Miscellaneous, Tips & Tricks
Comments 11

Lipstick Week, Day 6 Reject: How to Make Your Lipstick Last Longer

This was supposed to be a Day 6 post, I think, but then I wanted a space for my mauves and plums, so I was going to make it a “Lipstick Week Special,” but ended up being too swamped to put it up.

Here are a few ways to make your lipstick last longer on your lips. 🙂

Obviously, it all still depends on your lipstick formulation. If it’s a glossy, sheer formula like the Revlon Lip Butters or the Chanel Rouge Coco Shines, then there isn’t really much you can do to prolong its wear. Still, it helps to prep your lips for a long day. 🙂

Make your Base Ace. What do I mean by this? Just prep your lips for a smooth ride. You can’t expect your lipstick to perform like a race car if the tracks are a craggy mess. Here are some tips for a great base:

  • Exfoliate! This gets rid of dry flakes and creates a smooth base for your lipstick.

    You can buy a lip scrub (a good one is Sara Happ’s The Lip Scrub) or make your own (check out this tutorial by Bea of The Dalaga Project).

    You can also use a moisturizing lip balm to soften the skin, let it sink in for a few minutes, then scrub away the dry skin using an old soft toothbrush or a clean towel.

  • Speaking of which, Moisturize!

    There are a bunch of great ones out there, but find one that suits you best. I like Sara Happ’s The Lip Slip, Snoe Beauty’s Beso Balm, and good ol’ Carmex (the one that comes in a pot).

Use a lip liner to fill in your lips. If the color doesn’t match, it will probably alter the color a little, but it will definitely be a great sort of base for your lipstick to hang onto.

The one photographed is a great one by Smashbox called The Nude Lip Pencil. It claims it’s the only lip liner you’ll ever need, but I don’t know if I believe that.

Layer on the lip product. Apply the lip product, then blot it away. Apply it again, then blot away. The first layer will be a sort of stain!

Don’t use a balm. At least, not right before applying lipstick. Apply lip balm, let it sink in, then wipe away before applying lipstick.

Stop licking your lips. Your lipstick will last way longer.

No, seriously. Stop. You’re welcome.

So, I hope these tips helped! If you have any tricks of your own, feel free to leave them in the comments below. 🙂

11 Comments

  1. Wow! I never knew that about lip balms. I’ve always put on lip balm right before lipstick as a sort of moisturizer (kind of like putting on moisturizer on face before foundation etc). I’ll have to remember this. Thanks Carina!

    • Yup, but for foundations, you have to let moisturizer sink into the skin first, too. 🙂

      Sometimes lip balms add too much slip to the lipstick that the pigment doesn’t adhere to the lips!

  2. I read in a magazine once that you can apply lipstick, blot, then apply a final layer. The first one sort of acts as a stain and blotting will help “press” the color into your lips. 🙂 Then again, you’re right about the type of lipstick. The best wearing one I have is NARS Schiap! It’s incredibly drying but it lasts reaaaaally long.

    p.s.
    Not related to lipstick but I was meaning to ask – what brush would you recommend for gel eyeliner? 🙂

      • Oops, haha I think I was reading too fast so I missed out on you mentioning the blotting technique!

        Yeas, Schiap is a matte 🙂 it’s a very, very loud pink.

        Thanks for the brush reco! 😀

  3. i’ve always had super dry lips until i learned the word exfoliate. i suggest you try venus and mars lip detox and lip scrub.both are really good in my experience. 🙂

  4. I kind of like my lipsticks to not last crazy long because I need to keep on reapplying. How else will I ever get through my giant pile of lipsticks? 😉

    • Haha yup, I love it a lot! 🙂 I can’t imagine how yucky the pots in Beauty Bar are because of people who dip their fingers in D:

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