How To: Just Bitten Lips (5 Ways!)

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I love the look of "just bitten" lips. They're a favorite of mine since my lips aren't really pigmented (aka Zombie Lips). If you want a natural-looking red or berry lip, then you'll love these 5 different ways. While these are perfect for fall, they can be worn year-round. They're easy, quick, and affordable to try.

1--Lip Crayon Stain

• Works best with Revlon Colorburst (original or matte formulas) or Jordana lip crayons.
• Why: 
• If you tried lip crayons and found them too pigmented, this is a more-natural approach.
• How To:
• Dab a little on your finger and rub onto your lips. Or dab a few spots onto your lips and blend in with fingers.

2--Lip Liner + Lip Balm

• One of my oldest tips I've shared on here many times and one of my faves.
• Why:
• This lasts longer than the lip crayon and can be worn as matte or with lip balm.
• How To:
• Choose a lip liner color (I chose a berry one from WetnWild for around 99 cents) and then a cherry or plain lip balm.
• Outline and fill in lips with lip liner. Apply lip balm as desired. I like the cherry version for a bit more color, but that's optional.

3--Dark Berry Lipstick

• Don't be scared by that dark color, but instead get ready for beautiful, berry bitten lips!
• Why:
• You finally want to make that dark lipstick you bought actually wearable. Or you're slowly dipping your toes into darker lips for fall/winter.
• How To:
• Make about 3-4 dabs of the lipstick onto your lips and blend in with your finger. Feel free to add more dabs if you want a darker color. 

4--Lip Stains

• These are easy to apply and also work as a cheek color!
• Why:
• Because you want a natural, lasting stain
• How To: Use the applicator to apply to lips--Benetint has a brush similar to nail polish. Vincent Longo (they currently have a $500 of VL products giveaway--click to enter) and The Balm both use doe-foot applicators. Blend in with a clean finger if needed.

5--Kool-Aid Lip Stain

• This was one of my very first diys--I was around 3 or 4. I think we all tried this, right? I even tried Pixi Stix but it was a huge fail. 
• Why:
• Because you're young at heart. Or maybe you have a desire to be a little crafty. Or maybe you want to impress your kids (especially if they don't belong to you--like nieces and nephews. Just saying)
• How To:
• Open a package of cherry or fruit punch Kool-Aid. Make sure no sugar is added--the kind with sugar is sticky and grainy. Take a pinch or two and place into a bowl/lid/something. Add a drop of water or two. It should look like a paste and I am not posting a pic because it looks, rather, um, bloody. Carefully apply to lips. 
• You can also use food coloring (apply carefully as it could make teeth red temporarily) or blackberries.
• BONUS: Take some of the Kool-Aid mix and mix into petroleum jelly (or equivalent or lip balm). Boom--you just made your own tinted lip balm!

Um, I didn't have time to do my hair. Just focus on the lip color instead. K?

Tips:

• Be sure to exfoliate lips beforehand. A dampened washcloth or toothbrush rubbed onto lips will help. I like solid exfoliators, like from ELF or my DIY version.
• When dealing with lip stains (and esp the Kool-Aid) I use a sponge tip applicator to apply. Check your eyeshadow quads or palettes from the drugstore--those sponge tip things you would normally throw away work perfectly for this and keep fingers clean.