Get pouty lips

Having a hard time trying to achieve sexy, super-pouty lips?

Here are a few steps in order to achieve this look that pairs perfectly with a dark, smokey eye or a simple, clean fresh look.

You will need lip balm, lip primer or foundation or concealer, a lip pencil, lipstick and lip gloss.

First of all you want a clean canvas – much like how you use foundation to achieve an even and clean look on your face as a whole, you want to do the same with your lips.

Since most people do their lips last, start with applying a clear lip balm on your lips before applying the rest of your makeup so that your lips will be nice and moist, and soft and ready to go once you get to this last step in your routine.

Once you are ready to begin, you will want to wipe the excess lip balm off your lips so that you can apply a lip primer.

Using the right lip pencil is crucial at this stage. Even if you are only applying lip gloss, defining your lip can save you from the lip gloss or lipstick from bleeding outside of the lines, and in the case of lip gloss, it can save you from looking like you are drooling.

If you are going for a super clean look, you will want to choose a pencil that is a nude or light pink, and for a darker look you may want to venture into a purple or even a black pencil.

Start by lining your top lip first. Use light feathering strokes to outline your lip. Begin with your cupids bow.

You don’t need to go outside your natural lip line for this look. Instead of over-emphasising the cupids bow, try to make the lines more of a straight line or slightly curved line, rather than a strict “V” shape. This is more flattering on most people.

Also, at the corners of your lips, you might want to slightly draw the line inwards to draw more attention to your bottom lip.

Next, outline your bottom lip. This is where you can over-emphasise your natural lip line, but be careful to only do this in the centre of the lip. Don’t forget to line the corners and then fill your lips in entirely.

Once you have finished lining your lips, you can move onto the lipstick. You can use the tube or a brush for this step.

This all depends on your comfort level. A lip brush is sometimes easier to use when you are manipulating your lip-line, but if you are comfortable just using the lipstick itself, that is fine as well. You will want to use a darker lipstick than lip gloss, or use a clear lip gloss if you are going for a nude lip, or even a slightly lighter nude or pink gloss.

You will want to avoid glittery glosses. Also using a matte finished lipstick works best for this look.

Once you have the lipstick applied its time for the gloss.

You don’t want to put this all over the lips, but just in the centre of the lip, on both the top and bottom. Just purse your lips together a few times and do the finger trick in order to keep lipstick off your teeth.

Relatively simple, but you can add a polished, sexy, dramatic look to anyone’s lips and overall style.