Alright babes, let’s talk about one of the most annoying struggles every lipstick lover has faced at least once (or like, 1000 times): getting your lipstick to actually STAY on through all the drama of the day. 🍕 Eating, sipping iced coffee, breathing… ya know, just LIVING, and suddenly it’s like your lipstick has disappeared into a black hole. Sound familiar? Yeah, I feel you, it happens all the time—but don’t worry, ‘cause I’m about to give you the deets you need to make your lipstick stay in place all day, no reapply needed. 🙌
You ready for this lip game glow-up? Let’s get into it!
Prep Your Lips Like You’re Prepping For The Red Carpet 💄✨
Let me tell you: the most important part of getting anything to last is the prep. And yes, that 100% applies to lips too! You can’t just slap on a bold red and hope it’s going to look perfect for hours if your lips are dry and chapped. We gotta give lip TLC first! So, here’s the lowdown on how to get that nice, smooth canvas we need:
Exfoliate, Babe!
Dry lips are the worst story to tell. If your lips are flaky, your lipstick won’t just slide off—it’ll look messy right from the start. I mean, we’re not living in the crusty lip pandemic, right?
All you need is a lip scrub! You can grab a cute packaged one from your fave beauty brand or do the DIY thing—just mix some sugar and honey and gently scrub it onto your lips (try not to eat it, even though it smells like dessert). Rub it in small circles for a minute or two, then wipe it off. Boom — smooth lips that are ready to slay.
Take note: Exfoliating once a week is key to keeping lips smooth and soft! Don’t go overboard and scrub every day though. No one likes aggressive TLC. 😉
Don’t Skip the Balm!
Okay, but also don’t get sloppy and use like 10 pounds of balm. We’re not here for that “my lips are drowning in lip gloss” vibe. 🙅♀️ A light layer of a good lip balm is enough. You want to hydrate and smooth things out without making your lips too slippery. Pro-tip: let the balm sit for a few minutes and blot off any excess with a tissue before going in with the color. That way, you won’t lose any pigment but your lips will still feel 💧fresh and prepped.
Now that we’ve got hydration and smoothness checked off, let’s get into the actual magic of long-lasting lippy! 🎩✨
Prime That Pout 💋
Yes girl, we use primer for our face, so why wouldn’t our lips need love too? A lip primer is pretty much like insurance for lipstick. It helps lock the color down and makes your lips a little tackier in texture, which helps the color grip and stay locked in place. If you don’t have a dedicated lip primer, no worries! You can totally use a tiny bit of your fave lightweight face primer (one with oil control is perf). Just make sure you don’t cake it on—Thin layers. Always. Thin. Layers.
Concealer or Foundation? Yeah, You Can Use Those Too
Okay so, before you say, “What?!”, hear me out. Concealer or foundation isn’t just for contouring and red carpet photoshoots. If you dab a small amount of either onto your lips before applying your lipstick, it’s like creating a blank canvas that’ll make your lipstick color pop and also stay in place for hours. Plus, it adds extra stickiness for the color to hold onto. Win-win!
Makeup hack alert! Blot a tiny bit of concealer over your lips to get the shade looking super true and bold!
Line It Up ✏️ – Lip Liner Power
This is NOT the early 2000s with dark brown liner and clear gloss (even though we lowkey loved that Y2K phase). Lip liner is your new bestie for making that lipstick stay. Not only does it help define your lip shape and prevent your lipstick from feathering (because no thanks to looking like a clown by noon), but it also adds extra lasting power. I’m talking serious staying power.
How Do I Apply Lip Liner Like a Boss?
- Pick the right shade: Match your lipliner to your lipstick or go a teeny bit darker for more dimension WITHOUT overlining like it’s 1999.
- Line like a master: Start on your cupid’s bow (fancy phrase for the little dip on your top lip) and neatly follow the shape of your natural lip.
- Fill it in: YES, girl, lip liner isn’t only for outlining. Fill in your entire lips with the liner. This acts like a solid foundation for your lipstick and keeps it from disappearing into nonsense by lunchtime.
Trust me—lip liner is that girl. If you’re skipping this step, you’re missing out!
PSA: “A good lip liner keeps everything in check AND gives you lips that Beyoncé would approve of!!”
Go Matte (Or Semi-Matte) = Long Wear 💄⏳
So, truth talk real quick: matte lipsticks are the queens of long wear. If you want that truly all-day lip that survives everything (I’m talking greasy pizza, iced lattes, and lots of chatting), then you need to get friendly with matte or semi-matte formulas.
I know, I know—mattes can feel a little drying sometimes BUT if you’ve got the balm and exfoliation under control (remember what we talked about earlier ☝️), it won’t be a problem. And guess what? Matte lipsticks also have the least transfer, so your Starbucks cup won’t be stealing all your color, and they don’t smudge as quickly.
If you’re thinking, “But Su, I’m a glittery gloss obsessed queen,” I get it. Who doesn’t love a glossy pout? There’s hope: go for long-wear liquid lipsticks topped with gloss, or moisturize your matte after application with a tiny dab of gloss in the center of your lower lip—just don’t overdo it; you don’t want to dilute the lipstick and literally make it disappear or bleed.
Blotting – The Secret Old-School Trick 📝
I know—blotting sounds super basic and… kinda old school—but trust me, this is one of those things that actually works. After applying your first layer of lipstick, grab a tissue, and gently press it between your lips. This removes excess moisture and puts the color right onto your lips’ surface. Then go in with a second layer of lipstick for reinforcement.
You basically create a sandwiched powerhouse of color, and hunny, it will stay. It’s like double armor for your lips.
Real talk: “Two thin layers are wayyyy better than one thick layer when it comes to long-lasting lipstick!”
Set It and Forget It 🧂
Okay, you know how we use translucent powder to set our foundation? Well, we’re doing the exact same move with lips! 😲 This one might sound a little WILD, but bear with me; it truly works. After applying your lipstick, grab a tissue and split it so you have a single ply (fancy tissue moves, I know), then hold it over your lips. Now lightly dust some translucent powder over the tissue using a fluffy brush. The powder will absorb any remaining moisture from your lipstick and lock it down nice and tight…but without actually getting powder DIRECTLY on your lipstick, so no weird powdery finish! 🔥
Don’t Forget the Last-Minute Touch-Up Kit!
Okay listen—I love a good long-lasting lipstick and these tips will get you through almost anything, but I’m a realist here: life be crazy. Sometimes, a quick touch-up is just necessary, ya know? So even with your new skillset in making lipstick last alllllll the way till your midnight TikTok binge, I always recommend carrying a mini kit just in case.
What should be in your kit?
Your lipstick (duh), a lip liner, and some tissues!
That’s it. Pop that in your purse, mini backpack, or your fanny (lol, are people still wearing those?) for makeup emergencies and you’ll be set!
Okayyyy, and that’s it beauties!! Now, go out there and rock that bold lip like you’re running the world, knowing that baby’s not going to budge no matter what the day throws at you—whether you’re sipping on that iced coffee, hitting up brunch, or out there thriving on your cute hot girl walks. 😘 You’ve totally got this!
Now spill: Have you tried any of these tips before? Or maybe you’ve got your own secret hacks? Drop ‘em in the comments below because, tbh, we all LOVE a good lipstick hack. 💋👑
