Lipstick may seem like a simple beauty product – swipe, swipe, and you’re done! But there are so many little mistakes you can make, resulting in everything from dry, flakey lips to lipstick-stained teeth. The good news is that knowing the mistakes is the first step in learning the proper technique to fix them!
Mistake #1: You’re Not Exfoliating
This is a mistake that so many people make and it has a significant impact on how the lipstick goes on and it’s staying power. Exfoliating your lips before applying lipstick removes dry flakey skin and reduces the chance of lipstick settling into any fine lines. It’ll also help hydrate the lips, ensuring lipstick lasts as long as possible without needing to reapply.
Luckily, you don’t need a high-end product to exfoliate your lips! Try one of our favorite affordable lip exfoliators, Kopari Coconut Lip Scrubby, to help you get perfect-pout ready.
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Mistake #2: You’re Not Moisturizing
Before you apply lipstick, it’s wise to use a couple of swipes of lip balm to add moisture, especially if you’re using a matte lipstick that may be drying. Be sure you don’t apply the balm right before the lipstick, as it’ll dilute the pigment and make it glossy. Instead, moisturize when you first sit down, applying the rest of your makeup before and ending with the lipstick application. If you fail to hydrate first, your lips may suck up any moisture from the lipstick, accentuating any dry spots and making your lips look and feel tight.
A good quality hydrating lip balm is an important everyday product, but if you regularly wear lipstick, consider adding a lip mask, like the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, to your beauty routine too. This will help combat the dryness that wearing lipstick can cause on a deeper level.
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Mistake #3: You’re Not Lining
Lining your lips is an important step to stop the color from bleeding onto the surrounding skin, especially if you’re using a bold, matte or highly pigmented lip color. Having a liner to match each lipstick you own may not be reasonable (or affordable!), but a lip brush can help precisely line lips using the same lipstick you fill with! Using a liner also helps define the cupid’s brow (that little “v” at the top of the upper lip), accentuating lip shape and making them look pouty. Simply use the brush or lip liner to make two lines from the two highest points on your upper lip (the top “tips” of the “v”), connecting them to form an X across the upper lip. Then line the rest of the lips and fill them in.
Looking for a brush that won’t break the bank? Check out the Maybelline Expert Lip Brush – one of our favorite budget-friendly lip brushes.
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Mistake #4: You’re Not Setting
If you want your lipstick to last past your morning cup of coffee, you should definitely be setting your lipstick after applying. Setting is a must if you’re planning on eating while you’re wearing lipstick, as it stops color from coming off on your food, glass, or teeth.
It’s simple. Once you’ve applied the lipstick, lightly blot with a tissue. Then grab a square of toilet paper and separate the layers so you’ve got one-ply toilet paper. Pout your lips, stick the single layer of tissue on, and use a fluffy brush to dab translucent setting powder all over, like the KVD Vegan Beauty Lock-It Finishing Powder. Carefully peel off the tissue and make any small touch-ups, need be. Your lips are now ready to take on the day!
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Mistake #5: You’re Not Checking Your Teeth
Is there anything worse than realizing you’ve had lipstick on your teeth for hours without noticing (or anybody telling you)? It’s normal to take a quick glance in the morning to make sure there’s none there, but that doesn’t mean some won’t show up later! Setting your lipstick helps, but a good make-up artist-approved hack is to stick your index finger all the way into your mouth, purse your lips, and slowly pull your finger out while keeping your lips around it. This may look a little strange, but the trick is a foolproof way to remove any lipstick hiding on the inside of your lips, keeping it from transferring onto your teeth later in the day.