In 3D company

3D lip looks from London Fashion Week. Pics/Getty Images

No longer is it acceptable for a beauty lover to slick a tube of lipstick over their mouth and call it a day. From stained lips, to lip contours, to glitter and foiled finishes, there's a lot you can do to upgrade your lip game. And, if the recent London Fashion Week is any indicator, there's a new lip trend that's poised to rule social media for a while now. At KNWLS's runway show, makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver upped the 3D lip by showcasing various iterations in multiple finishes.

"As the name suggests, 3D lips create the illusion of a fuller pout through placement of light and dark colours. You could recreate the look in a finish of your choice," advises make-up artist Sneh Sharma. The simplest way to recreate this look is to line your lips with a lip liner that is slightly darker than your lipstick shade. Next, fill in your lips with lipstick and apply highlighter only on your Cupid's bow. You could also create a colour gradient of sorts by using the lightest shade at the very centre of your mouth, where your pout is its fullest. More dramatic the gradient, the more striking will your look turn out.

Sneh Sharma

On the KNWLS runway, a model turned heads with her metallic 3D lips. You could replicate this with metallic shadows which, Sharma says, will accentuate your lip shape while also creating an iridescent effect. For maximum impact, combine gold and silver. Another trick is to highlight the centre of your upper and lower lips with white eyeliner or lip liner.

Importantly, Sharma advises starting out with a good base - a lip rejuvenator enriched with peptides and hyaluronic acid will soften the lines on your lips. You could also use a lip scrub to ease away any dead or flaky skin for a smoother finish. Lastly, make sure to blend your lipstick well, using a soft fluffy brush, Sharma signs off.