Arguably the most iconic piece of makeup, surpassing mascara and eyeliner, is the classic tube of red lipstick. From Marilyn Monroe, to Madonna and beyond, full, red lips have been in style for decades and decades. Just a swipe of color over your lips can give you that extra “umph” to take your daily makeup routine from casual to effortlessly glamorous, no matter the season. While wearing lipstick seems easy to do once you have picked out the right shade and brand, you have to learn how to deal with the wearing, smudging, and fading of the color throughout the day.
I started wearing lipstick in high school, mostly on the weekends when I went out with some friends. However, I often found myself in random bathrooms in malls, restaurants, and houses constantly reapplying and blotting layer after layer of the makeup. Thankfully, my grandmother staged an intervention and taught me the correct way to prime your lips and apply lipstick so that it would last and be practically smudge proof throughout the day and night – 1940s style! Born in 1919, my grandmother has seen and participated in the rise of this classic makeup trend. Ninety-five years later, she has her lipstick application down to a science, and still rocks the trend too! Here are her secrets!
1. Exfoliate with your toothbrush and moisturize
Before you can apply lipstick, you have to make sure that any parts of your lips that are dry and chapped are scrubbed away. This will prevent your lips from drying out even further and forming those weird looking cracks once you put on the lipstick. You can do this by gently scrubbing your toothbrush over your lips. Be sure to apply a little bit of Chap Stick after scrubbing – I prefer the Eos brand!
2. Apply foundation and powder to your lips
I know this looks like nude lipstick gone wrong, but trust me, it’s a crucial step. Because we all have some sort of pigmentation in our lips, we are neutralizing the color with the foundation so that the lipstick’s true color will show up perfectly and avoid being darkened or lightened by the natural color of our lips. To make sure that important base stays, set it with powder!
3. Lip liner
Outline your lips with a lip liner that is similar in color to the lipstick you will be using. Be sure to focus on your cupid’s bow (the “V” shaped indent on your upper lip) and the middle of your bottom lip – this gives your lips a fuller appearance. Smudge any harsh lines so the lining will look natural.
4. Apply the first layer of lipstick
5. Powder the first layer
This will set the lipstick you just applied.
6. Apply your final layer of lipstick and blot with a tissue.
7. Use Aquaphor or Vaseline to moisturize.
I have found these two products to be the best at keeping my lips moisturized throughout the day. Also, since you can gently apply these products to your lips by using your fingers, unlike regular tubes of Chap Stick, you don’t have to worry about smearing the lipstick you just applied.
By applying your lipstick layer by layer and making sure to set it with powder, you are guaranteed a smudge-proof night out with little to no reapplications! Although finals week has come and we may not necessarily want to adhere to the whole “Dress Well, Test Well” motto after the third all-nighter, take some advice from Elizabeth Taylor and “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.”
Photo Sources:
http://www.ramshackleglam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8866.jpg
http://nativastore.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/00427586.jpg
http://robinlcole.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/aquaphor-healing-ointment.jpg