Breaking Down Beauty: Basic Lip Application

By Sheila Arkee

So, I spend quite a bit of time talking about eyeshadow and eye color application, but what about the lips? Truth is, even when I’m wearing some of my more outrageous eye looks, I tend to keep it simple on my lips. A dash of lip balm, and I’m set!

There are times, though, when I want to really break out all the stops, and in that case, I use a few tricks to ensure my lip color will a) not crack on my lips, and b) last a really long time. I don’t like to use long-lasting lip colors, but there are a few things you can do to ensure your lip color will not pull a disappearing act.

When I first started wearing makeup, I was the QUEEN of purple eyeshadow and flaky orange lips. Gross! I wore this color by Jane Cosmetics that did not wear well at all, and I remember feeling my chapped lips during the day and wondering what the heck I was doing wrong.

Well, we win some, we lose some,and we learn our lessons. Here are my tricks that keep my lips supple and colorful, with nary a flake to be found.

Just remember this: Layering leads to lip color longevity!

Products:

Step 1 -Moisturize! To begin, I apply a generous amount of lip balm. In this breakdown, I’m using Bonne Bell’s 100% Natural Acai Berry lip balm. It really is a fantastic moisturizing balm, if a bit grainy upon application.

Step 2 - Exfoliate. This is the step I was missing early in my makeup wearing career. You can use a bit of sugar, a soft, dry toothbrush, or a grainy lip scrub, but I prefer to use a regular old washcloth that has been dampened. Works like a charm!

Step 3 - Prime your lips. In this example, I’m using a very fancy primer that was gifted to me, that I happen to love. It’s Guerlain’s Kiss Lip Lift, and it is fantastic. I might not repurchase it, but I will enjoy the heck out of it while I have it!

I also like MAC’s Prep and Prime Lip, and you can also use your favorite lip balm as a primer. Just make sure to blot your lips with some tissue if you use lip balm!

Step 4 – Line Your Lips. Even though I don’t typically wear lip liner on a daily basis, I make certain to wear it on special occasions and for times when I know I will be photographed.

Lip liner really helps to anchor your lip color, the waxy base helping keep lip gloss and lip stick on your lips and not halfway up your face. In these photos I’m wearing Chesnut by Laura Mercier, which is a really nice neutral color.

You extend the liner a teensy bit above the natural lip line, but proceed with caution to avoid clown lips. After applying liner, I like to smudge it in the lips with my finger.

Even though my lips are full, a while back I noticed that my top lip disappears in photographs if I don’t wear lipliner, so it is a MUST for times when I’m going to be in pictures.

Step 5 – Apply lip color. This is the fun part. You can do whatever makes you happy here because the possibilities truly are endless. Some people apply lipstick alone, some people apply lip gloss alone. You can also layer a gloss on top of lipstick.

I tend to keep the gloss and lipstick color within the lip line and blot my lips to spread the color.

Personally, I tend to use gloss and go. Here’s my lips with liner and MAC’s Wonderstruck Lusterglass.

Here’s my lips with liner and NYX Black Label lipstick in Chakra

Here’s my lips with liner, NYX Black Label lipstick in Chakra*, and MAC’s Wonderstruck lipgloss.

Sidenote – maybe I could do 365 days of lips after 365 days of eyeshadow is over?

And there you go – a basic lip application that will last for a long time, granted you stay away from eating and drinking greasy foods. For even more staying power, drink from a straw. You’ll be amazed – you might have to touch up your gloss, but otherwise, you lips will stay intact for a while.

What are some of your favorite lip colors and lip color application tricks?