The Lip(liners) Have It

I was recently asked to transcribe an interview with celebrity make-up artist Kay Montano. Kay spoke lucidly about her a-list clients; that face powder incident with Nicole, working with Kiera's bold features, and.. the merits of lip liner. 

Now. When I think of lip liner, I picture myself aged 11, excitedly exploring my horde of mum's Clinique cast-offs and making a tragic mess of my face in the process. I think old ladies. I think Eastenders. I think the 1970s. But according to Kay, lip-liner = life-saver in the world of celebrity make-up. Apparently, it all comes  down to control, a factor which escapes a make-up artist the minute their client leaves the chair - who knows what they will do, she implores. I detect a sense of panic. As though our beloved celebs might take to their lips with a red crayon, a la that imfamous taxi scene in Ab Fab, when Eddy inadvertantly turns her face into a child's scribbles en route to a crucial meeting. Of the tricks and tools Kay uses to regain this upper-hand on those dastardly cosmetics and their tendancy to droop / slip / cake with time, it was lip liner she repeatedly returned to, heralding it as creating a clean, sharp, controlled look that will last under the presure of the celebrity circuit.

So. Should we all rush out and buy one? Well, with colour blocking set to storm the markets for summer, perhaps a liner isn't a bad investment. If you're a fan of the red lips, a liner will help keep your colour at bay, and prevent that awful "creeping" into fine lines around the mouth. However, beware the fated two-tone look. If you must line, then repeat after me.. match match match! Your lipstick should perfectly match the hue of your liner, or it is simply pointless. I'll give a few a road-test tonight and let you see what I mean.