All About Your Lips - Part 2: Smooth Satin/Matte Lips and Gradient Lips

Before reading this post, please read Part 1: How to Have Healthy Lips Prepared for Lipsticks. That is because we need healthy lips to begin with to create the best look with lipsticks.

Lipsticks used: 3 Concept Eyes Lip Colors #408 Chu Chu and #104 So Pink

Prepare lips before applying lipsticks

Bare Lips

This is just a reminder from Part 1. In the morning after brushing my teeth and washing my face, I immediately put lip balm on to retain the good condition of the soft lips before doing anything else in my morning routine. If you have death skin, this is also the time when you can scrub it off easily so do so before applying lip balm.

Is it better to use a lip brush to apply lipsticks?

From my experience: No. Using a lip brush makes me feel like a pro but it takes so much time: I have to get enough product onto the brush and apply; the product on the brush runs out, go back to step 1 ... I apply lipsticks directly onto lips and use my finger to blend when I need to. I have the feeling that the pressure from my finger helps the product adhere to lips better. (The only exception to me is when I use 3CE Lip lacquer; it's too messy that I need to use a lip brush).

How I create smooth satin/matte lips

Step 1: Starting from the middle of the upper lip, use the tip of the lipstick to precisely apply the color along the lip line.

Step 2: Do the same for the lower lip line. 

Step 3: Apply the rest of lips evenly.

Step 4: Use my finger WITH a little of pressure to blend out the color.

Step 5: Repeat step 3 (and also step 4 if you want to).

Optional step: Apply lip gloss.

Steps that I skipped:

- Concealing: my lips are not too pigmented and I don't like how the colors turn out to be lighter than they actually are. If you have pigmented lips you might want to lightly conceal them first.
- Apply concealer around lips: I only include this extra step when I go to an important event and want my lips to be very defined.
- Lip liner: I think it's useful to line your lips first but I rather skip this extra step since I think I'm ok without it.
- Using a tissue after the first coat to take off extra product or oiliness: I think using my finger to blend out the color WITH pressure is enough to get the job done.

How I create gradient lips

*Approach 1:

Step 1: Apply along the lip lines a pale/nude color or a color that is similar but lighter than the color of my main lipstick.

Step 2: Apply the main color on the inner part of lips.

Step 3: Bring lips together for the colors to blend.

Optional step: Apply lip gloss.

*Approach 2:

Step 1: Use concealer/foundation to conceal either the whole lips or just the outer part.

Step 2: Apply the main color on the inner part of lips.

Step 3: Use finger to blend out the color lightly. Repeat step 2 if I want to emphasize the inner part of my lips. 

Step 4: Apply lip gloss. This is not an optional step because the concealer makes my lips look "lifeless".

Phew, the long post is finally done! Big thanks to my lovely readers and I hope it helps ;) !

All About Your Lips - Part 1: How to Have Healthy Lips Prepared for Lipsticks

So do you think you know how to put lipsticks on? Of course you do, everyone does! But are you sure your lips always look the best, err ... not so sure, right? How about I share some tips to make your lips more attractive with lipsticks? I'm not saying I know everything about ways to make your lips look the best but at least I experienced myself that these tips actually helped my lips' condition better and ultimately look good despite the types of lipsticks I use.

Make sure lips are in the best condition!

Bare Lips

Alright, you all should already know about this most important step: you must moisturize your lips anytime you feel they need to be moisturized. It's not just about having a nice look with lipsticks, it's about having healthy lips!

I've heard somewhere that using lip balms too much will make it worse: lip balms do nothing except creating a layer to seal the moisture inside and make lips not recognize the dryness in time to reproduce new skin; when the lip balm on lips fades away, the skin on top is exposed to the air and drys out quickly but the new skin underneath isn't ready yet. However, when I tried not to apply lip balms so often, my lips were chapped like crazy so I had to keep peeling off the death skin and yes, the new skin was ready but ... that was not what I want ... I don't know about you but I rather put lip balms on often enough to keep my lips always moisturized.

How things work for me:

Putting lip balm on constantly helps my lips feel soft all the time. Moreover, I believe some lip balms DO moisturize lips and not just sit on. Now my lips don't feel too dry anymore even without lip balm on top. My life savior: EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm!

When I have dry and lips:

There are days when I abuse my lips too much (putting lipsticks that dry out lips), the next morning I wake up with very dry lips but then after I brush my teeth and wash my face, the death skin is soft enough (since my lips are still wet) so I just use finger to scrub it off. It comes off completely revealing smooth new skin (which I guess is formed overnight) - this is when my lips are in the best condition. Immediately, I apply lip balm again to seal in the moisture before doing anything else in my morning routine. That is how I have nice smooth lips prepared for lipsticks! ;)

* Also drink a lot of water and don't lick your lips so often. Tongue carries a lot of germs and licking your lips means taking way the natural moisture your skin produces.

What type of lip balms should we use?

- Avoid lip balms that have: paraben, menthol, camphor, phenol, artificial fragrances, silicone oil and salicylic acid.
- Natural ingredients can still cause irritation and allergic reactions.

