CAROLINE BARNES

How to do the perfect lip, with

Barnes has worked with hundreds of women as Max Factor’s resident make-up artist, not to mention the scores of celebrities who love her flattering, time-tested skills

‘Prep your lips so they’re soft and smooth, but not greasy – if you’re using balm, work it in then tissue off the excess. Apply your lipstick straight from the bullet, always working from the inside of your lips out. This stops them becoming too pigment-heavy near the lip line, which is what causes smudging and feathering. Use a lip pencil afterwards if it needs tidying up around the edges, but it usually won’t, as lots of lipsticks now come with finer-tipped bullets. If you do use a pencil, don’t worry about it exactly matching your lipstick – it just needs to be in the same shade zone. When it comes to your cupid’s bow, don’t make the line too sharp – a softer shape is more modern and sensual. I like using my fingertip to ‘push’ the colour into position – just make sure you use the same finger on either side, for a perfectly even finish. Finally, swipe a bit of illuminating concealer down your fultrum (the bit between your nose and lip). It adds definition and makes lips look even prettier.’ TOOLS OF THE TRADE: Veneffect Anti-ageing Lip Treatment, £68, is Caroline Barnes’s favourite lip primer. Erborian Camellia For Lips balm, £18, softens but without too much oiliness. Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipsticks, £22 each, remain as some of the best lip colours on the market. Mac Pro Longwear Lip Pencils, £15, are creamy, non-drying and come in lots of shades.