How you enhance your cupid’s bow, though, is ultimately up to personal preference: Some wish to blur out the peaks for a more muted lip; for others, that little dip is the main character of their entire beat. The good news is, we’ve compiled makeup artist tips for all types of cupid’s bows—prominent, round, or somewhere in between. Although, experts have yet to determine whether the cupid’s bow actually has a scientific purpose—whether yours is pronounced or more rounded, it doesn’t seem to matter. Our verdict? The cupid’s bow is simply what makes your lip shape unique, and each is stunning in its own way. Although, you don’t have to stick to a creamy highlighter (here are our favorite options, though, for reference). According to celebrity makeup artist Mary Irwin, any lighter color will add that faux volume. For example: “You can use concealer in a slightly lighter color to define,” she says. Those added shadows also help accentuate your lip shape, so if you have a stark V at your cupid’s bow, prepare for ultimate definition. Irwin seconds the advice: “Clean up the lip line with pointed [cotton swabs], and then perfect the skin around the lip with a flat concealer brush and concealer.” A pencil or stick form may give you the most precise payoff here (like this full-coverage number from bareMinerals). It’s a similar tip Crimson once gave us to design your desired lip shape: “Mute out areas you don’t want to see, and use liner to create the lip you want.” Although, you’ll want to work with what you have rather than fashioning an entirely new pout—equipped with foundation and liner (and unrealistic expectations), you can easily go overboard. You’ll also want to make sure your lips are aptly hydrated before popping on the foundation, so the formula doesn’t crease midday. Irwin recommends swiping on a moisturizing lip balm a few minutes before this hack (see here for our all-time-favorite buys); just remember to wipe off any excess grease before going in with foundation. Here’s a go-to tip makeup artists swear by: Take a lip liner and draw a diagonal line from the top of one peak until it reaches the bottom of your top lip. Repeat on the other side, crossing the two lines so it creates an X shape. Then, take your lip color du jour and apply, using the X as a guide. The liner acts like a stencil, just like tracing the perimeter of your lips can help you map out the color.
