How To Use Concealer For Defined Lips

If you know how to contour your face (or have simply heard of this shape-shifting makeup hack), you may be curious about other ways to use makeup for an illusion in your favor. Lip concealer happens to be one of our favorites. The technique is all about using concealer and a lip brush to contour, outline, and define your lips for a more prominent pout. Ahead, find a step-by-step tutorial on how to use lip concealer for a defined lip makeup look.

Step #1. Pick Your Concealer

It should come as no surprise that picking your concealer—and more importantly, the right concealer—is the first step when it comes to using a lip concealer for a defined pout. You’ll want to use one with a finish that matches your foundation so it blends seamlessly with the rest of your makeup look. We recommend using one with a matte, full-coverage formula, like our L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof, Full Coverage.

Step #2. Add Some Highlights

You’ll need two shades of concealer to properly define your lips—one that is a shade lighter than your skin tone and one that is a shade darker. For this step, first reach for the lighter shade. Use a lip brush to take a small amount of product from the tube of your concealer. Then, outline your cupid’s bow and the outer thirds of both your upper and lower lips. If you want your lips to appear fuller, outline just outside of your natural lip shape.

Editor’s tip: If you want, you can also use this shade to color your lips. It will create a bright base for your lipstick to go over, which will help your lip color appear more vibrant.

Step #3. And Some Shadows

Wipe off your lip brush and dip it onto the tube of your darker shade of concealer, picking up product. Use this to line the outer corners of your lips, as well as the center of your bottom lip. Again, outline just outside of your natural lip shape for a fuller appearance.

Step #4. Blend, Blend, Blend

Reach for a makeup sponge, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender, to blend your lip concealer outline for a seamless look. Use a bouncing motion to do so. Don’t worry if the concealer gets on your actual lip—you’ll be covering them with color next.

Step #5. Grab Your Lip Liner

It’s time to line your lips—a key step of any defined lip look. Use a lip liner (try the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner) in a shade that’s two colors darker than the lipstick you plan to wear. Then, follow the outline of your lips and trace away.

Editor’s tip: If you’re worried about lining outside the lines, you can draw small dots along the outline of your lips first. Then, go back and connect the dots to fully outline your pout.

Step #6. Color Your Pout

You know what to do: Reach for your lipstick of choice (we recommend our L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick for a creamy, natural finish) and fill in your lips.

Step #7. Perfect Your Shape

We have one last lip concealer hack for you—and it will make all the difference. To fine-tune your lip shape (and cover up anywhere you may have gone a little overboard with lip color), reach for those two shades of concealer again. Follow the same process of applying the lighter shade to your cupid’s bow and outer thirds, as well as the darker shade to the outer corners and middle of the bottom lip. This time, use your pinky to carefully blend the edges so as not to mess up your lipstick, but still blur where your concealer meets your foundation.

Next up: Your lips aren’t the only area of your face that concealer can transform. To learn more makeup illusion tips and tricks, check out our article, How to Contour Your Nose and Make It Look Smaller.