Did you know that applying an incorrect lipstick color, heavy lip liner, or lips that have been “drawn on” are common makeup mistakes that will devastate your facial appeal? A lot of women, unsure of how to wear lipstick, miss that step completely, thereby leaving makeup appearing unbalanced.

Beautiful lips are possible to achieve. They start with achieving an ideal lip line. You can have lips that look like a makeup artist applied the lipstick simply by following a few important steps.

• Ensure you apply foundation continuing over your lips to provide a base for lip liner and lipstick.

• Making sure you keep your mouth closed trace a fine line around the lips with a sharp pencil. A blunt pencil will make blending more difficult. Start at the v of the top lip and move outward to lip corners by making short strokes (rest your hand on your chin for better control). After you have penciled in the top lip, begin from the middle of the bottom lip and move outward also. Follow the natural lip line.

• In order to have alluring lips that appear larger follow the outer edge of the natural lip line making sure not to go over the natural lip line. To make lips look smaller follow the inside of the natural lip line.

• Your lipstick remains longer if the whole lip is filled in with lip liner before lipstick is applied. If you decide to use this technique, be aware that darker lip liner will darken the look of your lipstick. And, if you are going for a light look use a light lip liner.

• After your lips are filled in, apply lipstick with a lipstick brush (using a lip brush will give you more control). When lipstick has been applied, with lips closed, lay a tissue across both lips to blot.

Fantastic; there you go into the world showing perfect lips. Continue with touch ups during the day. If you are not used to wearing lipstick, it will probably take awhile to get used to having your lips done and not “eating” the lipstick. The plus to having nice lips, aside from the obvious, is you will never be plagued with dry lips again and over time your lips will become softer. What more reason do you need to take care of your lips.

Lipgloss and lipstick, in numerous formats, has existed for around 5000 years. Lipstick is the simplest method to apply an instant splash of color. It provides focus to your face. The main problem though, is that there is no perfect colour that suits everyone. There are no perfect shades, brands or formulas but these guidelines can help any woman to express her mood or personality as she chooses the lipstick that is right for her.

Tip One - About Sheer lipsticks: These are more universal than opaque lipsticks and are more flattering as they allow your own lip colour to be seen underneath. They do not last as long as some other formulas although they are very moisturising and easy to wear. A happy medium can be found in the cream lipsticks but as these are more opaque you will find yourself having to be more discerning when choosing your colours.

Tip Two - About Shimmer lipsticks: These survive far longer than sheer formulations. They flatter the wearer of any age, unlike the shimmery eye shadows or blushers. Due to the light reflecting qualities, lips will look fuller but be warned that shimmer formulations look ghastly on dry or chapped lips.

Tip Three - About Matte lipsticks: Now, these formulas last far longer than any other and are a good selection to make bold statements with. The main problem with this type of lipstick is that they dry the lips out quite quickly and as such should not really be worn if you have dry or chapped lips already.

By far the most popular applicators are the types that come in a stick in bullet shaped holders. As lips are quite sensitive to the sun, the lipstick formulations that have built-in sunscreens are very useful. Lip-gloss can be used to add an attractive gleam to your lips when used on its own, or to catch the light if applied over your normal lipstick.

In the event you wish to mark an outline to your lips prior to applying lipstick, then a lip liner is the best method (also assists to prevent ‘bleeding’) and is designed for just this purpose. For a darker matte effect just apply a lip liner over the whole of your lip area. A word of caution if you do decide to use this method though is that you may need to apply a lip salve over the top to avoid drying out your lips.

Selecting a Colour for You:

Numerous traditions abound that help in the selection of lipstick colours. Some of these say that you should choose rich, deep colours such as burgundy or plum reds in winter and lighter, more pastel tones such as pinks or lavenders in spring. Summer months herald the need for sheer or glossy formulations and autumn is the time for brown-based earthy colours. All this said, lipsticks are used as an expression of yourself so you don’t have to follow tradition if you don’t want to – go ahead and experiment.

About Colour Guidelines:

Those people who have a fair complexion will find that a small amount of colour will go a long way. Over the top, bright colours will look a mess so stick to nudes, beige tones, light corals or light pinks. Sheer formulas prove to be the most flattering here.

