Lip contours were first tried out by Hollywood beauties at the beginning of the 20th century. Experienced makeup artists of those times tested this new product on Marilyn Monroe herself. On the screens, the TV stars’ lips looked juicy and sexy due to the skillful work of pencil and lipstick. In the 90s, it became fashionable to use dark lip liner and light lipstick. The girls took their cue from American singers, who were all over the covers of fashion magazines with the new “make-up” trend. The beauties from the Spice Girls are a clear confirmation of this.
Today, lip pencil is still popular. Almost every girl has it in her arsenal.
Definition
Lip pencil is a cosmetic product for adjusting the contour and volume of the lips. It also serves as a protective barrier for lipstick, which with its help will remain on your lips for a long time and will not flow beyond the limits outlined by the pencil. There will be no need to constantly touch up and refresh your makeup. Using a pencil, you can visually correct the shape of your lips: too plump - reduce them, and thin ones - add volume and sensuality.
Lip pencil is an indispensable assistant in wedding and evening makeup. It can prolong the durability of lipstick for a long time and maintain the brightness of the color.
Pencils are hard and soft. The latter are easier to apply and do not injure the skin of the lips. But they smear and spread faster. Hard pencils are more durable, but you will have to learn how to use them - you need skill.
It is not recommended to apply the pencil above the lip contour. It looks tasteless and ridiculous. If you want to visually enlarge and lift your upper lip, then use a highlighter.
White, beige, colorless, colored...
All women know that the shade of a pencil should be matched to the color of lipstick or gloss. But why then are flesh-colored, white and colorless cosmetics for drawing the contour of the lips sold?
- Makeup artists use a tool with a white stylus to give women's lips a seductive volume. They use a pencil like this: first they outline the mouth, slightly going beyond the natural contour of the lips, and then gently shade the resulting lines with a brush and powder them. After the described manipulations, the lips become fuller and sexier.
- Lip pencils with flesh-colored leads can be used just like white ones. However, its purpose does not end there. A beige pencil is very convenient for masking minor defects on the surface of the lips. A flesh-colored lead is also appropriate in cases where a woman prefers natural makeup that does not go beyond the boundaries of natural shades.
- A pencil with a transparent core is another new product from companies producing cosmetic products. This product is used in combination with lip gloss. The lines drawn with a colorless tool are completely invisible to the human eye, but they will reliably hold the gloss, preventing it from spreading or smearing.
- Colored pencils are available in a wide variety of shades. When choosing a cosmetic product, you need to remember the main rule: its color should either match the lipstick or be a little lighter (in the latter case, you can visually enlarge your mouth). A lip pencil a shade darker than lipstick is only appropriate for creating bright evening makeup. When purchasing a colored pencil as a base for gloss, you should try to select the tone of the lead so that it matches the natural shade of your lips.
Kinds
The range of lip pencils is very diverse. According to the purposes and functions of use, they are divided into:
- Wooden. They clearly and evenly draw contours without damaging the surface of the lips. The disadvantage of such classic pencils is periodic sharpening.
Wooden lip pencil
- Plastic. This pencil option is much more convenient than the first. There is a special mechanism inside that feeds the ink rod, so there is no need for sharpening. It also has disadvantages: it is quickly consumed and often breaks.
- White. They contain particles that can capture and reflect light. They are designed to give volume and fullness to the lips, correct shape and boundaries. Their properties are more reminiscent of a highlighter.
- Colored. The cosmetic market offers a huge palette of lip contours. To choose the right shade of the product, take your lipstick with you. Both products must be the same tone.
- Silicone. They are more intended for mature women, as they fight small cracks on the lips, smooth out their surface, and rejuvenate the cells. All this is due to the high content of natural resins and silicone.
- Colorless. Created specifically to prevent glosses and lipsticks from leaking beyond the contours of the lips. They do not carry any other function.
Clear lip pencil
- Lipstick pencil. Large in size, it draws well not only the contours, but also the entire surface of the lips. As a result, you will get long-lasting makeup in a couple of seconds.
- Water resistant. These pencils are designed for special occasions: long trips, major events, business conferences. They are very hard and long lasting and stay on the lips throughout the day. To wash off such a pencil you will need a special product.
Hard pencils make your lips very dry. It is not recommended to use them daily if you do not want to ultimately ruin the skin of your lips. Give preference to soft rods.
Features of choice
Among the huge assortment of lip pencils, it is difficult to make a choice. Which one is better to buy? We will give some useful recommendations that will surely help you:
- examine the surface of the pencil. If it is uneven and rough, the product is not worth buying. When sharpening, the lead will constantly break;
- fans of classic makeup should choose pencils based on natural waxes and pigments;
- contours with nourishing oils are perfect for deep hydration;
- if you want to get rid of wrinkles around the lips, buy pencils with antioxidants and vitamin E;
- A good choice is a soft pencil with silicone. It is gentle on the skin and retains its contour for a long time;
- a natural-based nude pencil will hide all lip imperfections and reliably preserve the lipstick color;
Nude lip pencil
- a pencil lead that is too soft is an indicator of its instability;
- for sensitive lip skin, choose pencils containing aloe and castor oil in the recipe;
- Choose a pencil with a durable protective cap. For wood - with a convenient built-in sharpening;
Avoid hard pencils unless you are a professional makeup artist. They can harm you and cause an allergic reaction.
How to choose?
