.
Everyone’s lips are different—and that’s the beauty of it. But sometimes, one side is higher, one corner dips, or the Cupid’s bow isn’t very defined. Instead of just guessing how to “fix” it, this exercise teaches you how to spot exactly what needs help.
And no, it’s not about drawing bigger lips. It’s about drawing smarter lips.
Here’s your makeup artist starter pack for this activity:
5 printed face charts (grab blank ones online or sketch your own)
A lip pencil or colored pencil (neutral tone is best)
Makeup brush or blending tool
Color markers or pens to map out zones
A mirror if you want to check your own lip shape for reference
Optional but fun:
Real lipstick swatches
Digital drawing tools or apps if you like working on a tablet
To train your eye, you need variety. Choose or draw these types:
Small Top / Bigger Bottom Lip
Big Top / Smaller Bottom
Lopsided (one side of the lip higher)
Flat Cupid’s Bow
Corners that pull down
You can trace lips from real faces, magazines, or your friends’ selfies (with permission!).
Before fixing anything, map the lip. Think of this like building a road—you need signs first.
Use color pens to lightly mark these areas on your chart:
Zone A – Vertical center line
Zone B – Width from corner to corner
Zone C – Height from top to bottom
Zone D – Shape of the Cupid’s bow
Zone E – Corners (are they even?)
You’re not drawing over yet. You’re just learning to see like a pro.
Now the detective work starts. Ask:
Is one peak higher than the other?
Is the top lip too thin for the bottom (or the other way around)?
Do the corners dip downward like a frown?
Is the Cupid’s bow clear, soft, or missing?
Don’t touch anything yet. Just write down your 2–3 main “imbalance” notes under each chart.
Remember: No face is perfectly even. Your job isn’t to chase perfection—it’s to balance what’s there.
Now take your lip pencil and lightly sketch your “fixes.” But here’s the rule: Only fix what throws things off.
For example:
If the right peak is too high → adjust the left one slightly
If one corner droops → lift it with a clean curve
If the top lip disappears when smiling → gently build the edge, not the height
If it’s wide but flat → create volume with a rounder arch
Don’t go heavy. Think: subtle, clean, elegant.
Now, look at all 5 charts. Compare:
Which ones felt easy to fix?
Where did you go overboard?
What tiny changes made the biggest difference?
Use a highlighter to circle your best improvement on each chart. That’s your signature move in the making.
Feeling ready for more?
Use lipstick or color pencils to:
Test how your outline holds with color
Check how certain textures (matte, creamy, sheer) affect balance
See if your corrections still look natural with real pigment
This also helps you avoid the common beginner mistake: sharp, boxy outlines with no blend. (We’ve all been there.)
A lot of beginner artists think correction means “draw everything bigger.” But that usually leads to overlining and imbalance.
This face chart activity teaches restraint. Some lips just need a tiny peak adjustment. Others need the bottom corners cleaned up. Few need both top and bottom redrawn.
Good lip design = smart edits, not dramatic changes.
Like any art, this gets better with reps. Try this routine:
Week 1: Focus on just sketching correction zones
Week 2: Add structure lines with light pencil
Week 3: Add lipstick color
Week 4: Try the same thing on your face or a friend’s
Do this once a week for a month, and your lip design instincts will go next level.
By the end of this practice, you’ll be able to:
See where lips are uneven without second-guessing
Know when not to touch an area
Sketch corrections that are barely visible—but totally effective
Blend lipstick with better structure
Talk confidently to clients about their unique lip shapes
Whether you're going for bridal soft, editorial bold, or natural gloss, your structure comes first.
💡 Start at the center. The Cupid’s bow is your control point. If that’s clean, the rest will follow.
💡 Corners control mood. A tiny lift at the ends can take a lip from tired to fresh in seconds.
💡 Feather, don’t fill. Buff color into the liner for soft edges. No one wants a crayon border.
💡 Sketch, don’t press. Use gentle strokes so you can change things easily.
💡 Practice on your own face. See how hard it is to balance left and right? That’s the work. Respect it.
You don’t need big lips to make a big impact. You need control, patience, and a trained eye.
When you can sketch structure before color, you’re not just doing makeup—you’re designing emotion.
This chart exercise gives you the blueprint. Now go make it yours.
https://www.instagram.com/bouba/
https://www.youtube.com/@BoubaTube
https://www.tiktok.com/@boubatok
https://www.facebook.com/Beautiquebybouba/
https://boubaworld.com/online/store
Accreditation number: Q00102504000116
Issued by the National Center for E-Learning
