1. Treat your lips like you would your face. Remove makeup, exfoliate, moisturize. Repeat.
2. Timing is everything. If you’re having casual drinks or dinner with your friends before a big night out, wait to put on your lipstick. You won’t constantly be worried about messing it up while you eat (which is the worst). And learn how to avoid lipstick faux pas by learning anti-stain and long-wear lipstick hacks.
3. When playing up your lips, keep your eye makeup minimal. Makeup is like a balancing act, pick one feature and go big.
4. Find the right color. Not all hues are created equal, at least for you. Different skin tones work better with different shades, so try a bunch on and choose wisely—a good lipstick is a forever kind of thing.
5. Use a primer. Think super staying power through your meetings, lunch, and happy hour drinks. I recommend Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer.
6. Liner can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Find the right lip liner and it’ll stop your lipstick from feathering throughout the day. Choose the wrong color, and you’re channeling Gwen Stefani circa 1997. To be safe, go for a clear lip pencil—it’s silky smooth and compliments every lip shade like Estee Lauder Double-Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencil.
7. Start in the middle. Begin applying lipstick at the center of your lips and move outward. That way, you’ll be less shaky when it comes to the outer lines of your lips. Less shaky = less mistakes.
8. Highlight along your cupids bow. As well as along the middle of your lower lip. The small touch will reflect light and make your lips look nice and plump. I recommend YSL Touche Eclat.
9. Take it off before you go to sleep. The only bad thing about having a clean, white pillowcase? That baby is a lipstick magnet.
10. Always give yourself a day off. Let your lips stay au natural for at least one day a week and so you can slough off dead skin cells, moisturize, and have one glorious morning to sip coffee sans lipstick stains.
Photo source: 1) Getty Images // Superstock; 2) Elle.com; 3) Getty Images // Westen61; 4) Getty Images // Bill Ling; 5) Getty Images // Image Source