Fashion of Monday, 10 November 2014

Source: tv3.ie

Make your lipstick last

Make sure your favourite colour remains on your lips for as long as possible with these handy tips.

Wearing lipstick can really make your whole look pop. But eating, drinking, talking and kissing (if you're lucky) can make it wear off pretty quick. So is there anything you can do to make your favourite lipstick last longer? The answer is yes!

Like any other part of your skin, exfoliation is a good idea to remove any dead skin cells.

"Use a toothbrush for a soft exfoliation on the lips and make sure you've moisturised your lips too!" said Chloe Hitchman from Q Hair And Beauty salon in Chichester, England. This is because hydrated lips will prevent the shade being absorbed. Be sure to apply your lip balm at least ten minutes before.

Experts, including Chloe, always recommend you use a liner before applying your lipstick. But the trick is to apply it across all of your mouth, not just at the edges.

"This will make the lipstick stick to the liner so holds for longer," Chloe added. If you don't want to use up all your lip liner filling, you can also try using a concealer stick as your base. However, you need to be careful that the paleness doesn't end up showing through as your colour wears off.

Even after using lip liner, lipstick can still feather out across your face because of the tiny hairs that are around your mouth. The trick is to take a clear mascara or brow gel around the outside of your lip line and your make-up won't be going anywhere.

How you apply your lipstick can also determine how long it will last. The general consensus is that using a lip brush is better than straight from the bullet for more precise application. Blotting is also a must.

"Put on the first coat then blot with a tissue and then apply a second coat," Chloe advised, and there's a key to doing it. Rather than biting the tissue or sticking it half way inside your mouth, kiss the tissue gently or rub the tissue over your lips.

Doing it any other way can cause your lip colour to fade unevenly and look patchy.