I don’t know about you, but I LOVE me some lipstick. Some people prefer gloss. Some skip their lips altogether. I must admit, I love gloss too, but I love the look and feel of a pretty color on my lips. Maybe it’s because my natural lip color is non-existent? I dunno. The only thing I hate about it is reapplying (or checking to see if I need to reapply). Whether I’m at work or out at a party, I don’t want to worry if my lipstick has faded or disappeared quickly. I’m sure you feel the same. So you want to know how to make your lipstick last all day?
First off, the technique that I’m about to share works best with a matte lip look. So if you’re into that, then this is right up your alley. Carry on!
What you’ll need:
- Lipstick
- Lip brush
- Lip liner
- Lip exfoliator
- Powder brush
- Loose powder
- Piece of toilet paper
You DO NOT need to use the same products that I am using. You can use whatever you already have, but I’ve listed what I’m using here in case you’re curious:
- Lipstick – Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick – This formula has great staying power and comes in pretty colors.
- Lip brush – e.l.f. Retractable Lip Brush – This is a great lip brush that retracts so you can throw it in your purse and go. And it’s crazy cheap.
- Lip liner – Prestige Waterproof Lipliner – This liner has great staying power.
- Lip exfoliator – e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator – FAVORITE ALERT – I love this stuff, works great and is super cheap.
- Powder brush – Estee Lauder Powder Brush 10 – This is a decent brush, but any fluffy powder brush should do the trick.
- Powder – Coty AirSpun Translucent Loose Face Powder – This is hands down my favorite powder of all time. Make sure you’re using “translucent” and not a color.
Step One: Prep
You cannot skip this step by any means. Your lips have to be prepped properly before your lipstick is going to last. And we all know this time of year is hard on our skin and lips. So what am I talking about? EXFOLIATING. Yes, you need to do this. Remove the scales. (eww!) Even if you think you’re good to go, I’d recommend not skipping this step. When your lips are smooth and moisturized, your lip color will look better and last longer. And guess what? It’s easier than you think.
Fortunately, e.l.f. Cosmetics makes a super awesome lip exfoliator that only costs a couple of bucks! Not only that, but it comes in different flavors. Pretty fun! All you have to do is smear it on your lips as if you’re putting on lipstick. It has tiny beads that slough off the dead skin. Gently use your finger to rub in a circular motion, and that should do the trick. You can use a light damp cloth or a q-tip. Gently wipe off. Once it comes off, the prep part is over! Easy peasy.
Step Two: Cover Your Mouth
If you’re doing a full face of makeup with foundation, then it doesn’t hurt to cover your lips too. If you apply your foundation with a brush, just simply sweep the excess over your lips for a very light covering. DO NOT go crazy and cake on a thick layer of foundation. This will cause that nasty lip crease. I know you know what I’m talking about! Just gently blend into your lip line, and it’s okay if it’s covering a part of your lips. Don’t go overboard and completely cover your mouth. If you use a beauty blender, gently stipple the excess foundation over your lip lines. The key here is gently and barely. Once you’re finished with your face and you’re ready to set with powder, you can take your powder brush and stipple a quick dusting of powder over your lips to set.
Step Three: Get Lining
Time to grab the lip liner. Line your lips all around, but don’t stop there. Using a light hand, you’ll want to fill in your entire lips with the liner also to act as a good base. Get to coloring!
Step Four: Grab That Brush
Now it’s time to add color. Instead of swiping on your lipstick in a quick motion, you’ll want to use a lip brush instead. This carefully applies the color and fills it in more precisely, covering areas that you may have missed otherwise. Once you’ve filled in your entire lip area over your liner, blot with a tissue or a piece of toilet paper to remove the excess.
Step Five: TP Tip
Okay, now here’s the step that you may not know about. After you’ve blotted your lips, you want to “seal” the color. Grab one square of toilet paper. If you have 2-ply paper (I mean, does anyone actually buy 1-ply? haha), then pull it apart so that you only have 1-ply. Take the 1-ply piece and gently press it over your lips. Make sure your mouth stays CLOSED. Grab your fluffy powder brush and dip lightly in some loose powder. Then brush it over the toilet paper on your lips. It leaves a light enough dusting to cover without the powdery look and gives it a soft, matte finish while sealing the color on.
Then gently pull off, and voila! All set!
Now enjoy! And in a few hours, check out your lips! You will likely not need to reapply. The color may not be as vibrant, but it should still be there. To help with this, you can drink out of a straw too. Then your lips won’t get wet, and your color will have even more staying power. This was taken hours later.
Have you tried any of these tips and tricks? How did they work out for you? Comment below!