How To: Get Lipstick to Last Longer.

“‎Lipstick is really magical. It holds more than a waxy bit of color – it holds the promise of a brilliant smile, a brilliant day, both literally and figuratively.” – Roberta Gately.

We all want a lipstick to last as long as possible and no one enjoys constantly being paranoid that their lipstick has smudged or faded etc. This is why I have put together these tips which I do in order to ensure longevity.

This post is also in preparation for a new series I am hoping to start in the new year where I will share my favourite lip products from the four main colour groups: purples, nudes, pinks and reds. This means that when I am recommending lip products, you will already have my tips and therefore be ready to wear your favourite lip products.

Tip no. 1:

Exfoliate. This can be done using a toothbrush or a lip scrub. If using a toothbrush just dampen it a little under the tap and scrub away at your lips until smooth. Also, I recommend not doing it in front of your friends when you’re getting ready as you will get some weird looks because it looks like you are doing a very bad job of brushing your tooth.

The lip scrub I use (pictured to the right) is from Lush in Mint Julips (it also comes in three other flavours). I love this so much because it smells deliciously minty, like mint choc chip ice cream.

Bonus: it is made of sugar so when you are done scrubbing your lips, you can lick it off. Extra bonus: this stuff lasts forever. I have had this pot for ten months and it barely looks like I’ve made a dent, despite having used it a lot. However, I don’t use it as much as my toothbrush because it doesn’t appear as effective if your lips are very dry, like mine often get.

Tip no. 2:

Concealer or foundation. It doesn’t matter which, but once you have exfoliated put a little concealer or foundation on your lips. The concealer or foundation helps the lipstick to cling to your lips. Furthermore, because you are reducing the pinkness of your natural lips, it makes the colour of the lipstick pop, therefore looking so much better once you put it on and it really allows you to see the difference in more subtle lipsticks which are closer to your natural lip colour.

Tip no. 3:

Select matte lip products. Due to matte products being more drying, they tend to stay on the lips better and for longer periods of time. I also find that they are more likely to stain your lips, therefore you don’t need to top it up as much throughout the day or night because the fading of the colour is less noticeable. On a side note, if the lipstick you are using is very drying, I recommend putting on a lip balm before putting the concealer onto your lips in order to help soften them and protect them from the drying effects of the lipstick.

Tip no. 4:

Avoid eating and drinking for a short while after having applied lipstick. I have noticed that if I apply lipstick, then immediately go out or start drinking or eating, it is less likely to last and more likely to transfer onto everything my lips touch throughout the day or night. Meanwhile, if I wait a while, it seems to give the lipstick the chance to set on my lips, therefore enabling it to last longer.

Bonus – tip no. 5:

Use a lip liner. Personally, I don’t use lip liners, so this tip isn’t one I have a lot of experience with. However, lip liners are design to help hold lipstick in place as well as make the application of lipsticks easier. This tip is also recommended more if you are using darker lip colours.

So, those are five tips for getting your lipstick to last longer. Do you have any additional tips? Please let us know in the comments below!

-driftinglexi

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