The Perfect Pout - Tips and Tricks for Fabulous Lips!

by Bec 10:09 AM 3 comments balm exfoliate gloss lip liner lipgloss lips lipstick makeup makeup and glow makeup artists pawpaw ointment prep rosebud salve

The reason you read a blog by a makeup artist is because you want the tips and tricks right? Well, here you go...

You want to know what the big secret to an amazing pout is? Lip prep and care. Do you really think that lips like, oh I don't know, Rosie Huntington Whiteley's, don't take constant work? Not hard work mind you, but constantly exfoliating and using a moisturising balm.

I love Lucas Pawpaw Ointment. Not only is it an amazing product that is used by makeup artists and consumers worldwide, it was created and continues to be made a few suburbs away from where I live here in Brisbane which makes it a true local success story. I use this on shoots and for weddings when I come across a client with extremely dry and flakey lips. You can also easily do this at home. I apply it liberally before I do anything else so it has time to work it's magic. It's thick, very thick. I also always carry soft disposable toothbrushes in my kit, however a clean mascara wand will also do in a pinch. Once I've let the lips soften (usually around half an hour), I will wipe the ointment off and gently scrub the flakey bits of skin away. Ta-da! Baby soft lips.

I also love Rosebud Perfume Co's Smith's Rosebud Salve. This is my holy grail lip product. I use it on myself, I am known for carrying around additional tubes and tins and giving them away to people to convert them. It's an amazing, magic product. It's also not that easy to get a hold of here in Australia unless you want to pay $30 a tin. Unless you have connections like I do. Want to know where I buy mine? Right here. Want the tube? Try this one instead. And for $10! Bargain.

 

So what comes after lip prep? Liner. Looks great under lipstick or just a gloss, it adds a touch of colour to your lip and adds to the longevity of your lip product. Another thing that I love about liners is that you have have one lipstick and 4 different coloured liners - layer those bad boys and it's like having 4 more shades which is super helpful where you find that elusive PERFECT lipstick shade! It means that it might be a medium plum colour but layered over a deeper red liner, you've added depth to the colour and created the perfect nighttime vampy colour. Want to make that same colour work appropriate? Pair it with a nude liner or a light pink. Want to make it bright? Try it over a hot pink. Experiment! That's the exciting part of makeup - it washes off, so you can go nuts!

Another liner tip I have is a method that I find works really well for me. When I first started to use liner I would painstakingly try to colour in the whole lip. Not anymore. I line the lips (fairly roughly unless it's a red or hot pink because then it's noticeable), colour in the middle section then use my ring finger to blend out the colour. You get even distribution, and the heat from your finger softens the wax in the liner and makes it easier to move around. You don't get strong, harsh lip lines either which I find can often really harden an overall makeup look. Have a cotton tip dipped in remover on standby for any times you get a little too enthusiastic and go outside the lip line, but accuracy will come with practice.

Then apply your lip colour of choice. You may like to apply it from the tube, you may like to use a brush. Sometimes I use my fingers to pat it on. Don't worry, I use HEAPS of hand sanitiser while I'm working! Always have that cotton tip dipped in remover nearby to remove any excess product. Don't stress if you lips look uneven. Every ones lips actually are uneven. You just need to play until you learn what corrective method works better for you.

So there you have it, my tips and tricks to the perfect pout. I'm sure there's more and I'll add them as I think of them. Do you guys have any to share?

That's it from me today. I'm so excited to share some new products with you from one of my favourite stores over the next few weeks. It took all my restraint to not stick my brushes straight into the eye shadows before I photographed them!

Be awesome to each other.