How you can Play Up—or Conceal—Your Cupid’s Bow, Based on MUAs

Play Up: Get Artful With Concealer

Irrespective of the definition of your cupid’s bow, the make-up artists we spoke with agree: A little bit concealer can go a great distance. “To actually make your cupid’s bow ‘pop,’ I like to recommend utilizing a concealer a few shade lighter than your pores and skin,” says Arlt. “Take a bit with an angled brush and apply it simply above your lip line, following the form of your cupid’s bow.”

The explanation this hack works so nicely is that it helps clear up the border of your lips, based on Tanno. “It will make the form very sharp and outlined,” she notes.

As for which concealer you need to use, Jaikaran recommends a brightening components. “An important concealer with a brightening impact that works superbly for this function is the Make Magnificence Pores and skin Mimetic Concealer ($28), which is a buildable concealer with a radiant end,” she says, including that Nars’ Radiant Creamy Concealer ($31) is one other top-notch possibility.

Downplay: Lengthen Your Basis Over Your Lips

The place concealer may help intensify the form of your cupid’s bow, Jaikaran says {that a} shade-matched basis can downplay it by blurring lip strains. “Be sure that your lips are hydrated earlier than getting into with basis to forestall creasing or accentuating dryness,” she says. “Use a magnificence sponge to soften the product into the pores and skin, creating a brand new canvas with a seamless end.”

After making use of your basis and permitting it to settle, she says to make use of a creamy long-wearing lip liner to “re-create a extra desired lip line and cupid’s bow.” Her go-to lip liners are the Make-up By Mario Suede Sculpting Lip Pencils ($24) and NYX Cosmetics’ Slim Lip Pencil Lengthy Lasting Creamy Liner ($5).

Play Up: Make the most of Lip Liner

For those who like the form of your cupid’s bow however wish to improve it, Arlt says to by no means forgo lip liners. “For a fuller-looking lip, go over the cupid’s bow with a lip pencil in additional of a rounded form, connecting the best factors of the cupid’s bow,” he instructs. “Mix the pencil into the lips for a extra pure look, and add lipstick in an identical or related coloration over it.”

Taking it a step additional, Tanno says that the aim is to basically contour your pout to make your cupid’s bow stand out. “To outline your cupid’s bow, you’ll be able to line utilizing your favourite lip liner in a deeper shade, contouring the corners of the mouth and mixing the perimeters,” she says. “This makes the lips seem fuller. You too can use an eyeliner brush and a matte lipstick like Haus Labs’ Le Monster Lip Crayon ($22) to sharpen the cupid’s bow.”

Downplay: Blur Your Lip Product

Sharp lip liner strains and exact lipstick utility (particularly of the matte selection) make for a extra outlined lip. As such, to downplay your cupid’s bow, Jaikaran says to blur the sides of your lip product. “Blurring the cupid’s bow to melt sharp peaks and spherical out the form could be achieved by smudging lip coloration alongside the sides of the lip strains with a sheer lip tint or delicate matte lipstick,” she says. “Uoma Magnificence’s Black Magic Hypnotic Affect Excessive Shine Lipstick ($24) and Glossier’s Technology G Lipstick ($18) produce lovely, subtle, and softened cupid’s bows.”

Play Up: Use Highlighter

As soon as upon a time, highlighter was reserved for the cheeks. These days, it makes an look on forehead bones, noses, and—you guessed it—cupid’s bows. “I like to play up a cupid’s bow by highlighting the ridge of the bow in a highlighter,” Tanno says. “This brings consideration to the lips in a delicate but editorial approach.”

The trick to making a naturally-fuller-looking pout is to spotlight the cupid’s bow with the right product, Jaikaran says—an excellent glittery or pink- or blue-hued highlighter isn’t the transfer. “Choose a highlighter with the appropriate undertone on your pores and skin shade and frivolously hint the cupid’s bow,” she says. “If utilizing a cream or liquid highlighter—just like the Advantage Day Glow Highlighting Balm ($30) or Uncommon Magnificence’s Constructive Mild Liquid Luminizer Spotlight ($22)—fingertips work nicely to deposit a shocking payoff. If utilizing a powder-based highlighter use a small fluffy brush and buff throughout the bow.” (Whereas not one among Jaikaran’s particular picks the Sigma Magnificence Highlighter, $35, is available in six impartial shades, all of which apply superbly.)

Downplay: Apply Lip Liner Above the Cupid’s Bow

For those who crave a softer cupid’s bow than your pure form, Henney recommends making use of lip liner above it. Whilst you can apply it immediately to reveal pores and skin, beginning with matte concealer typically helps soften your pure bow in order that the drawn-on model seems like the actual deal. To realize the look, she suggests utilizing Victoria Beckham Magnificence’s Lip Definer in #3 ($26) for a robust but natural-looking lip.