The Brilliant Makeup Trick Meghan Markle Always Does but No One Has Noticed

Updated on 6/20/2019 at 12:45 PM

As we've watched her transition from TV actress to member of the royal family, one thing's become very clear: Meghan Markle has plenty of beauty tricks up her sleeve. Some she may have borrowed from Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, and many she's established herself thanks to her makeup artist, Daniel Martin.

The Duchess of Sussex is known for her signature messy bun and a good dose of bronzer, but she also has a lip liner trick that you've probably never even noticed. Overlining the lips is nothing new, and the technique sometimes gets a bad rap (thank you to the '90s). The technique is often in a far less obvious way, in an effort to make lips appear fuller. Markle has been doing this so subtly that it's barely noticeable, which makes all the difference in maintaining a natural finish. We asked makeup artist Nikki Wolff to share how to make lips look naturally fuller using liner at home, so keep reading to get all her top tips, and see all the photos of Markle making it look easy.

How To Create the Illusion Of Fuller Lips With Lip Liner

"Choose a lip liner one shade darker than your natural lip color," says Wolff. "And with a well-sharpened pencil , draw slightly over your natural lip line, focusing on the center of your mouth." Then, when you get to the corners of your mouth, just stick to your natural lip line. Overlining the sides of your mouth will automatically call attention to the fact you've exaggerated your lip line.

How Far You Can Go When Overlining?

How much you overline differs depending on the shape of your lips. "Start close to your natural shade, and gradually build volume to keep it bespoke and natural looking," says Wolff.

Where To Start Lining Your Lips

Wolff's personal tip in lining lips is to "start at the Cupid's bow," as she says this helps to maintain symmetry.

How To Make Lip Liner Last

If you want your liner to stay put, Wolff has a few tips. "Liner applied on bare lips tends to last well. Avoid applying anything too glossy on top for extra staying power."

Finding the Best Shade For Your Skin Tone

"Fairer skins tend to work well with rosy beige shades whereas olive skins look great with warmer shades. Caramel and dark skin tones are beautifully complemented by bronze or slightly shimmery tones," explains Wolff.