When purchasing a pencil, you need to pay attention to the thickness of the lead. How to choose a lead? To draw the contour of the lips, you need a pencil with a thin rod. If the lead is wide, then it is suitable not only for outlining, but also for creating an attractive shape.
When choosing a product, you need to pay attention to the composition, expiration date, and brand. Most well-known manufacturers produce high-quality cosmetics; you just need to choose the right product for yourself.
To use a pencil with lipstick or gloss, you need to choose a wide lead. After choosing the thickness, you need to consider the texture. If the pencil is soft, then they will not be able to create a neat outline. It is advisable to choose a rod of medium hardness.
There is no need to skimp on buying a pencil because it affects the skin. Moreover, the quality of makeup depends on it. The means are chosen depending on the purpose. If you are planning a long event, you should use long-lasting cosmetics.
Stamps
The list of the most purchased lip pencils, according to recent surveys, includes:
- “Jolies Levres” from Vivienne Sabo contains shea and jojoba oils, so it applies gently and does not dry out the skin. Special persistent pigments preserve rich lip color for a long time. It does not crease and is available in a large palette of shades.
“Jolies Levres” by Vivienne Sabo
- “Color Drama intense velvet lip pencil” from Maybelline looks more like a lipstick than a lip liner. A thick pencil with a melting creamy texture that gives dense coverage without drying out the skin. The color turns out very rich and bright. Economically used.
- “Color Elixir Lip liner” from the Max Factor brand is rich in vitamins and moisturizing ingredients. It actively cares for the delicate skin of the lips, does not roll or smudge.
- “Lip liner” from the German brand Essence has good durability and a delicate texture. The pencil contains castor oil, which helps relieve lips from peeling and cracks.
- “True Lips” by the French brand Pupa can be applied instead of lipstick. The delicate lead tightly covers the surface of the lips, guaranteeing excellent color durability.
- “Smoothing Lip pencil” from Shiseido allows you to outline even the contour of thin lips. It does not smear and retains its rich shade for a long time. The pencil is equipped with a brush made of natural hair for even application.
“Smoothing Lip pencil” by Shiseido
- “Dream Lips” from the Golden Rose brand is well suited for aging and especially sensitive skin. The pencil is enriched with vitamins and natural oils. It does not dry the skin and does not cause allergic reactions. An excellent choice in terms of price-quality ratio.
- “Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses” by Rimmel is available in 9 light shades. It retains its original color for a long time and lays down evenly.
To make your lip makeup last longer, apply foundation to the surface, only then use contour and lipstick.
Lead durability
Lip pencil is important in makeup. How to use it depends on its type. Cosmetics have waterproof and silicone leads. The advantage of the first pencil is reliability. By creating a contour, you can remain confident in the beautiful appearance of your makeup. Moreover, no factors can spoil makeup. But it cannot be washed off with water and soap; you need to use special products.
The lip shaper features a silicone tip and is designed to fill in any imperfections in your skin so your lipstick or gloss won't smear. Silicone products create a transparent line on the skin, so they go well with any lipstick color. The product is waterproof, so it is suitable for all women.
There are super-resistant rods that have their own advantages. Standard pencils last about 4-8 hours, and to remove them, use plain milk or rich cream. And the contours from the super-resistant product last for at least 7 hours. To wash it off, there are special products that can be used to effectively erase lip pencil. How to use it depends on the durability.
Features of creating makeup
For each occasion, a specific lip pencil is selected. How to use it to create neat makeup? To do this, you can use professional advice:
- lips should be covered with foundation or powder, after which a pencil can be applied with strokes, slightly highlighting the upper part of the lip;
- You should not press hard on the stylus, as the lines will be clearly visible;
- after this you can shade it with a brush, and then apply lipstick or gloss;
- In order for the color to last for a long time, the lips are completely shaded with a pencil, and then lipstick or gloss is applied;
- excess should be removed with a napkin;
- to make your lips look voluminous, you need to draw the outline of your lips, going slightly beyond the boundaries, and then apply lipstick and gloss;
- To make lips smaller, their borders must be treated with foundation, shaded, and matte lipstick applied.
These simple techniques will allow you to create beautiful makeup. The right cosmetic tool, as well as proper use, will always make you look fashionable and neat.
How to replace lip pencil
If suddenly you don’t have the required shade in your makeup bag, then regular eye pencils can come to the rescue. Since their leads are harder, it is worth drawing the contour carefully, avoiding scratches and minor damage to the skin of the lips.
And if you have a spectacular shade of lipstick without a suitable pencil and the desire to make a clear outline, then you can use a thin brush and outline your lips with the lipstick itself. For a more lasting option, repeat the procedure several times, in between blotting your lips with a napkin and gently dusting them with loose powder.
How to sharpen a lip pencil
Wooden pencils, unlike mechanical ones, require constant sharpening. If you do not do this, it will be difficult to achieve a clear and even line when drawing a contour, especially since the edges of the pencil can slightly scratch the delicate skin of the lips. Any special sharpener, which is present in the assortment of any cosmetic brand today, is suitable for sharpening.
Before sharpening a pencil, makeup artists advise putting it in the freezer for literally 10 minutes so that the lead freezes. After this, it will be enough to scroll it a couple of times in a sharpener to get a sharp end.
This method will not allow the lead to crumble during sharpening, and pencil consumption will be more economical. It is also worth noting that cooling does not damage the nutritional properties, and sharpening a pencil after this procedure will be twice as fast.
