If you’ve ever had trouble applying lip liner or wonder if you’re wearing the right shade, this may be just the help you need. We connected with Ivan Castro, global makeup artist for Le Métier de Beauté, to find out what so many of us are doing wrong and how to get it right.
Find the Right Formula
“Lip lining can be difficult to master, simply because the texture of normal lip liners are usually hard as a rock,” says Castro. “You should look for a pencil that glides on smoothly and evenly. We created a classic lip liner (Le Métier de Beauté Dualistic Lip Pencil, $36), which features specific flexible ingredients that make lip lining a pinch!”
Shade Savvy
Castro says that when wearing a lip color that is neutral, like beige or pinky-brown gloss, opt for a liner that matches your lip. “But, if you prefer to wear mid-tone colors, like plum or rosier tones, look for a slightly more cheerful lip liner which will add a bit of color to your mouth.”
The Expert Trick
“The best and most modern way to use lip liner is as a base!” says Castro. “Using lip liner to fill in the entire mouth ensures that lip products stay put longer without having to be reapplied constantly. It’s also a great way to avoid that ‘ring around the mouth’ look, which happens when lip color fades. Focus on using lip liner to outline your mouth only where you need it, such as the peaks of your upper lip. Sometimes, just filling in the center of your lips with liner and then blotting will do the trick.”
