She's your typical broke student so it has to be DIY

Inject bee pollen into her face?

Kiss her a ton?

Okay, I got nothing. May I ask why she must undergo this transformation?

Ooh. I meant like, cosmetic techniques :)

I suppose 'why' is a fairly piercing question. I just remember her so pretty from HS (five yrs ago), I kinda want to eke that person back out in her. So it's an intersection of her self-esteem issues ("i need a makeover I look horrid") and my vague tangential latent crush.

How about trying a lip plumper?

Use a lip liner as close to her natural lip colour as possible. Sharpen it sharp-sharp. Line the bottom lip as is. Line the top lip *ever* so slightly outside of her natural lipline. I cannot stress enough ever so slightly enough or she will look like a clown. Powder to keep the lipliner put. Apply a nice neutral lipstick and gloss. If you want to get fancy, mix up a lipstick shade slightly lighter that her usual lipstick. Use that for the top lip, and the usual shade for the bottom. The idea is to highlight her top lip. This effect can also be achieved with more gloss on the top lip, and just a wee bit on the bottom.

But to be honest - will this actually make her feel better? A cup of coffee with you and a walk around the park once a week might bring back a smile? I think smiling lips make anyone look infinitely better!

I should just be all punk-rock and say "fuck the 30somethings, you should date me." lol

Seriously, those lip plumpers work. I have kind of thin lips and they work.

Just don't let her go too far and get "inner tube" lips, like some very misguided celebrities. Not a good look.

Photoshop.

Photoshop.

*mentally faved*

I would like to go on public record and say FUCK ALL TO MAKEOVERS. I have always been partial to women who don't wear makeup and just are as they are day-to-day.

Lips are lips, cheeks are cheeks, eyebrows and chins are eyebrows and chins. There's far more going on with people than what they primp themselves out with.

I'm glad I don't live in your frumpy world, Lipstick Thespian, and enjoy trying to bring out the best in myself and others. It's why I comb my hair in the morning, occasionally wear a nice shirt too. You might as well tell a student 'fuck studying' or a sportsman 'fuck practicing' etc. as tell a person 'nevermind whether you're looking sharp or not'.

What typewriter said works, also iconomy's lip plumper is an expensive alternative, and they tend to sting. But hey give it a go might be her thing.

Tanks guys, I'm definitely gonna relay typewriter's technique and the lip plumper thing. Also having slept on it I agree to some extent that her larger issue isn't just about lip-liner and looks, but I mean, it's the little things that add up.

Hey, it's not a frumpy world. I agree with typewriter: makeup doesn't fix personality problems, depression, or lack of self-esteem. Sure it's fun to play with, but it's not a simple equation in which spending money on petroleum-based grooming products = confidence, self-value and beauty while going au naturel means shame and ugliness.

Beauty lies in health and happiness. All else is gilding the lily.

Hey, it's not a frumpy world. I agree with typewriter: makeup doesn't fix personality problems, depression, or lack of self-esteem. Sure it's fun to play with, but it's not a simple equation in which spending money on petroleum-based grooming products = confidence, self-value and beauty while going au naturel means shame and ugliness.

Beauty lies in health and happiness. All else is gilding the lily.