I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever.

I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever.

      My biggest challenge with my makeup routine has always been my lips, primarily due to my overbite. I've never had a good relationship with lipstick—it tends to transfer onto my front teeth—so I typically opt for simple, sheer lip styles. However, everything changed recently with the introduction of viral lip-stain liner pens. They’ve completely transformed my approach, allowing me to add both color and definition to my lips without worrying about transfer. They last all day, and if necessary, I can easily reapply a tinted lip balm or lip oil.

      You might think that lip contouring is merely about outlining your lips, but there's much more to it. Much like permanent lip blushing, which enhances definition and fullness, lip contouring operates on the same principle but is temporary and washes away at the end of the day. Since I discovered lip contouring, I’ve learned that I can create the illusion of fuller lips—without any needles or tattoos.

      To gain further insights, I consulted two industry experts: makeup artist Lisa Eldridge, known for her impeccable lip looks, and BareMinerals education manager Maria Xavier-Jackson. They provided their top tips for mastering lip contouring and shared the products that make it easy.

      What is Lip Contouring? Eldridge describes lip contouring as “selecting shades and employing techniques that sculpt and shape the lips to create beautiful, natural-looking volume and dimension.” Xavier-Jackson adds that it is “an optical illusion, utilizing lighter and darker shades to make the lips appear fuller and more defined.”

      How to Lip Contour To contour your lips, you’ll need two similar shades of lip liner and lip product. Choose a darker liner and a lighter product to fill your lips to create dimension. For simplicity, Eldridge has outlined her step-by-step method for lip contouring with a pencil liner below.

      Step 1: Line Your Lips Eldridge recommends starting by “holding the pencil lightly, avoiding too much pressure. Use circular movements, beginning at the center of the cupid’s bow, and softly buff the shade around the outer edge of your lip shape rather than drawing a direct line. The side of the pencil can be used for gentle shading." For the lower lip, smile gently while keeping your lips together to help you slightly overdraw without overdoing it.

      Step 2: Fill Your Lips Now it’s time for the sculpting part. Eldridge explains that this “is akin to pencil drawing. Shade the corners and edges with your pencil, creating a bold edge on the outer corners and softening it towards the center.” Xavier-Jackson suggests you can add extra definition to specific areas at this point. For instance, make the 'v' of the cupid's bow more defined to enhance prominence and fullness. Alternatively, for a fuller bottom lip, you can overline the center more than the outer edges.

      Step 3: Add Lipstick, Tinted Balm or Oil "To complete the look, apply your lipstick straight to the center of the lips. This is how I create a perfect, sculpted lip with volume and dimension that still appears natural,” says Eldridge. Personally, I prefer using a tinted lip gloss, balm, or oil over lipstick, as the glossy finish makes my lips appear plumper and juicier.

      Shop the Best Products for Lip Contouring

      BEST VALUE

      Rimmel

      Lip Ink Pen Lip Stain

      This budget-friendly product from Rimmel offers 8 shades and features a tip that allows for both lining and filling. Tests show it feels five times lighter than traditional lipstick.

      BEST FOR SHINE

      These tinted lip balms come in various core and limited edition shades. They nourish and hydrate, providing a high-shine finish. Enriched with peptides to plump lips and shea butter for conditioning, the formula is silky smooth and helps to fill fine lines.

      BEST FOR TINT

      These are among my favorite lip oils, beautifully tinted to enhance natural lip tones. Comprising a blend of rose oil, hazelnut oil, and jojoba oil, they nourish, hydrate, and strengthen the skin barrier. Non-sticky and ultra-glossy.

      BEST FOR APPLICATION

      Yves Saint Laurent

      Loveshine Lipstick

      These tinted oil-lipstick hybrids are easy to apply, gliding on effortlessly. They contain fig pulp and six nourishing oils for hydration, conditioning, and moisturization, available in 14 shades.

      BEST FOR BEGINNERS

      Kylie Cosmetics

      Glossy Lip Kit

      For those who prefer a traditional pencil liner for lining and contouring, the Kylie Cosmetics Glowy Lips Kits are perfect, providing a lip liner and matching gloss for a high-shine finish and 12 hours of hydration.

      BEST VEGAN PRODUCT

      Lisa Eldridge Beauty

      Sculpt and Shade Lip Pencil

      Offered in ten shades, this soft pencil is straightforward to use. Its creamy consistency allows for effortless blending and prevents drying out the lips. It delivers beautiful, pigmented color that

I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever. I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever. I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever. I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever. I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever. I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever. I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever. I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever. I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever.

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I seldom used to apply lipstick until I discovered this expert trick—now, my lips have appeared fuller than ever.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm referring to lip contouring. Keep reading to learn what it is, how to contour your lips, and pick up some useful tips from professionals.