How to Make Your Lip Color Look 3-D

With so many lip-color hybrids hitting the market recently, it can sometimes be difficult to try and figure out exactly which shade to go with. There's also no shortage of textures and finishes as many lip colors come in everything from high shines to matte finishes. But, instead of choosing just one, why not combine them to create your own high definition look?

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"First rule of lipstick: Any two colors mixed together look snazzier than one alone," writer Amanda Fortini noted in last week's T Magazine. "And then, after all that varnishing, strategically undo what you've done: engage in some artful blotting. It's this final step that renders the lip stained, not shellacked."

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If it sounds intriguing, here are three easy steps to help you achieve the look:

1. Prep your lips. Make sure that lips are smooth and chap-free. Try using a lip exfoliant like the Tarte Maracuja Lip Exfoliant, $16, sephora.com.

2. Find the shades that you want to use. There are several beauty brands that have created customized color palettes. The double-ended CoverGirl Blast Flipstick ($6.31, drugstore.com), for example, offers a creamy color on one end and a shimmery highlighter on the other.

3. Apply the color. Start with the base color. (A great base to start with is a lip stain such as the Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain, $19, sephora.com.) Then, layer a shade of lipstick on top.

T Magazine reports that, backstage at the Fall 2013 Prada Show, makeup artist Pat McGrath used a lip stain and then two additional lip colors (CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipcolor in Enchant ($5.59, drugstore.com) and Hot ($4.87, drugstore.com) on top of each other. McGrath then used wet wipes to fade out the look and give the feeling of morning-after makeup.

To create a glossier look, try sprinkling a colored pigment (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, $14, sephora.com) on to the middle of the lip. If you're going for this look, be sure to start with a sticky gloss or creamy lipstick as the base shade so the powder adheres. Use your fingers to pat the colored pigment on.
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