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How you put it on has impact too. Apply it properly and you can achieve full lips that dazzle day and night. Pucker up - here's how to beautify with lipstick.
 | Step 1: Select the best hue for you The type of colour you choose depends on the look you want to achieve. Both bold and subtle shades are suitable for day or evening, but they don't necessarily complement every lip shape. If your pout is slender, avoid very dark colours, as they make your lips appear smaller. |
Natural and pretty: "Pick a shade that matches your lip colour or go one shade darker," recommends Vanessa McHugh, a makeup artist and Rexall's cosmetic category assistant. For a more standout look using neutral colours, choose ones that are two to three shades deeper than your natural colour. Try one or more of the many hues from Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipcolor.
Bright and sophisticated: To display your confidence, consider red. If you're timid to give it a try, she recommends starting with a gloss, as it provides sheer colour rather than intense pigment. Try a tinted lip balm from Vasanti cosmetics. When you want a classic Hollywood look (think Marilyn Monroe), go for mattes. Whether you use gloss or lipstick, make sure you're wearing the correct shade by following these guidelines:
Fair complexions should choose cool reds, such as cherry- or rose-red.
Redheads look great in warm reds, such as tomato- or brick-red.
Medium or olive complexions can pull of true red.
Darker complexions are stunning in deep reds, such as plum-red.
TIP: If you play up your lips, tone down the makeup on your eyes so your face isn't overwhelmed with colour.
| Step 2: Prep your lips Lipstick looks best when your kisser is smooth and moisturized. To make your lips silky, drink a lot of water to hydrate them from the inside out, says McHugh. As well, apply lip balm, such as Blistex Lip Medex, overnight and before putting on makeup; and when they're chapped, gently exfoliate your lips with a mixture of brown sugar and olive oil. |  |
Step 3: Put and keep it on
After dabbing on balm, prime your lips to help your lipstick wear for hours. Use a lip brush to line and fill in your lips with a tiny bit of concealer.
Next, line your lips with a lip liner that matches your lipstick to give your lips definition and to prevent the colour from bleeding. If your pout is thin, make it look fuller by lining slightly below and above your natural lip line, says McHugh. For extra stay-put insurance, apply the liner to your entire lips.
Now you're ready for lipstick, which you should apply with a lip brush. Then fold a tissue in half, place it between your lips and press down to blot. (Skip this step if you're using gloss.) "Doing this makes lipstick look a little more natural," she says.
Finish off with touch of gloss. "Put a bit in the centre of your lips to make them look more plump and lush," says McHugh.
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