Sure, lip liners were once the province of '90s teens and J.Lo, but thanks to Kylizzle and the Kardashian clan (new band name, anyone?) liners are back in a big way—and they're really sorry for wrecking your prom photo. "This season is all about faking big, natural-looking lips without any of the harsh lines," says makeup artist Patrick Ta. Now what's another word for faking a shape with the help of makeup? Oh right, contouring. But this technique isn't just a matter of coloring outside the lines. Here, three ways to boost the size and shape of your lips without looking like a clown.
For full, matte nude lips:
Otherwise known as the Kylie Jenner Effect (minus the injections). First, swipe on a layer of lip balm (above left), then fill in your whole mouth with a liner that matches your natural lip color (above right), like Marc Jacobs Poutliner Longwear, which comes in an array of neutral colors and which Ta uses on Kim Kardashian. If you're especially fair-skinned, like our model, try__M.A.C. Lip Pencil Naked Liner,__ which is a light tan with pink undertones, so it won't appear dark against pale skin. For a supermatte look, dab lips with an oil-blotting sheet to lift excess moisture from the lip balm.
For pouty lips:
This one does require a few steps and products, but the full, plump finish is worth the added minute of work. First, choose a liner two shades darker than your lipstick and draw an m along the top of your lip, another m in the center of your bottom lip, and a sideways v on the outer corners of your mouth (above left). Apply your lipstick (we liked the nude look, so we used M.A.C. Crème D'Nude lipstick), then tap a cream highlighter on your Cupid's bow and sweep some bronzer beneath your lower lip (above right). The shadow underneath your lip and the brightness on your Cupid's bow will give the illusion of fuller lips.
For plump-all-over lips:
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Trace the edges of your lips with a sharp pencil that's one shade darker than your lipstick, smudge the lines a bit with your fingers to soften (above left), then apply your lip color. Next, fill in the middle of your lips with a liner one shade lighter than the lipstick, so it looks like a spotlight on your bottom lip. Blend with your finger to soften.
For some extra inspo, check out our favorite celebrities' beauty tips:
