A great way to elevate your look is to apply a lip colour, especially since we get so spoiled for choice in terms of lip finish and colour.
Are you a glossy lip gal or a matte fan? Do you prefer natural pinks and nudes, or do you usually take the bold stance with something darker?
No matter what you prefer in terms of colour and finish, there’s one thing we all have in common: trying to keep your lip colour while eating and drinking!
It may seem fruitless, but we’re here to assure you that it is definitely possible to make sure your lipstick lasts through your meal. You don’t have to reapply after every Lunar New Year visit as long as you apply these tips below.
Exfoliate and Moisturise
You prep your face, so why not prep your lips as well? Think of it as preparing your canvas before it’s ready to be painted.
A well-exfoliated and well-moisturised lip will make any colour look dazzling while lipstick will look and feel terrible on dry and chapped lips.
To get those stubborn dead skin cells off, exfoliate your lips with a gentle lip scrub or wet washcloth. Then, follow up with a moisturising lip balm to keep those lips nice and hydrated.
You can try a nourishing oil like coconut oil or perhaps even a hydrating face serum if you don’t have a lip balm.
Prime Your Lips
Source: Freepik
While lip primer isn’t exactly a common makeup item, you might actually have one in your vanity right now.
A lightweight foundation or concealer can create a smooth base for your lipstick and work to fill any cracks in your lips. This will make your lip colour not only last longer and but also look better.
Use a makeup blender to smooth in the “lip primer”. After that, take a lip brush and apply your lip colour on top.
Use a Lip Liner
Other than to further define your lips, a lip liner can also be used to prevent your lip colour from bleeding outside of your natural lip line.
Begin by lining the outside of your lips with the liner to fill in any fine lines. Then fill in the rest of your lips with a lip liner in a colour that closely matches your lipstick.
After that, you can apply your lip colour and enjoy minimal bleeding and feathering. Invisible lip liners will also work for this trick if you don’t have a lip liner that matches your lipstick.
Pick a Long-Wear Formula
Source: Freepik
The truth is that different lipsticks will have different wear-lengths. Try and read up on the longevity of the item when you’re picking your colour for the day.
Satin and creamy lipsticks tend to fade faster than matte lipsticks. Liquid lipsticks tend to also have great long-lasting formulas. Make sure to not swipe on a balm or gloss on top as it will reduce the longevity of the lipstick.
You can check out our previous article on stain-free lipsticks to find the ultimate pout of your choice.
Use Setting Products
@tushmagazine all you need is translucent powder, a brush & a cosmetic tissue #beautyhacks #lipsticktutorial #lipstickhack #tushmagazine #fypシ #tushmagazine #photoshoot @lonibaur
Once you have applied your lipstick, blot off the excess with some tissue paper. This takes away the excess oil from your lips. Then, apply a second coat to increase the colour payoff and blot again.
Follow up by applying a translucent setting powder onto your lips to set the colour. Try using an eyeshadow that’s a similar shade to your lipstick for an extra pop of colour if you don’t have a setting powder.
To make it even more budge-proof, you can add on a makeup setting spray which will not only lock in your lip colour, but also your makeup.
Drink With a Straw
The pesky lip stains you leave behind when you’re drinking is a pet peeve of ours.
To minimalise the stains you leave behind, you can opt for a straw (bring your own reusable metal straw to save the environment – just wipe away the stains when you’re done so you can use it for your next CNY visit).
Take Smaller Bites
Source: Freepik
This is a tip that is more difficult to master than the other tips because the way you eat your food actually matters a lot when trying to keep lipstick on your lips.
Instead of wrapping your lips around your food, try to bite food with your teeth more. Opt for smaller, more bite-sized snacks when you are munching away during your CNY visits.
If you’re having your steamboat, use a fork and knife to cut your food into smaller chunks so that it’s less likely to touch your lips.
But if you have no choice to slurp your soup – or have to take bigger bites – it might be best to blot away some colour before tucking in. This will help control the smudging that will occur.
Avoid Oily Foods
This might seem like a strange tip, considering all those delicious bak kwa waiting for you during those upcoming CNY visits.
But oily foods basically act like oil-based makeup removers as they cause your lipstick to wear off and smudge outside your lip line. This will end up making your lipstick look messy.
Choose other foods that you can break down into smaller bites or dry foods like dried or preserved fruits. The less your lips touch the food, the better.
Featured image credit: Oleg Magni and Angela Roma
