Achieve the perfect pout: A step-by-step guide on applying lip liner

Crafting a flawless pout requires more than just the right color; it also demands precision and technique. Learn how to achieve perfectly defined, full lips with the step-by-step guide below.

Create the right foundation

To ensure your lip liner glides on with ease, it's important to prep your canvas.

Before you pick up a lip liner like Quickliner for Lips , prep your lips with a grainy scrub like the 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula. Perfect for all skin types, this will slough off any flakes or rough skin and allow your lip liner to glide on smoothly.

Once your lips are exfoliated, it's time to add a lip moisturizer like the Moisture Surge Lip Hydro Plump Treatment, which delivers instant hydration. Make sure to blot your lips well after application so the balm doesn't interfere with the lip liner wear.

Determine your volume needs

Looking to turn up or down the volume or enhance the shape of your lips? Always start with the "Dot-dot-dash" method: Draw a dot at each peak of your upper lip and a dash along the bottom of your lower lip. Then, connect the lines according to whether you're looking for more or less volume.

Here's a breakdown according to the look you'd like to achieve:

• Increase volume: Work upwards with your lip liner to create a natural rounded edge and fuller look. For more volume in your top lip, work from the corner of your mouth upward toward your Cupid's bow. To add volume in your bottom lip, work from the center toward the corners.




• Decrease volume: To reduce volume in the top lip, pull down from your Cupid's bow towards the outer corner. To decrease volume in your bottom lip, pull from the corner to center. This can be done differently for each quadrant of your mouth, depending on the type of symmetry you have.




• Keep your lips balanced: While looking in a mirror, tilt your head back to see if your top lip is balanced, and tilt your chin down to check your bottom lip. Make note of which side needs to be enhanced or reduced.

You're now ready to move forward with your favorite lip style. Here are three different looks for perfectly defined lips.

1. Classic lip

The classic lip style enhances the natural shape of your lips for a polished, perfectly balanced look.

Step 1. Draw a dot at each peak of your upper lip and a dash along the bottom of lower lip.

Step 2. Connect the dots and dash together, using gentle strokes from the outside in.

Step 3. Apply your lip color to the center of upper lip following the lip pencil and do the same to the center of the lower lip.

Step 4. Finish by applying color from the outer corners to the heart of your upper lip, and then from the outer corners to the center of the lower lip.

2. Ombré lip

The ombré lip plays with varying shades of color to add depth, fullness and glam to your makeup look.

Step 1. Apply a concealer like Even Better All Over Concealer around your lip area to help perfect your look.

Step 2. Using a dark or brighter shade of lip liner, start lining at the cupid's bow, then the center of the bottom lip. Then starting at the far corners of the top and bottom lip, line towards the center meeting the cupid's bow and bottom center.

Step 3. Fill in the outer corners only and blend inwards. This will create that ombré effect once you apply the pop of color.

3. Asymmetrical lip

This technique works best if, like many of us, one side of your lip is slightly higher than the other or they don't look as volumized as you'd like. Here's how to achieve a perfectly balanced and symmetrical look:

Add volume: For more volume in your top lip, work from the corner of your mouth upward toward the Cupid's bow. To add volume in your bottom lip, start in the center and work towards the corners.

Decrease volume: Pull the line down from your top lip's Cupid bow down towards the outer corner. To diminish volume in your lower lip, pull from corner to center. This can be done differently for each quadrant of the mouth depending on the type of symmetry you have.

With these steps, you can get your lip game on point and elevate your makeup routine for a perfectly flawless look.