Are you dying to achieve a perfect pout? Here are some tips to help you create a lip that looks fabulous and wears well throughout the day or evening!

Exfoliate

Exfoliating your lips will remove any dead or dry skin, making them the perfect surface for lip products to adhere to. Mixing organic coconut oil with raw sugar makes a quick and easy lip scrub. Simply apply it to your lips in a circular motion, then gently wipe it away with a damp cloth.

Moisturize

Moisturizing your lips prior to applying lip products will give you a smoother, more hydrated surface to work with. It will also prevent your lips from feeling super dehydrated as the day or evening goes on.

Prime

There are a number of amazing primers out there, which are meant to help your lippies stay budge-proof and bright. MAC’s Prep + Prime Lip is an effective colorless ones.

Line & Fill

Lining and filling your lips with a complementary lip pencil will prevent your lipstick from feathering or bleeding, while helping it to maintain a more even appearance as it wears. When filling in your lips it’s easiest to shade them in using the side of the pencil rather than drawing on them with the point, as shown here using MAC Magenta lip pencil.

Line the Perimeter

If you struggle with bleeding and feathering, using a colorless lip pencil to line the outer perimeter of your lips can be extremely effective—such as Urban Decay Ozone. This creates a barrier, preventing lipstick from straying from your lips. 

Apply Lipstick

Now that you’ve fully prepped your lips, apply your lipstick. Using a lip brush will enable you to apply even, thin coats, which will help you to build the color and create longer wear-time. MAC RiRi Boy was used here.

Gloss

If you’re using a matte lipstick and wish to maintain a matte look, skip this step. Otherwise, apply a layer of gloss to your look. This will give you an ultra-smooth, glossy finish while also helping to promote the longevity of your lip look! Butter LONDON Lippy in Frilly Knickers was used.

The Finished Look

Now that you’ve created the perfect, long-wearing lip look you’re ready to take on whatever the day (or evening) throws your way without worrying about your pout!

See more by Doria Murphy on her blog:

www.beautypopstop.com 

If you follow makeup trends you’ve probably noticed that orange is one of the hottest cosmetic colors this spring/summer season. While many color-enthusiasts love working with this fun, eye-catching shade, there are also many out there wondering—is it wearable for me? Personally, I think it is! Whether you’re a little color-shy or simply concerned it won’t work well on your skin tone, I think almost any color can be made wearable through proper application and the right complementary products and colors. I’ve created this “wearable” orange eye look to help anyone that wants to get their feet wet so to speak when it comes to wearing orange on their eyes. In my opinion, if you couple a seemingly “un-wearable” color with neutral, complementary shades you can often make almost any color work for you!

What you’ll need (I’ve included what I used in parentheses): Orange eyeshadow (mixed MAC Pink Opal with Fyrinnae Electro-Koi Medium Chocolate Brown matte eyeshadow (MAC Texture) Dark Brown matte eyeshadow (Make Up For Ever #17) Light Taupe matte eyeshadow (Inglot #358) Ivory eyeshadow (Inglot #395) Black eyeliner (Mirenesse Inside Out 27HR Kohl in Osiris) False lashes and/or Mascara (Faux lashes in Colette and Revlon Grow Luscious mascara in Blackest Black).

I always recommend starting out with a clean, moisturized, and primed eye. I personally like Benefit Stay Don’t Stray for many of the daily eye looks I create unless I’m working with loose pigments, but use whatever works best for you.

Step 1: Pat orange shadow on 2/3 of your upper lid working from the inner corner out. Sweep a little under the inner lower corner as well.

Step 2: Create a “C” shape with a medium chocolate brown shadow that frames the orange shadow by starting at the outer corner of your upper lid with a sweeping motion up and around the crease towards the inner corner.

Step 3: Use a dark brown shadow to darken the outer “V” of your upper lid and create more depth. With a light hand, sweep this shade under your lower lashline as well.

Step 4: Using a super light brown or light taupe, blend out the edges of the crease color up towards your orbital bone. Sheer it out as you blend upwards towards your brow.

Step 5: Using a cream or ivory colored eyeshadow, highlight right below your brow and the inner corner of your eye with a light hand.

Step 6: Make sure you blend in the ivory eyeshadow so it catches the light, but doesn’t create a stark contrast.

Step 7: Tight-line or line your upper lashline in a manner that best defines your eye and line your lower lashline.

Step 8: Curl your upper lashes and apply mascara and/or falsies. Remember to apply mascara to your lower lashes as well.

Voila! A wearable orange eye look! If this is your first time working with orange eyeshadow don’t worry if you’re not completely thrilled with your first attempt! Practice makes perfect and half of perfecting how to apply shadow in general to your eye is simply doing it over and over. Good luck!

By Doria Murphy Freelance Makeup Artist and Beauty Blogger at BeautyPopStop.com Beauty Blog