The Art of the Everyday Bold Lip

Lipstick could be called the great love of my life, it’s right up there, second only to music, as one of my favouritest things and I wear it every single day. As a result I have very strong opinions on what makes a good lipstick - matte, long-lasting, pigmented, comfortable -  but more importantly in my 7-year lipstick wearing career I've learned a thing or two about how to get the best out of it. See below.

Exfoliate

This is purely to prevent lipstick from clinging to or settling in any dry patches on the lips. Believe me when I say a good exfoliating scrub can make a world of difference to how lipstick sits and lasts on the lips. Personally, I'm completely in love with the Elf Lip Scrub Exfoliator, a sugar scrub conveniently packaged in a lipstick tube, which gently removes dead skin, while vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba, avocado and grape oils soothe, protect and condition the lips. 

Lip balm

Whilst most lip scrubs tend to be oil-based, leaving the lips moisturised and conditioned, you should never underestimate the power of a good lip balm. I tend to favour matte lipsticks, and whilst I always try to go for comfortable formulas, they're notorious for being incredibly drying on the lips. Applying a good lip balm, even if it's a quick slick of Burt's Bees, makes the world of difference to how a lipstick feels and sits on the lips. 

Liner 

I know, I know I'm hardly reinventing the wheel with these tips, but discovering lip liner in the middle of last year was a total game changer for me. I never really bothered with it before. BUT a good lipliner, I tend to favour Mac or Bourjois, can keep lipstick in place for hours on end, it also adds definition and is just generally a good thing. Unless you do the whole 90's liner thing. That's not good. Anyway, it gives lipstick a good base to grip on to, and it makes it less likely to smudge. Winner!

Blot

Again, I know this is super obvious, but it wasn't to me, which is why I'm sharing it. Blotting is especially useful for when reapplying lippie, as it tends to stop bunching, caking or clumping and all those other annoying habits that lipstick does when you're layering it on. Which I do. Constantly. 

Lipcote 

Despite the fact that Lipcote has legit been around forever and a day, I only really started using it last year. Essentially, it seals the lipstick on to the lips, making it matte, waterproof, food proof and kiss proof ;) Just one brief word of warning - it smells, quite strongly, of nail varnish, however it dries down almost instantly and the smell disappears. 

What are your favourite lipsticks? xxx