Falling in Love with Lip Liner

I’ve never been one to use lip liner.  It’s just another step in the whole process, and who needs another step?  And besides, my lips are just fine with a swipe of lipstick.  Right?

Well.

That’s what I thought.  Until I was shopping at (wait for it…) Sephora and they slipped a free sample of a lip liner in my bag.  Of course I had to try it out.  And guess what?  I’m hooked.

I have been using it religiously for a few weeks now.  I line my lips and then actually fill in with it.  I still apply lipstick over top of it, but when my lipstick wears off, I still have some color left from the liner.  Score!

I thought I was doing just fine with my lip-lining until I got my copy of Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority.  In it is a tutorial on applying lip liner.  And guess what?  I was doing it all wrong.  I was starting at the bow of my lip and tracing down to the corner in one continuous line, and then repeating on the opposite side.  Then I was starting at the corner of my bottom lip and tracing all the way to the other corner.  I did notice that it was difficult to get it looking just right, but I thought that was because it is just hard to apply.

WRONG!

Here is the CORRECT way to apply lip liner:

1. With a sharply pointed neutral-hued lip liner, create a nice even shape on the bow of the lips.

2. Then go to the left outer corner on the upper lip and trace the lip line with the liner back to the bow, and repeat on the right side.  (Y’all.  This works SO much better!)

3. On the lower lip, start from the outer left corner and trace the lip line inward.  Repeat on the other side.

4. With a third stroke, combine the lines. 

5. Use a lip brush to smudge the line so it’s not too harsh.  (I’ve not done this.)

6. For fuller lips, use a lip plumper such as DuWop Lip Venom before applying lip liner.  Then take the lip liner right to the edge of the lip line and smudge it with your fingertip, just over the edge.  (I have not tried this either.  And after June’s post on the lip plumpers, I don’t think I’ll go there.  But do with this information as you will.)

The lip liner I have is the Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil by MAKE UP FOR EVER in
Medium Natural Beige 3C.  I love it and plan to buy a replacement when this sample runs out.

For my every-day natural look, I top the lip liner with my favorite moist Lancome lipstick, Le Rouge Absolu in Rose Crystal. 

At the moment I don’t have a nighttime going-out look that I’m crazy about.  I often play up my eyes and use the same daytime lip routine.  I do plan to seek out a nice bold lip color for nighttime, though.  I’ll keep you posted on that.

Do you have a lip liner you love?  Any tips for beautiful lips?  Share!