Don't miss: Survival Guide

How to Do Lip Art

Dec 2, 2011 / By Nina Makofsky

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Classic pink or red lips are one way to go -- but why not get creative?

Photo: Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images

While ruby red and pretty pink lips suit most daytime looks, the evening calls for something special. Sure, you could go Goth with black lips, or rock iridescent lips that shine only under the ultraviolet lights of the club. But lip art offers a more creative, whimsical look. Think of those stripes, decals and prints you see on nail art, and transfer that look to your lips.

Hit the matte. Pearly, glimmering and translucent lipsticks, liners and glosses don't deliver the saturated color and coverage you need to do lip art. For ultra-opaque looks, use stage makeup rather than lip liner or lipstick.

Pair complementary colors. Your lip art stands out with high-contrast colors that intensify each other. Happy couples include blue and yellow, green and red, and purple and orange. Going with black and white is perennially cool.

Outline the shape of your lip art, not your actual lips, with liner or stage makeup. Select a color slightly darker or matching the main color of your design. The line guides your lip art but also keeps your color from wandering.

Fill in your lips and surrounding skin with design. Go simple with stripes in complementary colors. For a more adventurous look, paint your lips to look like animals. White lips with drawn-on black ears and eyes makes a panda face. Yellow and black stripes plus wings create a bumblebee. Paint on green and yellow stripes and a couple antennae for a caterpillar.

Set your lip art. Carefully blot the color and add another layer. Gently brush translucent or shimmery powder over your lips.

1.Lip color or stage makeup

2.Translucent powder