8 lipstick mistakes you're probably making
BY MICKI SPOLLEN
Lipstick is an essential part
of any polished outfit. It pulls your whole look together, and makes everyone
think you actually tried when, in reality, you probably just hopped out of bed
and threw on the pair of jeans you left on the end of your bed last night (or
is that just me?).
Lipstick application seems
easy enough: you just swipe and go… right? Unfortunately, we've all seen it get
a little more complicated than that — lipstick on your teeth during a first
date, anyone? Read on for the lipstick mistakes you're probably making during
your makeup routine, and how to avoid them.
You're applying lipstick over
chapped lips
Nothing ruins a gorgeous
makeup look quite like cracked lipstick. Avoiding chapped lips starts with
drinking enough water (researchers say between four and six glasses a day). If
hydration doesn't solve your chapped lip problem, you can try Vaseline,
Aquaphor (my personal favorite) or lip balm to smooth your lips before adding
lipstick.
You're not exfoliating
In addition to keeping your
lips hydrated, exfoliating before applying lipstick is essential.
Gina Brooke, artistic director
for Shu Uemura, told Marie Claire, "to gently banish dead skin cells, use
a gentle scrub with moisture." Exfoliating removes the dead skin, leaving
a smooth and moisturized surface for your lip color.
If you're in a bind, all you
need is a little tape and lip balm to mimic the effect of a scrub. Simply wrap
the tape around your finger and dab (like you might do to get lint off your
clothes), apply the balm and voila! Flakes are gone and you're ready to apply
lipstick.
You're not using lip liner
If your first mental image of
lip liner is the infamous 90's trend of using lip liner far too many shades
darker than lipstick, relax! When done correctly, lip liner is actually an
crucial addition to every makeup routine. It "gives you a super-saturated,
long-wearing look," makeup artist and founder of Book Your Look Laramie
Glen told Good Housekeeping. This means a longer-lasting lipstick look that
won't bleed or feather out.
For the best look, celebrity
makeup artist Ramy Gafni suggests adding lipstick before liner. He told
Stylecaster, "The lip liner will go on smoother and more easily, and
applying lipstick first enables you to see exactly where you need the lip
liner."
You're using too MUCH lip
liner
I know I just told you lip
liner is basically your best friend, but before you go drawing all over your
mouth, pay attention!
Despite what you might've
heard from (and seen on) makeup maven Kylie Jenner, over-lining your lips is
not the way to go. "You want to enhance your lips, not create new
ones," makeup artist and founder of Advanced Mineral Makeup Annie Mayo
told Stylecaster.
To keep things looking
natural, celebrity makeup artist Deanna Melluso told Refinery29 that you should
only apply liner in the center of your mouth.
Your lip liner is too dark
This is where the 90's went
so, so wrong. Your lip liner should always complement your lipstick, not
overpower it.
In an interview with
Makeup.com, director of makeup artistry for YSL Beauty Dell Ashley said that
when you're using a deep liner, "color in the entire lip — top and bottom.
Then, blend your lipstick all the way to the edge of the liner."
For the best look, always aim
for a liner that matches your lipstick as closely as possible.
You're using the wrong shade
for your skin tone
Just like your foundation
comes in different undertones, so does lipstick. Finding the right shade is
essential to pulling your look together without washing you out. As celebrity
makeup artist Kindra Mann told Bustle, "For yellow undertones, stick to
warmer colors and for pink undertones, look for shades with blue or purple
tones in them."
According to Mann, those with
olive skin tones can wear just about any color, while fairer skin tones should
"avoid anything too light or with too much of a yellow undertone." As
for darker skin tones, "avoid anything too light or pale on the lips —
deeper shades look more naturally flattering."
You're using the wrong shade
for your lip size
Yes, this is a thing! Lipstick
can actually shrink or enlarge your lips, depending on the shade you use.
"Dark, matte shades will make lips look thinner, while light, glossy,
shimmery shades make lips look fuller," Gafni told Stylecaster.
So, depending on the look
you're going for, you can use your lipstick to your advantage to either enhance
or minimize your lips.
You're over-applying
Just like you can use too much
lip liner, you can also over apply your lipstick — which leads to embarrassing
results, like leaving lipstick residue on your teeth or wine glass.
To avoid over-application,
celebrity makeup artist Terri Apanasewicz told Stylecaster, "A good trick
to keep lipstick from transferring to your teeth is, after you apply your
lipstick put your finger in your mouth, close your mouth around your finger and
slide your finger out. This should remove any lipstick that has gotten on the
inner part of your lips that touches your teeth."
As for the
lipstick-on-your-glass issue, matte shades and lip stains will help keep this
from happening. But if a glossy look is your go-to, your best bet is to drink
from a straw.
The number of lipstick
match-ups are seemingly endless
Whether you're into nudes or
brights, matte or glossy, liquid or traditional, achieving a flawless lipstick
look is easy with these tips. Stock your makeup bag with your favorite color
(and matching lip liner, of course), keep your lips hydrated and you're
guaranteed a posh look on the reg.
SOURCE: THE LIST
SOURCE: THE LIST
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