John Nelson of Shu Uemura gives us a master class in making lips appear thinner

Shu Uemura's resident makeup artist John Nelson knows the value of good beauty brushes and tools, and uses only the best to make up women's faces - from Geoffrey Beene fashion models to women from all walks of life. Working from the Shu Uemura boutique in New York City's Soho, he dispenses all kinds of beauty tips and secrets as he plies his trade using the Shu Uemura line of products. Here John helps show you how to make your lips appear thinner.

STEP 1 The goal, says John, is to neutralise the lips by toning them down. Skip the lip liner, he advises (it accentuates the lips) and use a neutral lipstick so the colour is not too intense.

STEP 2 Apply foundation or powder to clean lips (so the lipstick can adhere better).

STEP 3 Apply lipstick with a lip brush to the entire lip area, staying within your natural lip lines. Do not use lip gloss since it reflects light and makes the lips appear larger. Use matte and creme formulas which are flat and do not reflect light.