Lips come in all shapes and sizes. When it comes to dressing en femme, some have said it is possible to spot masculine lips among feminine lips. With that even being a possibility, it would stand to reason that we need to have some really great lip magic to help us when dressing. Whether it is a subtle shade or application or something totally over the top for those drag girls out there, it is important to get those lips nice and luscious so you can be the envy of your genetic female counterparts. Let our experts at Glamour Boutique give you a hand with some lipstick tips to get those perfect lips.
Exfoliate
The first step before anything else is to exfoliate your lips. Exfoliating will give your lips more moisture and remove any dead cells. It will also increase circulation. Together this will leave your lips looking fuller. The best way to exfoliate is to get a soft toothbrush and gently brush your lips about once a week. Try not to use the same toothbrush you use to brush your teeth as the toothpaste can actually dry out your lips. Once you are done exfoliating, be sure to moisturize your lips. With this foundation, you will be on the path to getting those lips looking amazing.
Looks where lipstick works well
You can really wear lipstick any time you are En Femme, but some must-have moments would be a night out, a party or if you’re out for dinner. If your time out requires heels, then it should require lipstick. Certain outfits really benefit from a pop of color. Be sure to add some lipstick when out in a dress, wearing a skirt or with jeans and a cropped or tank top. Try and work your lipstick colors into what you are wearing and see if you can coordinate or go against the colors you are wearing for a more daring look.
Picking a shade
There are a few options for picking a lipstick shade. From outfits to skin tone, to seasons or time of day. The important thing is to pick lipstick shades that work for you. If you are a beginner, a more subtle look would work well. A peachy tone or a pink shade is great here. These colors are also good for everyday use. Bright shades like fuschia, red, orange tones or purple tones are a great choice for sunny summer days or if you are going out for the night in some daring evening wear.
Knowing your skin tone and being able to match it to various lipstick shades is an important part of this process as well. A great way to determine your skin tone is to look on the inside of your wrist and look at the vein color.
- Blue or purple veins indicate a cool skin tone.
- Green veins indicate a warm skin tone.
If you cannot determine if you fall into either category, you most likely are a neutral skin tone which means you can choose colors from either side of the spectrum. If you have olive toned skin, you most likely fall into the neutral zone. Remember, what colors may work for someone else may not necessarily work for you as your skin tone will play a big part in that.
Once you have your skin tone figured out, we recommend going to some fashion or makeup related websites to see what colors are in right now and follow some of their color charts to find some colors that are right for you. With so many lipstick colors to choose from, it may take some time to find the ones that work best, but once you find some colors that you feel work, you will be all set.
Getting a smooth look
The next and probably most important step is to make sure you know how to apply lipstick. Along with the lipstick, you should have a few other items on hand to help your lips get that smooth, plump look. Lighter shades tend to offer more of a plump look as the lighter colors add magnification. Start with a lip balm and give it a few minutes to absorb properly. Once the lip balm is taken care of, you might want to apply a very little amount of foundation to the lips with the end of your finger. This will help the liner and lipstick go on more easily and make the lipstick last longer. Move on to a lip liner that will help enhance your lip shape. Start at the cupids bow on your upper lip and after the upper lip is done, move to the lower lip. Soft lines will help give your lips a fuller look, so don’t go too hard when applying the pencil. When it comes time to apply the lipstick, use a lip brush as it will give you a more precise application. Use short strokes and make sure to blend the lipstick evenly. Lastly, add some lip gloss to finish things off, as the layers will also give your lips a fuller look. The glossy look is also great if you are looking to do a photo shoot while en femme.
Maintaining the look
Once you have your lips looking luscious, it is important to maintain them throughout the day or night. For example, after eating or drinking, you should reapply your lipstick to freshen up. In many cases, you should blot your lips to make sure there isn’t too much excess product that will leak over the lip line. Over the years, girls have used tissue as their go-to method. But a much better way to blot is to use a piece of paper instead. When using a tissue, you can run the risk of a piece coming off and sticking to your lip or making your lips a bit messier if you’re not careful. The stiffness of the paper won’t cause any of these issues and will have your lips in perfect shape.
Lipstick adds such a nice feminine touch that it should be an essential tool to pull your look together. While it would be nice if there was a way that lipstick for men would become more common (as there are some brands that do carry it), for now, we have to keep it to our femme selves. With that being said, enjoy the femininity of having luscious lips and if you are ever in doubt, we are always here to help with tips. Let us know what your lipstick tips are by emailing us at glambmarketing@gmail.com or by messaging us on our Facebook Page. For our selection of lipsticks and other makeup that will have you looking super sexy, head over to glamourboutique.com and visit our makeup and jewelry store.