10 Secrets I Learned at Makeup Artist School

Want the tricks professional makeup artists use without going to makeup school yourself? We went to a makeup academy and got the goods -- see our cheat sheet now

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Lesson No. 8: Get Angelina Jolie's lips without injections

Before makeup school, I had no idea there was an ideal lip shape. Apparently, your lips are most balanced when the upper and lower lips are equal in size, or thickness, says Prior. If they're not, you can use your knowledge of highlights and shadows to re-contour them.

Step 1: Apply foundation to your entire lip, says Napoleon Perdis. Not only does this help remove the natural pigments of your lips for truer lipstick colors, but it can also help you realize where your liplines actually are.
Step 2: Using a white eyeliner pencil, very softly feather the pencil over the natural contour of the lip. Or use the pencil to make lips fuller or thinner by drawing it past your natural lipline or within it.
Step 3: Redo the line with a lip pencil in the color of your lipstick.
Step 4: Apply lipstick with a lip brush in a downward motion. So, from your cupid's bow to each outer corner, then from your outer corner to the center of your lower lip. This ensures an even application of the product, says Hawker.
Step 5: Apply a light shade of base foundation around the new lip line, blending to a soft edge with a lip brush.

Remember, light colors reflect light, so using lighter lip colors will give a fuller appearance. Dark colors absorb light, so they will make lips look smaller/thinner. Finally, try this popular trick used on Victoria's Secret Angels to give the illusion of a fuller pout: Apply a dab of gloss to the top part of your Cupid's bow and to the center of the bottom of your lip.

See Next Page: Lesson No. 9: Make fake brow hairs look real

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Great report! I have problem dark circles and always find it so hard to conceal properly. Thanks for the dark circle tip!

by kmlvr9 Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 07:44PM Report as inappropriate

I am glad I read this!! All of the tips helped me out in some way or another. Now I know how to hide my under-eye circles instead of highlighting them. :). Great article!

by kayla_ramirez Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 08:47AM Report as inappropriate

You're welcome Alictasia!!

by Sharon_Yi Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 11:38AM Report as inappropriate

I need to revisit this article on a regular basis...last time I missed the message on neutral concealers looking like mud. I understand the color wheel, just need to use that knowledge! I am also going to try the bronzer/ crease trick. THANKS!

by alictasia Friday, May 11, 2012 at 09:42AM Report as inappropriate

great information...stuff to think about and learn from!!!

by WhiteXRoses88 Friday, April 27, 2012 at 06:41PM Report as inappropriate

great article, very informative.

by nikki_glorioso Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 01:40PM Report as inappropriate

Great tips! Definitely investing in quality brushes makes a difference in application.

by Sari Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 10:30AM Report as inappropriate

Thanks for the tips!

by Signalflare66 Monday, April 23, 2012 at 03:17AM Report as inappropriate

very good

by erikafish Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 09:33AM Report as inappropriate

Wow! By far my favorite article yet. Can't wait to try all these tips!

by marithinks Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 11:04PM Report as inappropriate

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