LIPS ......
You have worked so hard on your eyes to get them just right, and they look sexy and dreamy. You pick up your lipstick and run the color across your lips.
WHOAAAA! STOP NOW..and read!!
There are three main focus points on the face, the eyes, the nose and the lips. The artful idea is to enhance the eyes and lips, and to play down the nose as much as possible, so you will need to balance the lips with the eyes, drawing focus away from the nose. You may think they just need a little color, but they too need special attention paid to them to make them look their fullest and sexiest.
MOISTURIZING ..... Your lips need special moisturizers to keep them soft. It is a good habit to use one of many lip moisturizers with sunscreen everyday to keep them soft and supple so they are always ready for lipstick. One of the problems we have as we get older is the very tiny lines around the mouth, and for the male to female transformation, you have the added problem of stubborn beard stubble on the upper lip. Before applying lipstick, it is best to pluck any stubble you can see close to the lip line (yes it HURTS, but the more you do it the more your lip will become desensitized to it), and then apply a commercial lip smoother. This product temporarily fills in the tiny gaps to give you a cleaner line, and really helps when lining with a pencil. I am a big fan of lip plumper's, as when they plump, they help fill in these lines and smooth the lips, as well as giving some of that pouty lip look. Note: Lip plumper's are NOT Magic and they will plump lips a little... you are not going to look like Angelina Jolie, but every little bit helps. I suggest you keep colors bright and in the pink range, staying away from dark reds and burgundies, as they can tend to look harsh, and really need to be played up with a very dramatic eye. There are so many shades of pinks and corals, and even nude tones, that will be just as effective in drawing attention to the lips!
APPLYING LIPLINER & LIPSTICK ..... Use a freshly sharpened lip pencil (lip liner) either in the same color as the lipstick, or a slightly darker color. Avoid colors that are more than one shade darker (or lighter).
1. Outline the center edge of your upper lip with lip liner.
2. Move to the center of your bottom lip and draw a short, horizontal line.
3. Now carefully line the corners of your mouth. If your lips are asymmetric, refer to correcting irregularly shaped lips section below.
4. Connect the lines drawn at the top and bottom center of your lips with the lines drawn at the corners of your mouth.
LIPSTICK
1. Use a small, firm lipstick brush and begin applying lipstick; this gives you more control over direction and achieves a perfect edge. Relax your jaw so that your mouth is open slightly, and brush on color starting in the middle of the upper lip.
2. Blot your lips gently on a tissue, being careful not to smudge or remove too much color. Then brush on a second coat of lip color to create a deeper effect.
3. For a shiny finish, use a clear or tinted lip gloss after applying lipstick. For a matte effect, lightly dust your lips with translucent powder using a powder brush.
CORRECTING SHAPE ..... As I stated earlier, I will be giving more tips and techniques, but felt that in the case of lips, just applying lipstick is not enough, and on this subject we need to go a little more in depth. Very few people are blessed with perfect lips, so we need to take a few corrective measures to ensure that our lips are in balance with the rest of our face. These techniques will take some practice, but I guarantee you will be much happier with your overall appearance if you take some time to learn the correct technique to enhance the lips. You really need to take a good look in the mirror to assess your lip shape, and what you would like to change. To balance the appearance of your lips while lining (before applying lipstick), first, divide the mouth into sections, and work on one section at a time until all the dotted lines are connected. And be aware that matte colors make lips look thinner while shimmery, glossy colors make your lips look fuller.
MAKE THIN LIPS LOOK FULLER
Use a lip liner to outline your lips just outside their natural edge, making the outline slightly wider on the top and bottom. Then brush on a layer of lip color inside the outline. Spread on a layer of lip gloss on top of your lip color.
MAKE FULL LIPS LOOK SMALLER
Apply foundation or concealer to the edges of your lips to blur the edge. Use a lip liner to outline your lips just inside the lip line, then brush on a layer of matte lip color. 
MAKE UNEVEN LIPS LOOK BALANCED
Enlarge a thin top lip by outlining the upper lip just outside the edge using a lip liner, then outline the lower lip drawing the line on the on the natural edge. Brush on lip color inside the line, applying more color to the thinner half of the lip.
MAKE SHAPELESS LIPS MORE DEFINED
Outline upper lip with a lip liner to emphasize the "v" in the middle. Draw the line just outside the lip edge of the bottom lip to make it look fuller. Brush on dark, matte lip colors for even more definition.
MAKE UNEVEN TONED LIPS EVEN COLORED
Cover upper and lower lips with a little foundation. Outline lips with lip liner. Choose the lipstick color, then begin applying lipstick by brushing a darker shade onto the lighter lip and a lighter shade onto the darker lip.
LIP GLOSS ..... Lip gloss is used to add extra shine after applying lipstick. It can be tinted or colorless, and you can use it alone or over lipstick. Apply only to the center of your lips, as it tends to 'bleed' beyond the lip edges. Use a lip gloss that is in stick form (like a lipstick). The liquids (often flavored etc) are sticky, and only last until the first time you lick your lips.
A NOTE ABOUT LIPSTICKS: Do some research in regard to lipsticks. Some inexpensive lipsticks actually stain the lips, and wont come off even with makeup remover. Your best choice is a good well known brand.
ON TO THE NEXT STEP ..... BLUSH
BACK TO MAKE UP
BACK TO T-GIRL TIPS INDEX
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