Clear lip liner is a type of cosmetic that is applied around the lips to prevent lipstick from smudging or feathering outside the lips. Traditionally, lip liner is colored, and applied in a slightly darker shade than one's lipstick in order to create a more dramatic look. Clear lip liner, however, allows one to keep a more natural look while still keeping the lipstick in place.
Clear lip liner is not shiny, and dries to a matte finish. There is no reason to make the lips appear as if the edges are shiny. It will help to keep the lip color in place; people who have tiny wrinkles around the mouth, for instance, often find that lipstick will feather into those lines, which can be unattractive. Lip liner will prevent this feathering from occurring.
To apply this product, it is best to do so before applying the lipstick. Usually a lip liner comes in a pencil form, but if it doesn't, use a small angled brush or wand to trace the edges of the lips. Be sure to stay within the borders of the lips; do not draw the lip liner larger than the natural lips. Even if it is clear, that will look unnatural. Once the edges of the entire mouth are traced with lip liner, give it a few moments to dry, then apply lipstick as normal.
Lip liner or long-wearing lipstick may be removed at the end of the day with makeup remover. It is unlikely that lip liner will need to be reapplied throughout the day. Though clear lip liner is an excellent choice for creating a more defined line of lipstick, colored lip liner can be a good choice as well if one is looking for a more dramatic look.
Colored lip liner is applied the same way as the clear type; simply choose a color that is no more than one shade darker than the lipstick. Then apply the lip liner in a line around the lips, again being especially certain to stay inside the lips. Lining slightly further within the edges can make very full lips look thinner, whereas concentrating on the outer edges of the lips can make a thin mouth look wider. Experiment with lip liner to see what looks best; if it turns out to be too dark, choose a clear lip liner or one that is the same shade of the lipstick instead.
