Tips and Tricks for Gorgeous Lips

By Cristina Masci

They speak volumes about you. Your lips can whisper or woo. Best of all, they can smile and brighten a room. With proper care, color and some simple tips, your lips will say precisely what you want.

Here are a few tricks and tips of the trade I would like to share, for fuller, poutier, sexier and longer lasting lipstick.

Lip Care

Moist, smooth lips hold color best. Stay pucker-pretty by following these basic tips for healthy lips:

Give dry, flaky lips the brush-off; add "brushing your lips" to your morning ritual using a soft toothbrush or terry washcloth. Now add some lip balm to smooth the way for lipstick-worthy lips!

Sexier Looking Lips

To make your lips look fuller and sexier, especially if you have thin lips, line lips first with lipliner then use light-coloured or neutral-shade lipsticks. Pale shades make lips look fuller.

Finish with a shimmer-gloss for Party-wear. To enhance a pout, dab a silver/shiny lip-gloss onto the centre of your lower lip.

Altering Lip Contours

Want lips that pout? Apply lipstick except in the centre of the mouth. Apply a lighter shade in the centre of the mouth and touch it up with lip gloss.

For thinner lips apply foundation on the lips and outline lips with a lip pencil (within the natural lip line). Fill in lipstick with a lip brush.

To make thin lips look fuller, apply foundation on mouth area. Use a lip pencil to outline the lips just beyond the natural lip line and fill in with desired colour

Longer Lasting Lipstick

Here is a Hollywood trade secret used by myself and many celebrity make up artists:

• Apply foundation over lips first
  
• Apply lip liner to lips and fill in lipstick with a lip brush
  
• Bite onto a piece of tissue and blot lips
  
• Dust lips lightly with translucent powder
  
• Apply final coat of lipstick