In This Story:
Ladies, we can all agree that on a bad day, there’s always lipstick. And we all want it to last all day long. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has looked into a mirror halfway through the day only to realise that the luscious lipstick that I had applied just a few hours ago has long disappeared. Over the years, we’ve mastered the art of making that lipstick last, right from long-wear formulas to little tricks that maximise the longevity of that lippie.
The best part? The right lipstick can do so much more than make your lips look luscious. A red or brown lipstick, whichever shade suits you best, can also make your skin appear brighter and reduce the appearance of pigmentation and discolouration. Combined with lip liner? Your lips will look like the subtle lip job you’ve wanted to get for so long.
Why Does Lipstick Fade Quickly
Before we learn how to make lipstick last longer, let’s look at some common reasons why lipstick fades.
-
Food & Water:
This is by far the most common reason why lipstick fades when we eat or drink, tiny oil and water particles settle on your lips and cause the pigment to break down and fade away. Whenever possible, reapply your lipstick after a meal, or use cutlery to avoid contact between your lips and food.
-
Lip Chemistry:
Lips don’t have their own oil, hair, or sweat glands, so they tend to get drier than other parts of the body. This causes them to crack and chap, causing your lips to tear and thus take away the pigment.
-
Humidity & Sweat:
Our lips may not have any sweat glands, but the area around the lips, including the chin, the upper lip, and the nose area. These sweat particles tend to spread to the lips and smudge off our lipstick.
How To Choose The Right Lip Formula
The type of lip formula you choose helps with how long your lipstick lasts. Here are a few types of lip formulas to choose from:
-
Matte Lipstick:
Matte lipsticks last the longest, they dry out within a few minutes and offer a mattified look that doesn’t smudge. These lipsticks are usually found in liquid or bullet forms, liquid matte lipsticks are the best if you want long-lasting colour.
-
Glossy Lipstick:
This can either be lip-plumping or regular, but they are hydrating and illuminating, they sure do make your lips look bigger, but they don’t last that long. They are not smudge-proof but ideal for reapplication.
-
Stains & Tint:
Lip saints and lip tints are the most naturally looking formulations that are not too over the top and yet last longer than any other lip formulation.
How To Make Your Lips Bigger
It may be the Kardashians who first popularised bigger, fuller lips in recent history. Here are a few lipstick hacks to make your lips look bigger:
-
Use A Plumping Gloss
A lip-plumping gloss such as the e.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Plumping Gloss is formulated with nourishing and skin-stimulating ingredients that promote blood circulation, causing a rush of blood flow to the lips, causing them to swell in a chic way. Not only will your lips look fuller, but they will also look naturally radiant with an undeniable sheen.
-
Over-Lining FTW
Use a lip liner and over-line your lips to make them appear bigger. It creates an illusion that your lips are much bigger than they actually are. A popular celebrity makeup style for naturally bigger lips.
-
Highlight The Cupid’s Bow
When you highlight the cupid’s bow, it adds depth and definition to your lips, which further enhances your lips. Add a little shimmer or eyeshadow to the bow to further accentuate it.
-
Add Some Contour
Another way to make your lips look bigger is to add a thin line of contour around the lips. This makes the lips stand atop and reduces discolouration around the lips.
How To Make Lipstick Last Longer
Here’s our holy grail to making that lipstick last longer.
1. Lip Balm Lovin’
Begin by dabbing on some moisturising lip balm. “It makes my lipstick slide off”, you say. I say not. The key is applying just the right amount. In case you want to be sure dab your lips with a clean tissue paper right after to take off the excess. And, if you own a yummy balm like the Kama Ayurveda Vanilla Lip Balm, this step is just delicious.
2. Line Game Strong
Line them lippies up well. Not just the border of your lips. Colour the entire lip with the liner. This will give the perfect base for your lipstick to stay on. We recommend toughies like the Faces Canada Ultime Pro Lip Definer that act like a loyal lover and won’t let go of your lip.
3. Layer Baby One More Time
Layering that lipstick is key. Start by choosing a long-lasting liquid lipstick (look out for the ’12 – 24 hrs’ mark) like the Lakme 9to5 Primer + Matte Liquid Lip Color. Matte lipsticks work best and form the perfect base to help make that lipstick last longer. Don’t stop there. Always layer liquid lipstick with a matching bullet lippie. This just adds more dimension and makes sure your lipstick stays on comfortably.
4. Translucent Tricks
If you’re still searching for the best matte lipstick but are stuck with a creamy shade, the translucent powder trick is your saviour. After applying lipstick onto your lips, place a tissue paper and dust translucent powder on it. Not only does it make your lipstick last long, but it also leaves a flawless matte finish. End by dabbing on some more lipstick for the best long-lasting lipstick effect.
5. Block The Oil Slick
Oil breaks down the lipstick. So, when you eat be careful to keep oily food away from your perfect pout. That doesn’t mean you have to make the weirdest expression when you dine. Eat smaller bite sizes and avoid touching the food and cutlery to your lips.
Parting Thoughts
The perfect lip shade, formulation, and lip-contouring products can make your lips look bold, full, and chic without too much effort. We hope this guide helps you learn how to make your lipstick stay longer because you don’t want your luxe lippies to wear off that easy.
FAQs
-
How to make lipstick last longer with the right skin prep?
If you have dried and chapped lips and your lipsticks keep slipping away, you need to prep your puckers to make them a better canvas. Start my exfoliating to stimulate blood circulation, moisturise to hydrate your lips, and finally apply your lipstick and lip liner for that undeniable pigment stay.
-
How can I make my lips look bigger?
You can use a lip-plumping gloss to stimulate your lips and promote a rush of blood to your pout. If you don’t like that stinging feeling, then you can use a lip liner to define your lips, or even overline your lips to create an illusion of fuller lips. Make sure to also contour the skin around your lips to create a more chiselled look.
-
How do I set my lip colour?
Use a matte lipstick, ideally a liquid matte formulation. If you don’t have a liquid formulation, you can also use a bullet matte lipstick, simply place a piece of tissue on your lips after, and dab some setting powder to absorb the excess oil, making your colour last longer.
-
What type of lipstick lasts the longest?
Liquid-matte lipsticks that have the words ‘transfer-proof’ written on them, are actually long lasting. You can also make cream-based lipsticks stay longer by dabbing on some setting powder over a tissue to absorb excess oil.
-
Recommend some long-lasting lipsticks:
Here are some long-wear lipsticks so you can stop asking the ever-burning question on how to make your lipstick stay longer.
