12 Lipstick Application Tips for Smooth, Long-Lasting Color

Woman wearing Glossier G Suit Lipstick in Strike

Aimee Simeon

Great lips can really set off your style, but what's the best way to choose and apply lipstick or gloss? There are definitely a few do's and don't's when it comes to getting great looking lips. Ahead, watch celebrity makeup artist Matin's lipstick tutorial, plus 15 pro application tips to incorporate into your lipstick routine.

Meet the Expert

Matin is a celebrity makeup artist and non-toxic beauty advocate, with clients among the likes of Angelina Jolie, Rebel Wilson, Awkwafina, and more.

Choose a Focal Point

The best approach to makeup is to play up your best feature, so choose between your eyes or your mouth. Concentrating on one of these prominent features will create a necessary focal point.

To get nude lips, cover your lips with concealer or foundation before applying gloss. This renders lips practically colorless and looks great with smokey eyes.

Plump Up Your Lips

You don't have to get fillers to achieve a plumper look. For a fuller appearance, apply liner just outside your natural lip line, then dab a bit of gloss in the middle of your bottom lip and press your lips together.

The Best Way to Apply Lipstick?

There are no real rules for applying lipstick. Some people use special lipstick brushes, while others own one and never use it. Some people use their middle finger and apply it straight from the tube. Choose what's right for you. As long as the color gets on the lips, you're good.

Use Liner as a Base

Lipstick will last longer if you first fill in your lips with the liner. If you're using light lipstick, try a nude liner, and then slick your lipstick on top. For a bolder look, use a darker or more colorful liner shade. Lip gloss is infamous for wearing off fast. However, if you fill your lips with a liner, you give the gloss something to stick to.

Try a Long-Lasting Lip Stain

If lipstick and glosses feathering throughout the day is your concern, lip stains eliminate this problem. There are many great drugstore lip stains you can try out inexpensively, but a favorite (and pricier) lip stain for many is Chanel's Rouge Double Intensite. Once you apply it, it stays put for hours, and it's formulated with a bit of gloss to keep your lips feeling hydrated.

Line Before or After?

Some people prefer to apply liner first, arguing that you won't be able to see the natural line of your lips if you apply lipstick first. However, others find their lips look more natural when they line the lips after applying lipstick. Experiment with these two approaches to see which you like best.

Don't Throw Out a Bad Shade

Think twice before you toss that lipstick color you really don't like. As many beauty editors will tell you, it's possible to create a great lip color by blending lipsticks you don't like. Try it next time, and you may be surprised at the results. Is your lipstick too bright? You can take the color down a few notches by coloring your lips with a darker liner before applying any bright shade.

Keep Lipstick Off Your Teeth

There's a genius trick to avoiding lipstick on your teeth. After applying lipstick, pop your index finger into your mouth, then pull it out. The excess lipstick will come off on your finger rather than your teeth.

Lipstick Can Act as a Blush

When you need a little color, carrying a lipstick color can be a lifesaver. You can swipe a liquid or solid lip color on your pout or cheeks as a swipe of blush. Just dab a few dots on the apples of your cheeks and blend. It helps to have moisturized skin first so the lipstick blends seamlessly.

Camouflage Yellowed Teeth

To downplay a yellow cast on your teeth, try lipsticks with a blue undertone. According to Lazarus, a New York City makeup artist, shades that work include plums, pinks, wines, and violets.

Don't Throw Out a Broken Lipstick

If your lipstick breaks off, there's no need to throw it in the trash, and it's incredibly easy to "heal" it instead. Pick up the broken portion using a tissue, then slowly wave a lit match under it. When it's melted, put it back on the base, swivel it down, and put it in the fridge—uncovered—for 30 minutes. Fixing broken makeup has never been easier.

Use Every Last Drop

When you near the end of your favorite lipstick, you might notice a bit of lipstick in the tube. That's still perfectly usable, and you have to get creative to make it work. Scrape out the last bits of the lipstick with a cotton swab or a stick and mix it with Vaseline or a lip gloss in a lipstick palette. Use a lip brush to apply.

Related Stories