Talking in general about lips

by Karin on October 21, 2010 · 0 comments

in Aromaleigh, Bare Escentuals, Beauticontrol, DuWop, Guerlain, Lip Gloss, Lipstick, Mary Kay, Techniques, Too Faced

There are a lot of tricks to the trade when you are talking about lips. Lip prep is a big part of it.

Lip Prep
Remove old lipstick staining from your lips with a gentle eye makeup remover or facial makeup remover.
Dry Lips
Always use a balm under your lipstick and consider some form of lipgloss over the top, at least in the center.

Here are some common complaints and their solutions:
Problem # 1 My lips are rough Remove all the dead skin.
Some people use a toothbrush, but I find that harsh.

I first used a 2 step program when Adrian Arpel had one that sold at Bloomies. It is possible to use a facial scrub on your lips, but the grains are larger, so I prefer to use one made especially for lips.

Here are some products I like that are gentle, but work. I like both of these equally. I prefer the Beauticontrol Balm, but both work equally well. I use whichever balm I feel like, but I always use the proper set together, if I am using the exfoliant from one brand, I use its balm.

Beauticontrol Lip Apeel $19.50 (1.25 oz) (2 step, like MK), can buy Balm separately for $10 (.25 oz)

Mary Kay Satin Lip Lip Mask, follow with MK Lip Balm -- $9.50 each for .3 oz each
A friend said this set cleared up her lips after using countless other balms that did not work.

Problem #2 Lipstick migrates into the lines outside my lips
Be sure to moisturize well around your lips. This will make the lines less prominent.

Be careful with dark shades, as this shows up more.

Use a less gooey formula or be careful how heavily you apply.

I find some of the lipsticks made to last all day are too drying for my lips, so I work around it.

Line lips with a pencil to hold your lipstick inside the line better
This works up to a certain point in age or appearance. After that, an invisible pencil works better.
You can use a pencil that matches your lipstick, one that contrasts (less modern look)(a dark visible line around a lighter lipstick), or one that matches your lip tone.

If you are using a color that is different than your lipstick color, you can actually change the shade -- experiment with a favorite lipstick and a variety of pencils. You can do this on the back of your hand or just as you apply your lipstick for the day. This gives you almost an infinite number of shades with a combination of lippies and pencils.

If your lip pencil has a lipstick brush at one end, you can use that brush to feather or move the lip pencil color into your lip area or use it to apply your lipstick.

You can use the pencil first and line only the outside edges of your lips, or you can fill in the whole lip a bit (I prefer that method) or you can line after you apply your lipstick (I like this method too.)

Use one of the clear/invisible lip pencils that are on the market to line outside your lip line outside the color of lipstick you are using
At a certain point, this works better than using a colored lip pencil (or can be used in conjunction with a colored one.) It stops the lipstick from migrating.

You can find these in several brands. Avon used to make one.

DuWop reverse liner is great. One made by Too Faced is supposed to be very similar.

Guerlain Kiss Kiss Liplift is a magic product

This cleared up my lips in one application after I hurt them with stinging lip plumpers. Every other lip balm known to man did not work. (At the time I didn't have Arbonne's that might have worked.) It is slightly colored, like a concealer, so you can use it to mask your lip color to make other lipsticks true to their shade, or to bring your lips back to a natural color if they are stained from other lip colors.

It's an expensive product, but one I will never be without.

Problem # 3 My top and bottom lip are not balanced; one is thinner than the other.
Use a lip pencil to draw at the top of the outside edge of your thinner lip. Experiment with drawing outside of your lip line to see if this looks natural or not. It depends on whether the outer edge of your lip has a distinct edge to it or not. You can often see on magazine pages that this has been done to many of the models. You might have to look closely, but they have done it. You want it to look natural in RL. Be sure to make sure that the points of your upper lip are centered under your nostrils. It looks strange if it is not.

You can use a slightly lighter shade of lipstick on your thinner lip. Or highlight only the center of that lip with gloss. Or use one of the techniques below for fuller lips.

Problem # 4 I want my lips to look fuller
Any of these ideas work, or a combination. It is possible to use one of these ideas on only one lip.
Use a darker lip color at the outer edges of your lips than the center.
You can do this by using one lipstick and layering the other over it in the middle. Or you can simply use one shade on the other edges and another on the inner, blending a bit where they come together. It isn't necessary to use a lip brush; you can work right with the tubes.
Use a navy eye pencil on the outer edge of your lips. Carefully. This really works!
Be sure to blend this into your lip color. Use a shade of navy that isn't too dark for your lip tone.
Use lip gloss in the center of your lips
Concentrate it on your bottom lip, then smoosh your lips together.
Use a lipstick made to enhance your lips.
Be careful what formula you use. I hurt my lips by using the same lipstick daily (wonderful color though!) by Cover Girl.
Buxom lip gloss by Bare Escentuals is very good and gentle. I love all the ones I have.
This is a beautiful set:

These are more neutral:

These are a little darker:

LipFusion is also good, perhaps a little less gentle. It comes in many colors.

Problem #5 My lip edge sometimes looks stained.
There are lip pencils that are skin toned. Use this carefully outside your lipstick color. You can also use a concealer for this purpose. The lip pencil will hold the line better than concealer, if lines outside the lip are a problem.

Rim your lips with a gloss. This really works and is a lovely look. You can choose a gloss that matches your lipstick, is lighter, a close shade or one that is different (say, a light apricot rim of gloss around a pink lipstick.) Experiment! I first saw this at the Beauté site. It really makes lips look both fuller and more youthful.

Problem # 6 I eat my lipstick off
Use a longer lasting formula or one that is less gooey when you know you are going to be eating.

I haven't found that blotting lipstick or powdering makes the lipstick last any longer. And I do not care for the way powder makes my lipstick feel. I do, however, like using AL Rocks! glitter over lipstick to add color or sparkle. It seems silkier than powder. I don't know if it adds any lasting power.

Try to be aware of working at your lips with your tongue or teeth.

Before you take a sip of a drink, lick your lips a bit. It forms a barrier between your lipstick and your cup or glass.

Use your fingers to wipe any lipstick off your cup or glass. It will make you more aware if you are losing more lipstick the next time you drink. Plus it looks nicer to those around you.

Use your teeth, barely your lips, to take food off silverware.

Break bread up into smaller pieces so you aren't using your lips to bite into it. Who wants to literally eat lipstick!

Cut up large sandwiches, such as hamburgers, and eat with a fork. Or blot your lipstick before eating. You don't want to get lipstick on your teeth or chin.

Problem # 7 I just feel like I look old
Update your look to follow one of the modern trends that work for you. Rim your lips with gloss -- it's surprising how well this works! Try it!

Try a stronger color in lipstick or try a lighter lipstick. Or both. Make sure you are wearing a tone and a shade that compliments your coloring.

If you change your hair coloring, you might have to change the depth of tone in your makeup, including lips, blush, and eyes.

Make use of the techniques above.

If you don't have consultants for either MK or Beauticontrol, let me know and I will give you contact info for people I know who are consultants.

To buy Arbonne from Bookgirl, if you don't have a representative, go here.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-06 14:47:27.

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