Lipstick

Exfoliate
The secret to a perfectly applied pout is ensuring your lips are smooth and plump before you put on lipstick. Exfoliate your lips with a soft, damp toothbrush, silicone lip brush, or sugar scrub once a week to keep your lips smooth and peeling at bay.

Moisturize
If you’re a beginner and wondering how to apply your lipstick without cracks, you must moisturize. The cracks in your lips become more pronounced when dehydrated, making it hard to achieve a smooth lipstick application. After exfoliating your lips, wet them with a bit of water—after all, water is what hydrates—and then seal in the moisture with an occlusive lip treatment. Be sure to apply lip balm every day to maintain the hydration.

Apply a Base
Not sure what you should apply to your lips before lipstick? As mentioned above, you should always start with lip balm to ensure your lips stay nice and hydrated. If you’re wearing a full face of makeup and want to ensure your lipstick doesn’t budge, some makeup artists suggest applying a small amount of concealer or foundation to your lips to act as a primer. This step can also help to fill in any lines for a silky-smooth application.

Line Lips
Lip liner is an optional step that can help to define the look of your lips, prevent lipstick bleeding, help your lipstick last longer, and even give your lips a fuller appearance. The rule for lip liner is that it should be one to two shades darker than the lipstick you’re applying. The color contrast is what helps to give your lips that ultra-defined look. When lining your lips, follow the natural shape of your lips. If you want to give your pout a fuller appearance, line your lips slightly outside the natural edge of your lips.

Apply Lipstick
This step may sound self-explanatory, but there is a method to a flawless lipstick application. We recommend starting the lipstick application at the center of your lips and working your way out. If your lips are already lined, simply fill in the lines. If you skipped liner, gently work your way to the edges of your lips to keep your lipstick application clean and precise.

Blot
If you have memories of watching your mom apply her lipstick, you likely remember her blotting her lips with a tissue before heading out the door. This old-school trick is still a staple and can help make your lipstick last longer and reduce the amount of rouge transferred when eating and drinking. Fold a tissue in half, place it between your lips, and press down, leaving the excess pigment on the tissue.

Apply Second Coat
Blotting is a great way to help your lipstick last all day, but if it dulls the final look of your lip color, gently apply a thin second coat to ensure it pops. Consider using a dabbing technique to ensure your second coat doesn’t undo the work of the blotting.

Gloss
This step is optional, but if you love the look of lip gloss but want the intensity of lipstick, consider adding a glossy topcoat to finish off your look. A quick swipe of lip gloss will take your look from matte to shimmer in no time.