How to apply all-day lipstick

Here’s your foolproof, easy-as-pie guide to applying lipstick that lasts all day

Lipstick can be transformative. If I wake up looking – and feeling - a little ropey, a slick of the red stuff instantly makes me feel pulled-together, smarter, and ready to take on the world.

Applying lipstick sounds easy enough but there are and few tricks you can employ to ensure that the colour lasts-and-lasts, and doesn’t bleed into any fine lines around your mouth.

Your first step should always be to line your lips. This is important with any lipstick colour, but doubly so if you’re wearing a dark and unforgiving shade where every inaccuracy is highlighted.

Personally, I like to begin lining my lips from the outside-in beginning at the corners of my mouth. I draw ever so slightly outside my lip line to make my lips look fuller without looking like I’ve overdrawn my mouth. Go slow, be precise and use this time to correct any asymmetry.

Then, fill in your entire lip area with your pencil. Don’t worry if it’s a little messy or patchy in places, this step is really just to provide a base for your lipstick. If you have time, grab a cotton-bud and lightly buff over your lips; this will almost stain your lips with colour so as the intensity of your lipstick wears away there will still be colour underneath.

Lining complete, it’s time to apply your lipstick. I’m using my old faithful; MAC’S Ruby Woo. You can, of course, apply your lipstick straight from the bullet but I like to use a small brush - this one if from Real Techniques.

Using the brush, really work the pigment into your lips, going over an area more than once to push the colour into your skin. A small brush allows you to keep the perimeter neat.

For a truly long-lasting lip colour it’s important to blot between applying layers. Do this now with a single ply of tissue.

And, onto the second coat. Go back in with your brush and lipstick and apply another layer. It’s this layer that will wear-off over the day but you can, of course, apply more later on.

If you want a really precise finish neaten up the edges with concealer and use your pencil over your lipstick to make any corrections.

I tend to opt for a matte lipstick because I find it lasts longer and doesn’t bleed. If you’re using a creamier formula and want to mattify it, just place a single ply of tissue over your mouth and, with a fluffy make-up brush, lightly dust some translucent powder over the top.

Products used in this tutorial Rimmel London Exaggerate Automatic Lip Liner in 024 Red Diva, £3.99

MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo, £15.50

Real Techniques Accent Brush (as part of the Starter Kit), £20.99

Check out the rest of our Basic Training Series for more tutorials