Lipstick is one of the beauty industry’s best-kept secrets due to its incredible versatility. Heading somewhere dressy but don’t have time for a full 20-minute makeup routine? Swipe on some mascara with a bold lip, and you’re good to go. Feeling like a simple makeup look? Slip on some lipstick and nude concealer, and you’re set for the day. However you choose to wear it, lipstick has got your back—or, in this case, your lips.
To make your lip color last as long as possible, there are a few quick and crucial steps to keep in mind. Sure, you could simply swipe and go, but let’s be real, that kind of application probably won’t last very long and will likely start feathering and fading within a few hours.
Fortunately, there are some simple tips and tricks you can incorporate into your makeup routine to make your favorite lipstick shade last all day. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to apply lipstick like a pro below and get ready for smudge-proof lip color that will last as long as you need it to.
Step 1 – Exfoliate Your Lips
The enemy of flawless-looking lips is dry, flaky skin. So, before you even begin applying lipstick, you’ll want to ensure you’ve established a smooth, hydrated base for your color. The best way to kick things off is by using a lip scrub. We’re particularly fond of the HANALEI COMPANY Sugar Lip Scrub, packed with vitamin C and Hawaiian kukui nut oil to leave your lips feeling baby soft.
Rub a pea-sized amount of the product all over your lips in a gentle circular motion using your finger. Make sure you exfoliate both the innermost and outermost parts of your lips for a thorough scrub. For a more intense exfoliation, you can use a toothbrush to gently brush the scrub around your lips (just don’t press too hard or you might end up breaking the skin). After about a minute, wipe off the scrub and dead skin using a tissue.
Step 2 – Apply Lip Balm
Now that we have a fresh base, it’s time to hydrate your lips. The best way to do this is by using a lip balm. This step is especially important if you’re opting for a matte lipstick or lip stain, as these tend to be drier than other formulas.
When looking for a lip balm to use under lipstick, go for one that will absorb quickly, such as INC. REDIBLE Jelly Shot Lip Quencher in Ex Revenge. Thick, liquidy balms will usually take longer to absorb and could disrupt the rest of the application, but a lightweight one like this is still moisturizing without feeling gunky. After all, you want your lips to feel soft and smooth, not wet and slick.
Step 3 – Choose Your Shade
Now comes the fun part: choosing the color! With literally millions of lipstick shades to choose from, finding the perfect one can feel overwhelming. If you’re a lipstick newbie, you’ll want to start the selection process by first figuring out if you have warm or cool undertones in your skin. An easy way to find out is to look at the veins on your wrist under natural light. If they appear slightly green, you have warm undertones. If they look blue, that’s a hint you have cool undertones. If you see a mix, you have neutral undertones.
Whether you’re trying to find the best red for your skin tone or searching for the perfect nude, a good sign that the lipstick will suit you well is if the color has the same warm or cool undertones as your skin. Not sure what to pick? Check out our guides for the best reds, nudes, pinks, oranges, and even glitters for every skin tone and preference.
Step 4 – Apply Lip Liner
Before you start applying lipstick, there’s one more key prep step: applying lip liner. It might be tempting to skip this step, but don’t! Lip liner is undoubtedly the most crucial part of the whole process. It typically lasts much longer than lipstick, helps define the shape of your lips, and provides a base coat, so if and when your lipstick wears off, it’s not quite as noticeable. Waterproof (and drink-proof) lip liner like OFRA COSMETICS Lip Liner in Maya or Silk is a favorite of ours.
When applying lip liner, start from the cupid’s bow (the two curves in the center of your upper lip) and work your way slowly around the edges of your lips, creating an outline. Then, fill in your lips using the lip liner. If you want to make your lips appear larger than they are in reality, do this by drawing just outside the natural line of your lips. This way, the faux contour will last all day. For more tips, take a look at our step-by-step guide for applying lip liner.
Step 5 – Apply Lipstick
There are a lot of variables in this step since there are so many different types of lipstick applicators. There are traditional lipsticks in tubes, liquid lipsticks that come with a doe-foot applicator, lip stains, lip pencils… the list goes on. There’s no one best type of lipstick applicator; which one you choose is really a matter of personal preference.
For beginners, solid lipsticks are generally the easiest to control and apply. Lip stains, lip pencils, and lip crayons also allow for a lot of control. Liquid lipsticks with doe-foot applicators tend to be the trickiest, but they can be easily mastered with a bit of practice.