On the other hand people with complexions with medium colours are best suited to brown based mauves or sheer berry types of coloured lipsticks in a cream formula.

People possessing whitish complexions are better suited to reds, especially those with golden undertones rather than blue. In addition pink shimmers can look good too with both colour schemes working well in almost any formula.

Ideal colours to use for your lipstick if your complexion is darker are rich and deep shades such as burgundy, chocolate or plum which will look great in any formula.

Applying Lipstick:

Applying moisturiser over your lips before applying the lipstick will usually ensure that the best end result is achieved. The lip surface should then be primed with a foundation making sure that every tiny crack and crevice is covered. A make-up sponge is the best way to accomplish this.

The next step is, using your normal face powder, apply a light dusting on top of the foundation, which will help your lipstick stay in place for longer.

Then draw an outline around your lips using a lip pencil, which has been warmed slightly in the palm of your hand. You may find that steadying your hand by resting your elbow on a firm, flat surface helps when doing this.

Dont forget that the Cupid’s bow on the upper lip should be your starting point when drawing your lip outline, followed by neatly outlining your lower lip.

Finally you should finish off the edges of the outline on your upper lip and then fill in the outlined areas with lipstick, preferably using a lip brush for accuracy, as you will need to make sure that every tiny crevice is covered. Brush the colour into the corners of your lips by opening your mouth, which will expose the corners for easy reach.

A great idea to make your lipstick last longer and give your lips an attractive, semi-matte finish, you should blot over the surface gently with a tissue.

Finally Some Tips and Tricks:

In the event there is a difference in proportion or volume to your mouth, then the upper lip will normally appear to be thinner than the bottom one. The bottom lip is generally considered to be the point of reference when trying to make sure the contours of both lips are balanced therefore outlining of the upper lip must be done. With this in mind it should be said that when you pencil out the upper lip, make sure that it equals in proportion, from the pointed side of the Cupid’s bow to the centre slit of the mouth, the width of the bottom lip. The shape you give to your Cupid’s bow is what expresses your mood or personality at the time. If you make it more rounded then you will give a fuller, more sensual smile while on the other hand a pointed, more angular one shows a confident, outgoing personality.

Thousands of years ago lipstick was used – in fact in ancient Egypt, Cleopatra had her slaves crush up beetles. Then she used them to colour her lips deep red. Yuk…how disgusting!

However only during the early part of the 20th century did the popularity of lipstick really explode, mainly due to the worldwide expansion of Hollywood movies. It used to be much more associated with sinners, prostitutes and other outcasts in society – women who were trying to ‘lure’ and ‘tempt’ men. During the witch trials of the 18th century, some women were even accused of being witches because they had supposedly used lipstick to fool men into thinking they were attractive and marrying them.

Since those early days the average woman has come to view lipstick as an essential of life that has been around since the pyramids were built. Most women say they feel naked without it. But why wear it? When you think about it, painting your lips red is a pretty strange thing to do, especially considering that they’re already a pinkish shade of red anyway. The answer is that lipstick artificially reproduces the colour change that takes place in women’s lips during sex, which makes them appear more sexual in everyday life.

Today’s lipstick is manufactured mainly from wax (beeswax or wax from plants and trees), and various oils (olive oil, castor oil). The colour generally comes from mixing different chemical dyes, although lipstick made from natural dyes is also available.

Amazingly, lipstick is amongst the most commonly-used kinds of makeup because it is relatively cheap. Much to the annoyance of girls who enjoy changing color & sheen, one tube lasts a very long time. No doubt for that reason, many women have a whole selection of makeup, chosen to match their various outfits as well as their skin tone. If you want to spend a little extra, there are more expensive kinds of lipstick available, such as extra-shiny ones and ones that won’t come off on shirts or other people’s faces.

Undoubtedly using a wrong color lipstick, heavy lip liner and lips that have been “drawn on” are major makeup errors that will ruin your overall look. Numerous women of all ages unsure of how to wear lipstick, miss that step completley leaving makeup appearing to be unbalanced.

Beautiful lips are attainable and start with an ideal lip line. Wouldn’t you like to have lips that look like a makeup artist did them? Well you can by following the following tips:

• 1. Continue applying foundation over the lips to provide a base for lip liner and lipstick.

