipstick in place, but can also help your lip makeup apply more evenly. Definitely sounds like something not to be missed!
Hide your natural lip color
Your natural lip color may reveal that you are faking the size of your lips. That's why you want to cover it up. Pick a concealer that matches your skin tone. Then use a brush – it's more hygienic than rubbing your fingers along your mouth – to apply the concealer to your lips, focusing on the edges. When you're done camouflaging your natural lip color, the line between your lips and the rest of your skin should be effectively blurred.
Color within the lines When it comes to changing the shape or size of your lips with makeup, the most essential product you need is lip liner. How you draw a line around your lips can determine how big or small your lips look. While lip overlining is the make-up technology for a faux full lip look, underlining is the art of achieving the opposite effect. Take a Lipliner and lightly draw a line around the perimeter of your lips. The key word here is slightly. You don't want to push things too far because the more dramatic you underline your lips, the more fake they will look.
Fill in your lips completely Bold lip liner may have been trendy in the 90s, but that's a style you can leave behind. Your lip look won't look complete if you don't follow the lip liner with a matching lipstick. Choose a matte formula in a dark shade to make your lips look slimmer. Fill in your lips completely, applying to the center of your top lip and working from the center to the outer edges – the ones you created with the lip liner – of your lips. The lipstick should match your lip liner for a seamless effect – much more modern than hard lines.
Clean
Almost done! This last step isn't mandatory, but it can be a lifesaver if your hands aren't as stable. Clean up any messy lines with a bit of concealer. That's all you have to do.
