Lip Liner 101

Over the years, lip liners have gained a reputation for being outdated, but makeup artist Sabrina Bedrani gives us some reasons why lip liner is underrated. With the help of a good lip liner, your lips can appear fuller or slimmer, depending on what you'd prefer.

Lip liner should be thought of as an accent to products you already use on your lips -- lipsticks, tinted balms and gloss. I recommend lip liner for people with thin lips, as it can help you "cheat" the outline of your mouth by drawing slightly over the edge, being sure not to overdo it.

When wearing a bold lipstick color (red!), applying lip liner helps prevent the lipstick from bleeding. This is an especially helpful tip for women who have lines or creases beginning to form around their mouths.

Lip liners can be found in a variety of shades, ranging from rosy nudes to striking plums, so you'll never have to worry about not finding a liner that fits your lips.

How to Use Lip Liner

1. Before applying anything on your lips, be sure to cover them with a lip base, like an oil-free lip primer. You can even pat a little bit of your foundation or powder over your lips and it will help lip color last longer and look stronger.

2. You might want to begin practicing with a nude or light pink shade of lip liner, just in case you make any mistakes. Otherwise, select a liner that blends well with the shade of lipstick you plan on wearing.

3. Beginning from the center of your upper lip, lightly trace the shape of your lips with a sharpened lip liner, extending towards the corners of your mouth.

4. For fuller-looking lips, focus on the outer edges of your mouth. For slimmer-looking lips, focus on the inner edges of your mouth.

5. Use a steady hand and work from side to side to fill in the lower lip.

6. Once you have finished defining the shape of your lips with liner, apply your lipstick or lip color, being sure to blend it in with the liner to create a fuller lip and prevent your lipstick from smudging.