*** My recommendation:

#1 EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm

This is my most favorite lip balm - 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. I love how it stays on for so long, reducing the times I have to reapply during the day. I also love how it isn't too waxy or glossy, which is perfect to be a base for lipsticks!

However, make sure you're not allergic to any natural ingredients. I also saw some complains about EOS causing infection but I think it is because the packaging makes it easy to get dirty. Sometimes, I use alcohol to wipe outside AND inside the sphere as well as on top of the balm to kill bacteria and germs, then use a clean paper towel to scrub off the top layer of the balm to make sure there's no alcohol left on it.

#2 Burt's Bees

Another brand that has natural lip balms. They're a little too waxy (some are glossy) for me but in general still a good brand. Guys love them ;)

*** Others under consideration:

Vaseline

It's too glossy for me and I know for sure it isn't absorbed into your skin; what I'm saying is it goes away too fast before I even realize I need to put some more in. Of course, there's NO WAY I can apply lipstick with Vaseline on; the color keeps moving around my lips, bleeds, and can never cover my lips' natural color well. I also don't recommend it because it's a petroleum-based product which I've seen some advising to avoid. Nevertheless, I believe it works very well for many people so maybe it's just me.

Rosebud

This company has been around for a very long time but I don't think I saw these lip balms at drugstores. It's sold on Sephora for $6-$7. It looks and feels a lot like Vaseline on lips. The only different is that it has a rose scent which you might or might not like. I'm not sure if it has the same ingredients as those in Vaseline.

Lipsticks with glossy finish (all levels of coverage)

Normally, if I don't want my lips to feel heavy, I don't apply lip balm before using this type of lipsticks since they tend to be already moisturizing and creamy. However, some cheap lipsticks can feel creamy at first but then dry out lips quickly. In that case I don't recommend using those lipsticks anymore but if you still want to, apply non-glossy lip balm underneath or whenever your lips feel dry.

Lipsticks with satin and matte finish

Never forget to use lip balm before applying satin and matte lipsticks, especially the matte ones because they have the driest texture. Don't use a glossy lip balm (like Carmex or Vaseline) since the pigment won't show up well. If you have to, wipe off some of the glossiness before applying lipsticks.

To look the best with these type of lipsticks, your lips must be smooth with no death skin/flakes to begin with. Luckily, there are some satin and matte lipsticks that can cover all those imperfections well but they tend to be very thick. I'm very picky with the feel of lipsticks and can't stand it when it feels heavy even just a little, but again, maybe it's just me.

If you have satin/matte lipsticks that accentuate imperfections (most of the lightweight ones do) and your lips are chapped, don't even think about using those lipsticks. Keep in mind that it's not the lipsticks' fault that your lips look unattractive. If you never want to prepare your lips to be in the best condition before applying these type of lipsticks, you shouldn't waste your money on them.
_ _ _ _ _

I hope this post will be a big help for those who have chapped lips like I used to. This post is too long so I broke it down to 2 parts. In Part 2 I'll show you how I create smooth satin/matte lips and gradient lips.

Thank you!

Tutorial: 2 Eye Makeup Tutorials for Asians

In this post I will share with you guys 2 eye makeup tutorials, one of which is from Ulzzang Pony. As you already know about Ulzzang Pony (Park Hye Min), she's a makeup artist and model in South Korea. I just think these tutorials will help us Asians to create more noticeable eyelid lines and therefore, bigger eyes! For those who already have clear double eyelids, I believe the tutorials will help emphasize your natural beauty even more.

1. No. 22 Mandarin

2. Emphasize Eyelid Lines:

Click Here for more makeup tutorials from this blog.

Enjoy!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own or create these tutorials. They are just my findings that I want to share with my blog readers.

Makeup Tutorials on Get It Beauty SELF

The moment you enter my blog, you will immediately recognize that I'm very into Korean makeup. Besides popular makeup brand names such as Etude House, Tonymoly, Skinfood, The Face Shop, etc., South Korea processes many unique makeup techniques. Below are videos from a TV show called "Get it beauty SELF". I think this model's makeup is very cute and interesting!

Kitty and Puppy Eye Makeup

So sorry; because I don't speak Korean, I can't translate the Korean instruction in some parts.

Enjoy the videos :)

Tutorial: Ulzzang Pony (Park Hye Min) Makeup

Many people might wonder who the beautiful girl in my blog's slideshow is. She is Park Hye Min, a popular South Korean ulzzang.

Ulzzang means "best face" in Korean and refers to girls with above average look who post their pictures online and some of whom become internet celebrities. Park Hye Min is a makeup artist who is also a model and published "Pony's Secret Makeup Book I" in 2007 and "Pony's Secret Makeup Book II" in 2011. You can buy these 2 books on Ebay or Amazon. I found some of her makeup tutorial pictures and would love to share with anyone interested in creating her look. I apologize for the inconvenient since I can't translate from Korean to English.

#17 Golden Rosy

#29 Extase

#30 Isatis & Gold Champagne

#31 Mist Party

#33 Fiesta

Arctic Fairy

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own or create any of these pictures and tutorials. They belong to Park Hye Min and are posted publicly on her blog. Here are just my findings that I want to share with my blog readers.