Lips come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Full lips, thin lips, wide lips, and everything in between should all be admired and appreciated.
“Lip shapes have changed dramatically over time,” says Sarah Redzikowski, a celebrity makeup artist. “When it comes to something as personal as our lips, we’re all different, one-of-a-kind, and stunning.” Your lip shape is unique to you, and it’s important to accept and love it.”
Whether you have heart-shaped lips, small lips, or proportioned lips, there are several ways to use makeup to enhance your pout. And ahead, we’ll give you some pointers on how to do just that.
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Proportioned Lips
Some might say you’re lucky if you have this lip shape because almost any lipstick will look good on you. You can experiment with various shades and textures when it comes to finding lip colors that complement your pout. However, keep in mind that neutral shades and colors close to your skin tone will minimize your lip size, whereas bold and bright colors will draw attention to your lips — it all depends on the look you’re going for, according to Redzikowski.
“Whether or not your lips are the focal point of your face depends on the lip product, texture, and finish you use,” says Redzikowski. “Lip products that are matte reflect less light than those that are glossy. For this lip shape, Mario Master Mattes Pro Lip Palette and Rituel de Fille Forbidden Lipstick are both excellent options.”
Small, Round Lips
Because of its round shape and lack of width, this lip shape can appear ultra-pouty, according to Redzikowski. It’s a popular lip shape because it gives you a permanent pout even when you’re not puckering up.
“Glosses and shimmery lipstick formulas like Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lipstick and e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Core Lip Shine are perfect for this lip shape because they help to enhance and make the lips appear larger,” Redzikowski says. “Bright lipsticks, such as Pat McGrath Labs BlitzTrance Lipstick, will draw attention to the lips as well.”
If you have this lip shape, the makeup artist recommends avoiding dark lipstick shades because they will make your lips appear smaller.
Bottom Heavy Lips
The shape of bottom-heavy lips is very common. If you want to hide your lower lip, Redzikowski suggests lightly buffing and concealing the edges of your lip line with a concealer like Jouer Cosmetics Essential High Coverage Liquid Concealer.
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“I usually use a matte nude lipstick like UOMA Beauty Badass Icon Lipstick for this shape and blot it on the lips for a natural wash of colour,” the makeup artist explains. On the other hand, Redzikowski recommends using a lighter lip color in the center of the lower lip to enhance this lip shape. “To avoid the lips feeling too overpowering,” she says, “I would stick with velvet or matte textures.”
Top Heavy Lips
The goal with top-heavy lips is to achieve more balance and symmetry with the lower lip, which can be accomplished in a couple of ways, according to Redzikowski.
“One way to achieve lip symmetry is to use a slim lip pencil, like NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil, to slightly underline the top lip and then overline the bottom lip,” says the makeup artist. “To create the illusion of more volume, apply a lighter lipstick shade, such as Bite Beauty Power Move Hydrating Soft Matte Lipstick in Sugar Buns Pink nude, to the entire lower lip or just the center of the lip.” Avoid using glossy textures on your top lip and only use them on the lower center of your bottom lip, as a gloss on the top lip will make it appear bigger.”
Flat Lips
When lips appear flat, contouring and highlighting the shape to create the illusion of volume is the best way to enhance them.
“Start by lightly brushing a powder contour over your lip area,” says Redzikowski. “This will create a subtle shadow around the lip area and help the lips appear poutier.” “Follow your natural lip shape with a lip liner two to three shades darker than the lip color you want to use — you can slightly overline if you want.” After that, blend the hard line into the lips lightly. Apply the desired lip color to the remaining 2/3 of the lip, mixing lightly with the lip liner. After that, apply a buttery nude shadow or even white eye kohl to the center of the lips.”
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Finish with a small amount of light reflecting gloss in the middle of the lips, such as Patrick Ta Major Glow Lip.
Thin Lips
“I always start by dusting a bit of powder contour around the lips to create the illusion of shadow on the skin when working with a client who has thin lips,” says Redzikowski. “Your best friend will be lip liners that are two to three shades darker than your natural lip colour!”
The makeup artist suggests using a lip liner to slightly overline your lip shape to enhance thin lips.
“Work on adding height to the centre of your lips and reconnecting to your natural lip shape on the ends of your mouth,” she says.
“Lightly buff the lip liner edge to avoid any ultra harsh lines, as this is a telltale sign that you’ve overlined your lips — all you want is a soft wash of colour that enhances and brings out your lip shape a little more.” After that, blot slightly with a lighter lipstick in the center of your lips.
To create an ombre effect, use one of your lighter neutral skin-colored eyeshadows in the center of the lip. This helps to make your lips appear more voluminous and full. Finish with a light-colored gloss or a plumping gloss in the center of the lips, such as Bite Beauty Yaysayer Plumping Lip Gloss.
Wide Lips
Wide lips are often associated with the biggest, most beautiful smiles, but if you want to narrow the appearance of your pout, Redzikowski suggests starting by concealing around the edges of the mouth.
“I take a lip liner two to three shades darker than the lip colour I’m going to apply and overline the bottom centre lip only, reconnecting it to the natural lip line — this prevents the lips from appearing bigger but creates more vertical volume,” says the makeup artist. “Stick to matte textures and neutral, nude shades like Milani Color Fetish Matte Nudes Collection, and concentrate the rest of your attention on other aspects of your makeup, like a sultry eye or extra glowy cheekbones.”
Heart-Shaped Lips
When it comes to lip shapes, the heart shape is one of the most popular. You probably have a very defined cupid’s bow (a lip shape where the upper lip comes to two distinct points toward the center of the mouth) and a slightly heavier lower lip if you have heart-shaped lips.
Redzikowski suggests using a deep lip liner to outline your lips and a lighter shade of lipstick in the center to create a smaller heart if you want to enhance your lip shape even more.
