Cupid's Bow Lips: How To Create This Classic Lip Shape
In recent years, Cupid has been getting a lot more press coverage… and not just around Valentine’s Day. Cupid’s Bow Lips have quickly become one of the most sought-after lip trends in the makeup world, and we totally get why.
When you define your Cupid’s bow, your lips look larger, more defined, and more dramatic.
That’s why, in this guide, we’re going to take a close look at what your Cupid’s bow actually is, how to use makeup to define it, and the pros and cons of other methods used to make the Cupid’s bow more prominent.
What Is a Cupid’s Bow?
Before we get to how you can use makeup to define and draw attention to your Cupid’s bow, we have to define exactly what it is. Your Cupid’s bow is the small dip right in the center of your top lip. It gives your upper lip two distinct peaks and gives your lips a heart shape (which is probably how it got its name).
Most people have a Cupid’s bow to some extent, but some people have less obvious dips which makes their Cupid’s bow appear less prominent. Certain celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna are actually known for having pronounced, distinctive Cupid’s bows.
How Can You Use Makeup To Define Your Cupid’s Bow?
Now that you know all about what a Cupid’s bow is, you might be wondering if you can naturally enhance the appearance of yours. The answer is yes, and luckily, it’s easy to do at home with a few makeup products!
This section will break down the seven steps you have to take to get a defined, dramatic Cupid’s bow.
Gather Your Materials
Just like with all makeup looks, it’s easier to define your Cupid’s bow if you have all the materials you’ll need on hand before you start. That said, you’ll want to gather your lip scrub, lip balm, favorite lip liner pencil, lip brush (if you use one for applying lipstick), lipstick, lip gloss, and highlighter.
Once you have everything gathered, you’re ready to start defining your Cupid’s bow! Keep in mind that it’s usually advisable to do your lip look last, so you should take the following steps after you’ve applied your primer, face makeup, and eye makeup.
Prep Your Lips
The same way you cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate, and prime your skin for your face makeup, you need to prep your lips before applying any lip products.
Prepping your lips is an easy way to make sure your lips are moisturized and exfoliated before you apply any tinted products. Doing so also guarantees that the products go on smoothly and you get fuller coverage.
Start by exfoliating your lips with the Bubble Buff Lip Scrub. This lip scrub has a gel texture that lightly foams. It will remove any makeup residue and dead skin on your lips. Then, to make sure your lips are ultra-hydrated, apply the Nourishing Lip Balm.
Formulated with olive oil, shea butter, and vitamin E, this balm will leave your lips moisturized and soft.
Draw an “X” On Your Cupid’s Bow
With your lips prepped and ready, it’s time to start defining! The first step in this process involves drawing an “X” on your Cupid’s bow in lip liner. Make sure you choose a shade of lip liner that matches the lipstick color you’ll use later.
Regardless of how defined your Cupid’s bow is, locate the dip in the middle of your upper lip and start from there. The top points of the “X” should line up with the two highest points on either side of the center point on your upper lip.
There are a few tips to keep in mind with this step. First, you’ll get a much more precise result if you use a sharpened lip liner pencil or a lip liner with a smaller tip. Also, you want to make sure to trace the exact line of your lips.
Even though overlining with lip liner has been all the rage in recent years, for this look, you want to follow the natural lines without over or underlining your lips.
Finish Lining Your Lips
Once your “X” is drawn on, finish lining your lips. Remember to start in the middle of your bottom lip when lining it to guarantee the most even application of your lip liner.
From there, part your lips slightly and draw two sideways “V”s in the corners to connect your top and bottom lip liner. Drawing these lines will create a boundary for your lipstick.
From there, connect all the lines you’ve drawn so that your lips are fully lined. When applying lip liner, it’s always a good idea to hold your pencil vertically and flat against your lips. In this way, with the tip pointing upwards, you’ll get the cleanest application.
Outside of the “X” on your Cupid’s bow, if you want to slightly overline your lips, go for it. Just remember not to overline so dramatically that you can’t connect the liner on the rest of your lips to the “X” on your Cupid’s bow.
Apply Your Lipstick
As soon as you’re satisfied with your lipliner, it’s time to apply your lipstick. Swipe it on just as you usually would, but make sure not to go outside the lines of the lip liner. When it comes to choosing lipstick, consider what vibe you’re going for.
A high-shine lipstick like the Mirror Kiss High-Shine Lipstick will give your lips an almost glossy, glassy appearance. On the other hand, a matte lipstick like the Dynamatte Boom Long-Lasting Matte Lipstick will give you full coverage color without any of the sheen.
Blot to Perfection
It’s now time to give your lips a quick blot. Take a clean tissue to blot any of the extra lip product off your lips without pressing so hard that you risk taking off any of the liner. Blotting your lips is an easy way to make sure your lipstick doesn’t smudge or transfer to cups or bottles throughout the day.
If you want even more definition, you can gently pull a cotton swab around the outline of your lips to make sure the lines are crisp.
Apply Your Lipstick
As soon as you’re satisfied with your lipliner, it’s time to apply your lipstick. Swipe it on just as you usually would, but make sure not to go outside the lines of the lip liner. When it comes to choosing lipstick, consider what vibe you’re going for.
A high-shine lipstick like the Mirror Kiss High-Shine Lipstick will give your lips an almost glossy, glassy appearance. On the other hand, a matte lipstick like the Dynamatte Boom Long-Lasting Matte Lipstick will give you full coverage color without any of the sheen.
Blot to Perfection
It’s now time to give your lips a quick blot. Take a clean tissue to blot any of the extra lip product off your lips without pressing so hard that you risk taking off any of the liner. Blotting your lips is an easy way to make sure your lipstick doesn’t smudge or transfer to cups or bottles throughout the day.
If you want even more definition, you can gently pull a cotton swab around the outline of your lips to make sure the lines are crisp.
Add a Touch of Highlighter
Speaking of extra-definition, you can make your Cupid’s bow pop with a touch of highlighter. This is a trick that makeup artists swear by (including for runway looks!) because it draws the eye’s focus to your Cupid’s bow.
Using a liquid or cream highlighter, add two dots of product to the tops of your Cupid’s bow (just above where the top of the lip liner “X” hit). It may be helpful to use a brush or a cotton swab to delicately tap it onto your Cupid’s bow. This will ensure the most natural-looking application.
If you swear by powder highlighter, you can definitely use it for this step! That said, you’ll need to be a bit more careful with powder highlighter so that it doesn’t fall onto your lips and stick to your lipstick. You also want to stay away from any especially glittery highlighters for this step because they might look unnatural when applied to your Cupid’s bow.
Finishing Touches
The only step left is to add the finishing touches! If you want a glossy look, you can swipe on a glitter lip gloss or lip oil to give your lips that extra shimmery effect. The shine added by products like these will play up the shape of your lips and give your Cupid’s bow an even more defined look.
Lips You’ll Love
When it comes to the shape of your lips, there are several tips and tricks you can use to play up certain features. In this guide, we saw how with lip liner, lipstick, and a little bit of highlighter, you can quickly make your Cupid’s bow pop and look more pronounced.
Once you master this makeup look, snap a few posts, upload them, and don’t forget to tag us! At SHEGLAM, you are at the center of everything we do, and we want to be a part of your makeup journey!