Lip Locked (Part Deux)

Penny here!
For some reason after I post something I remember six other things I should have included in my write up. smh. LOL!

So in my last post Penny encouraged folks to 'update' their lip look and be sure that they were choosing the right liner, and blending their lip liner correctly.  Most everyone has natrual color to their lips; look closely at yours when shopping for a brown or nude lip liner. Here are the important things to remember:

1. Blend your lip liner by pressing your lips together and moving them back and forth, or use your finger to lightly smudge the line inward. 
2. Do not overline your lips. Search Google and Youtube for techniques on how to line your lips (especially if you want them to appear fuller).
3. Find a lip liner color that matches your natural lip color or your lipstick  
4. Find a color liner that compliments your lipstick or gloss (not one that directly contrasts it)
5. To get the most out of your lip color one trick the pros use is to dab a little foundation or concealer on your lips to diffuse your natural lip color and let the true color of your liner and lipstick show through. This is especially good for the "nude lips" look. NOTE: Try not to do this every day as it could dry out your lips. M.A.C. used to have a product called Lip Erase, not sure if its still available.

Just to be clear, Penny's not saying that you can't wear dark brown lip liner with something other than brown lipstick or gloss. I'm saying if you do...if there is a look you're going for...if your natural lip color is close to dark brown...then please, please, please blend the heck out of  your lip liner so that the lines are diffused and your lips don't enter the room before you do! LOL! This also applies to purple liner with pink lipstick, etc. Lip liner should be blended into the lipstick. Lip liner can also help your lipstick color to last longer if you fill in your lips entirely with a matching color lip liner. If your comfort zone only allows you to use dark liner, then try a lipstick or lipgloss shade that compliments the darker liner instead of one that is in direct contrast with it. 

Back in the day the look was M.A.C's Chestnut liner with popular shades like  Oh Baby, Chai, or Explicit.  Rupaul rocked the look as late as 2008...but he/she is Rupaul after all! LOL! To update the look, try M.A.C liner in Cork or Oak, and Tinted Lipglass in C-Thru, Spite, or Revealing. Cork also looks great with Hug Me and Honeylove lipsticks. Penny also noticed that the more modern take on this duo usually includes a creamy, or lustre formula lip color or high gloss...instead of a 'frost' formula. (read full story...)

I really liked the models look in this Maybelline ad (see pic) for their Color Sensational Lipstick in 'Nearly There.' I was hoping to re-create a similar look when I first tried M.A.C's Viva Glam Gaga 2 (a light neutral beige). I tried it with a nude liner but it didn't look right. I call it my 'dead lips' when a color is too pale; my corpse look. LOL!  It's not an easy color to work with. The second time I tried it with my Cork liner and viola! Fabulous. Check out this blogger, a beautiful freelance make-up artist wearing Cork lip liner and Viva Glam Gaga 2 lipstick and lipglass. Beautiful. http://weshouldmakeup.blogspot.com/2011/02/viva-glam-gaga-2.html    

For berry, mauve, or rosy lip colors try a plum liner instead of a brown to kick things up a notch. For pink, peachy colors try a nude, pink, peach or copper color liner. Learn the proper technique as well. It all depends on the look you want to achieve. The bottom line is that you have to find a look that you're comfortable with. But you also don't want to age yourself with something outdated.

Penny's Picks (Lip Liner):

• M.A.C Lip Liner in Subculture (for fair skin tones); in Spice (for medium-fair tones), in Stripdown (for medium-dark); Chestnut (for darker tones). ($13, M.A.C. Store, Macy's)
• Sephora Collection Nano Lip Liner ($5, Sephora)
• Make Up Forever Aqua Waterproof Lip Liner ($17, Sephora)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil ($18, Sephora, ULTA)
• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipliner ($5, Target)
• Bare Escentuals 100% Natural Lipliner ($11, Sephora, ULTA)

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SUNBURNED Lips?

As it is summer time for most of you I'd also like to remind all to use SUNSCREEN on your lips. I use Blistex Medicated Lip Balm w/SPF 15 during the day (Aquaphor lip treatment @ night). Penny has seen and talked to so many people who don't even think about their lips when laying out in the summer sun. Your lips are skin, just like the rest of the body and should be protected. As a matter of fact, they are often times more sensitive than other body parts. Besides, dry, peeling, painful lips are not a 'sexy look' on anyone. (Penny's making a face...umm hmmm).  And to all you make-up mavens, this does not mean you can't wear a beautiful lipstick or gloss while you're out there getting golden.  Simply choose a lipstick or gloss with SPF.  It's better than not protecting your lips from UVA/UVB rays at all. 

Almost everyday I'm rocking my Smashbox Limitless Longwear Lipgloss w/ SPF 15 in "24/7" (a beautiful sheer berry color). I also love and wear the Smashbox color called "Endless" (a plum color).  These glosses have the right of color and good staying power. With both of these I use Maybelline's Color Sensational Lip Liner in Plum (#45).

Penny's Picks (SPF Lipsticks/glosses):

• Smashbox Limitless Longwear Lipgloss w/ SPF 15; available in 6 shades ($21, Sephora, ULTA)
• Clinique High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15; available in 12 shades ($14.50, Bloomingdales, Sephora.com)
• Tarte 24/7 Natural Lip Sheer SPF 15; available in 12 shades $16, Sephora)
• Korres (Natural) Mango Butter Lipstick SPF 10; available in 7 shades ($18, Sephora)
• Bobbi Brown Treatment Lip Shine SPF 15; available in 12 shades ($22, Bloomingdales, Sephora.com)
• Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15; available in 18 shades ($14, Bloomingdales, Sephora.com)

Be blessed. Be beautiful.
P