Thought I would do a little beauty how to of one of my favourite evening looks: dark lips.
Step 1: Eyes
It's taken me a while to work out the right eye make-up for dark lips. During the day I always rely on a classic black winged liner, but it looks too harsh against a strong mouth. I've settled on a taupe shadow (such as Urban Decay's Suspect) teamed with a soft brown pencil liner. Simply apply the shadow with a wide brush to just above the socket line and smudge the liner as close to the lashes as you can. Top with strokes of black mascara.
Step 2: Base
I always do my eye make-up before my base so I can tidy up any dropped powder, although I do apply YSL Touche Éclat under my eyes beforehand to conceal dark circles. It also gives my moisturiser time to sink in. As I've got quite dry, dull skin, I'll usually start with an illuminating primer like NARS pro-prime. However, at the moment I've taken to using Rimmel's Wake Me Up foundation which is extremely hydrating and light-reflecting, but also sets to a matte velvet finish, which is ideal. Apply with a foundation brush then blend with fingers.
Step 3: Conceal
I apply Touche Éclat to the shadows around my nose and under the eyebrows, and then use a stick concealer to cover any blemishes. I like Revlon Photoready.
Step 3: Powder, bronzer and blush
I always set my make-up with NARS loose powder (t-zone only) and then add a little bronzer to my cheekbones, mainly to make me look a little less ghostly pale (I like Bobbi Brown in Medium). Finally a swirl of blusher on the apples of the cheeks; I always use one with some shimmer like NARS Orgasm.
Step 4: Brows
One of the most important steps: if I forget to do my brows my whole face looks unfinished. However, don't overdo it, especially when you're making lips the focus. Just brush them out and fill in with a few strokes of pencil. Collection eyebrow definer in Blonde is the perfect shade for me.
Step 5: Lips
Finally the main event: NARS semi-matte lipstick in Fire Down Below. Prep with a slick of lip balm and then when it's sunk in, trace a nude lipliner around the edges of your lips to stop colour bleed. I always apply the first layer of lipstick with a lip brush to really push the colour in: it definitely makes it last longer, plus you get a much neater line. Blot with tissue, then apply a second coat from the bullet. Blot again and you're done.
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