Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesUnless you're a die-hard lip liner fan, you're probably unaware that there's been a huge upgrade in the way they're created, which made everything about lips so much easier (and more exciting).
"In the past, lip liner was always a must mostly due to the lack of pigment in lipsticks (especially during the sheer lipstick and lip gloss phase we went through in the early to mid-2000's)," stated celebrity makeup artist Suzie Kim. Like the base coat of a nail polish, lip liner "basically kept the lip color from feathering out and also locked the color in longer."
Now, you have access to so many great pigmented lipsticks that lip liners have switched gear into being used solely to help emphasize shape. With an application so stylized, you're bound to make a mistake or two along the way. Read on to learn more from Suzie about a common lip liner myth you've believed all this time, how to correct it and one important pro tip.
What is the most common mistake the general public makes when applying lip liner? "I think the most awkward look I've seen is when the overdrawn lip liner is a lot darker than the lipstick shade."
What's the solution for that? When choosing a lip liner, "try to pick a color as close to your lipstick shade as possible or slightly darker for contour effect."
What's one insider tip you can let everyone in on? "When it comes to all the new long-lasting lip liners (which I absolutely love and use all the time), you have to make sure you're not just lining your lips," said Suzie. "Fill them in by brushing lip liner all over the lips as well. Because these liners have such great staying power, I noticed whenever my clients' lipstick colors would wipe away, they'd be left with a strong line from these heavy duty lip liners. You can get a great soft matte lip look if you just top that off with a great lip balm."
"My current faves are La Mer Lip Balm and Herban Body Care Lip Butter.
These both give a nice soft matte finish without smudging off the lip colors," noted the makeup artist.
And lastly, what are your favorite products (so we can all use them, too)? "My current go-to brands are Hourglass Panoramic Long Wear Lip Liner, Makeup Forever Aqua Lip Liner, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil, and NYX Retractable Lip Liner. These have the best creamy and smooth textures with great staying power!"
She added, "the color I've been using the most right now has been the Makeup Forever Aqua Lip Liner in 2C. It's a great natural rosy color that isn't too overwhelming, so it's perfect for every day wear."