Technique · Written in Casablanca

How to apply lip liner correctly

Line and fill the whole lip, not just the edge.

Written by Lamyaa Aissi, professional makeup artist, Casablanca.

How to do it

  1. Exfoliate and balm the lip well beforehand, then blot the balm off — a slippery lip will not hold liner.
  2. Start at the cupid's bow and work outward in short strokes rather than one continuous line.
  3. Follow your own lip line. Overlining beyond about a millimetre reads as drawn rather than full.
  4. Fill the entire lip with the liner, not only the border.
  5. Apply colour over it, blot with tissue, apply again.

The Moroccan adjustment

On naturally pigmented lips — common here — match the liner to the deepest part of your own lip rather than the lightest. A liner chosen against the pale centre will read grey at the edges.

What goes wrong

Lining only the outline. Once the centre wears off you are left with a visible ring, which is worse than no liner at all.

Questions

How to apply lip liner correctly?

Line and fill the whole lip, not just the edge.

What goes wrong most often?

Lining only the outline. Once the centre wears off you are left with a visible ring, which is worse than no liner at all.

Does this change on Moroccan skin or in a Moroccan climate?

On naturally pigmented lips — common here — match the liner to the deepest part of your own lip rather than the lightest. A liner chosen against the pale centre will read grey at the edges.

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