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The question

I have never had much lip definition and am wondering if you could suggest a simple makeup technique that will make them prominent. Do I need lip liner? Are there any colours I should use – or avoid?

The answer

If you don't want to spend more than a minute on your lips, lip liners and glosses are the easiest way to add colour, shape and definition. In general, lighter colours will make lips appear higher and, in turn, bigger, whereas darker colours recede and will make them appear smaller.

So, avoid matte, dark colours, opting for glossy, lighter shades or even lipsticks with shimmer. A quick method for defined, bigger-looking lips: Fill in the lips with liner after you've lined them, then top them off with gloss. If you've got more time, use an angle brush and a shimmery white shadow, drawing along your cupid's bow (the small dip at the centre of your upper lip) to attract more light there; follow this with a dab of a medium brown shade underneath the centre of your lower lip line and blend it in well.

Bahar Niramwalla is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty specialist who has appeared on The Marilyn Denis Show. Have a beauty question? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.

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