Lip Exfoliators, Scrubs And Other Tips to Make Your Lipstick Last Longer
If you’re someone in Singapore who loves a statement-making, perfectly made-up mouth, you’ve surely faced the same challenge: How can I keep my lipstick on all day? You probably won’t be surprised that you’ll need more than just the long-lasting, smudge-free lipstick in your bag. Having the right skincare knowledge plus great makeup technique will create the fail-safe solution you’re after.
So, how do you get smooth, hydrated lips to help make lipstick last? Here are five time-tested steps, approved by our makeup experts:
Step 1: Lip Care Basics
It’s a scientific fact that our lips are physiologically unique. The bad part? Like skin, they’re predisposed to dryness. It’s common – especially without some maintenance with the right products – for lips to be the driest area on a person’s body. But two simple skincare adjustments will help with hydrating your dry lips and keeping them in great shape– so your lipstick will wear evenly and never look flaky.
Avoid unprotected sun exposure every day. Here’s why:
Sunlight can damage, dry, and age lips regardless of the weather. During the day, cover your lips with an emollient or moisturizing lip balm, lip gloss, or lipstick with SPF 30 or greater. Waxy products that simply coat your lips won’t moisturize, nourish, or protect them the same way a product like our BOOST Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Lip Booster and Pro-Collagen Peptide Gloss Balm will. And if you like multi-tasking products, consider our Lip & Body Treatment Balm, which is also great for cuticles, skin on your elbows, heels, hands, and more.
Avoid products with drying and/or irritating ingredients. Here’s why:
You’ll be shocked at how many products claim to prevent dry, chapped, irritated lips or even to plump them, yet contain ingredients proven to cause dryness and irritation. We recommend you toss anything with menthol, menthoxypropanediol, peppery capsicum, camphor, peppermint, ginger, mint oil, cinnamon, essential oils, and fragrance (whether natural or synthetic).
Step 2: Skip The Abrasive Scrub
A good skincare routine will make exfoliating your lips a non-issue — which is great, given the thinness of the skin on our lips. While many people use lip-smoothing techniques like harsh lip scrubs, a toothbrush, or picking at peeling skin, these abrasive methods can actually damage your lips.
Step 3: Choose The Right Lipstick
Any brand can claim it has a lipstick that stays on and that its formulas are moisturizing and long-wearing. Just be sure to check the ingredient list first and avoid any product containing alcohol (SD or denatured) or fragrance, which will dry your lips and damage your skin over time.
Step 4: Colour Inside The Lines
A good lip liner can keep lipstick from feathering and bleeding outside of lip lines and – particularly with a deep lip colour – can work as a base layer for your lipstick, extending its wear by hours. Choose a shade that matches or complements your lipstick and fills in your lips completely. If you are not wearing a bold lipstick colour, a nude or clear liner will work just as well.
Step 5: Apply And Set Your Lipstick
Apply a thin layer of your lipstick, then hold a tissue over your lips as you dust them with loose powder. The tissue will blot excess product and allow enough powder to set your colour, but not so much that it looks chalky. Repeat the process if you want to make your lipstick stay or know you won’t have time for touchups later on.
Find the right lip balms and treatments at Paula’s Choice Singapore.
References for this information
- International Journal of Dermatology, July 2016, pages 386–391
- European Journal of Dermatology, May-June 2013, pages 303–307
- Aging, March 2012, pages 166–175
- Chemical Immunology and Allergy, March 2012, pages 77–80
- The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, November 2010, pages 248–253