• 2. With your mouth closed trace a fine line around the lips with a sharp pencil. A blunt pencil will make blending more difficult. Start at the v of the top lip and move outward to lip corners by making short strokes (rest your hand on your chin for better control). After you have penciled in the top lip, begin from the middle of the bottom lip and move outward also. Follow the natural lip line.

• 3. If you desire to enhance your lips to appear larger follow the outer edge of the natural lip line making sure not to go over the natural lip line.

• 4. You will discover that lipstick stayson longer if the whole lip is filled in with lip liner before lipstick is applied. If you decide to use this technique, be aware that darker lip liner will darken the look of your lipstick. And, if you are going for a light look use a light lip liner.

• 5. After your lips are filled in, apply lipstick with a lipstick brush (using a lip brush will give you more control). When lipstick has been applied, with lips closed, lay a tissue across both lips to blot.

Gorgeous, you are ready to go, with perfect lips. Continue with touch ups during the day. If you are not used to wearing lipstick, it will probably take awhile to get used to having your lips done and not “eating” the lipstick. The plus to having nice lips, aside from the obvious, is you will never be plagued with dry lips again an over time they become softer. That’s certainly reason enough to take care of your lips.

Most women agree that lipstick or lipgloss is a fashion accessory they just can’t do without. Undoubtedly, lipstick has been the one cosmetic staple that most women have relied on.

Many women will put on lipstick before anything else. When in a hurry many women forego mascara or blush and reach for their lipstick.

Even though the word “lipstick”/”lipgloss” means a cosmetic that is applied to the lips, there are several different types of lipsticks available for purchase. Each woman has her own unique preference when it comes to the different types of lipsticks and which one suits her best.

The most common ingredient found in many different types of lipsticks is a moisturizer. A moisturizer is required as lips can become dried out because of the weather or the lack of humidity in a building. Incorporating a moistening agent into lipstick allows the woman to wear it all day without worry that her lips will become dry or chapped.

An additional essential ingredient in many different types of lipsticks is sunscreen. The sun’s rays can cause just as much damage to lips as to the skin. Therefore it’s very important when browsing the cosmetics aisle to choose lipstick that has a sun screen in it. It doesn’t change the appearance or feel of the lipstick at all.

The various types of lipsticks are marketed in many assorted colors. Some women love a bold look and for them a bright or dark red is a good choice. For other women they are looking for lipstick that is more demure. In this case they’ll want to concentrate on a lipstick that is a pale shade, perhaps pink or coral.

A wonderful feature of lipstick/lipgloss is that you can change your shade of lipstick depending on the event or your mood. If you are attending a gala dinner you’ll want to choose a more striking lipstick that complements your outfit choice. If you are heading to the beach for a day of rest and relaxation a more subtle shade of lipstick would be most appropriate.

Along with the unending color choice in lipstick, the range of brands of lipstick to choose from is also seemingly endless.

The major cosmetic companies acknowledge the necessity of lipstick in their customer’s lives. They want to improve their lipstick products so that they are longer lasting and the colors stay more vibrant.

Many lipstick brands now offer all day wear. As a result when lipstick is applied once in the morning, it is intended to stay fresh throughout the day. Many of these types of lipstick claim that the product wouldn’t smudge off even if the woman is drinking or eating.

Without doubt for the very busy 21st century woman who wishes to look her best this type of lipstick is perfect. She chooses the shade that best matches her look for the day. She applies it before leaving home and can work all day without worrying about reapplication.

Buying lipstick is as simple as visiting your local cosmetics counter. In most major department stores the cosmetic counter is staffed with a beauty specialist. This person will be able to help you when you are buying lipstick.

These beauty specialists have training in cosmetology and understand what shades of lipstick complement what skin tones the best. They’ll choose a few lipsticks for you to consider. In most stores there are lipstick testers which allow the customer the chance to apply a small dab of lipstick on their wrist to check for color.
From the long ago days of Cleopatra to the 21st century, lipstick has proved fun to wear and it can brighten up a woman’s mood instantly. When choosing lipstick it’s wise to pick a few different shades that reflect your different moods.