Makeup School: Day 5 - Lips

We're so close to doing a full face! Just lips and cheeks left. This was one of the more enjoyable lessons and each one of us walked out of there with gorgeous, daring red lippies! As high maintenance as those are, this is a look that radiates confidence, passion and drop dead sexiness.

But before all that, we all had to determine lip shapes and the best correction techniques. While lips come in all shapes and sizes, here's a quick generalisation:

Balanced
As the name says, both lips are evenly thick, balanced, and this is the lip 'ideal'.

Thin
Lips like these could benefit from some brighter colours and more gloss to really highlight the pout.

Lip shapes & corrections

Uneven
Lipliners will be your best friend. Always line just inside or just outside the lips to provide some subtle adjustments. Coupled with some concealer, this can be our little secret. ^.~

Wide
While most people love the full pout, there may be times that call for focus to be shifted off the lips. In this case, carefully stroke lipliner just inside the natural lip line and fill with a matte colour.

Downturned
I personally think these lips are utterly sexy in a pouty, petulant way. But as girls are pretty fickle with wanting the opposite to how we look, the downturned corners can be eased by filling in the bottom outer corners of the lips, just outside the natural lip line.

Lip products are also available in so many types, styles and colours that I could stand in front of a display stand for an hour just testing and deciding on which ones I like enough to buy (L'Oreal, I'm looking at you). In (approximate) order of durability, they are:

• Lip liner
• Lip tint
• Lipstick
• Lip lacquer
• Lip gloss

I don't know how many times I've heard people say to always use lip liner. Not only does it prevent lipstick feathering, but can be worn alone or under lipstick, and will last all day due to its high wax content!

Tip: To make lipstick last, remember to blot and reapply. Repeat this least three times and I swear that baby won't budge for hours of normal wear. Meanwhile, gloss will probably only last you about 15-30 minutes. Tops.

And while we're on the topic of red lips, here's an upcoming Australia Day hot summer beach look I whipped up as practice. Unfortunately the weather proves to be decidedly contrary with relentless, freezing rain for the past week. But regardless, ladies, don't forget that waterproof mascara!

xxEva