Lipstick
Applying lipstick that lasts
Every woman wants her lipstick to outlast her. And while there are new formulas that promise to make it through the day, they can be expensive as well as drying to the lips. Thankfully, there are ways to make your favorite lipstick last as long as you want it too. Here’s what you need to know.
Prepping those lips
A good pair of lips will want to hold onto the lip color that you apply. To get lips that last, you will want to add a few steps to your nightly routine. After brushing your teeth, you’ll want to rinse and wash off your lips of any remaining toothpaste. Take your clean toothbrush and gently rub it over your lips to remove any excess skin cells that are causing them to be rough. Gently rinse your lips and pat dry. Then apply a coat of petroleum jelly or a thick lip balm before you head to bed. This will allow your lips to soak up the moisture overnight, allowing you to wake up to a softer pair of lips.
Ready for your close-up?
When you’re ready to apply your lipstick, you’ll want to start by adding a light layer of foundation to your lips or a lipstick foundation (some are now being produced). This will help to smooth the surface of your lips and provide an instant palette upon which to apply the lipstick. Let the foundation dry and try not to move your lips as it does so. When it has dried, apply a light lip liner around the insides of your lip line. Make sure that this is close to your natural skin color in order to prevent a harsh look. Then fill in your lips with your chosen lipstick, lightly. Blot that lipstick and then apply another coat. You can do this by firming pressing your lips against a piece of tissue.
When you’re done with that coat, blot your lips again with a fresh piece of tissue. Take another piece of tissue and hold over your lips. Powder your lips through the tissue in order to give them staying power. Or you can also use one of the new sealants that are being sold, but powder works just as well.
Other tricks that you can use
A great way to keep your lips looking polished is to add a little lip gloss on the top layer of your lipstick. This will add some shine as well as another layer of protection. It doesn’t have to be a heavy coat, just enough to cover the area. When that gloss starts to wear off, you can reapply a coat of lipstick and then another coat of gloss.
The darker the lipstick, the more difficult it may be to keep it looking that way from day to night. If you’re just going to the office, try using a more neutral toned lipstick color in order to reduce the appearance of fading. For a night out on the town, the tricks above will get you through until morning.