Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How to Get Red Lipstick to Last
I’d love to tell you that there is a magic secret to making lipstick last through every single meal, but there is not. Any long-lasting lipstick that lasts through a meal always at least rubs off a bit around your inner lip area. I know this because I’ve tried numerous brands.
Don’t feel like reading today? Get some of my red lipstick tricks in this one minute video below or via my YouTube channel:
I’m never worried about having to reapply lipstick a little here and there, so if you want your red lipstick or any colorful lipstick to last at least mostly throughout the day, check out my tried and true hacks below.
I also have a few tips in this article that will help not only make your red lipstick last, but I also have a silly hack for not getting it on your teeth, something that is very common with highly pigmented lipsticks.
I like a good red lip occasionally
I picked up my graphic heart sweatshirt on TEMU for around $5. I got the hat on TEMU too. Check it out by clicking this link.
I test a lot of products. Many brands send them to me to test complimentary. I like it because it gives me a chance to try something new. I am a person that remains very loyal to a brand if a product works really well, so when I get new things to test, it pushes me out of my comfort zone, which is good!
Watch how I use Too Faced Lip Injection to prep my lips in a one minute video tutorial below or via my YouTube channel:
Please note, my product recommendations are just that… recommendations. My tips and tricks can be used with many brands of red lipsticks or any colorful lipsticks, perhaps with lipsticks you already have!
I’ve tried many red lipsticks and liners over the years
Picking the Right Red Lipstick Color
My natural auburn hair and freckled skin has helped me understand a blue-based red lipstick looks best on me. If you are trying to pick the right color red for your skin tone and hair color, do some internet searches for “what color red is best for me” or try this article from makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury. Some people look great in any color red, but if you are wanting to find your perfect shade, matching it to your skin undertones works really well. Doing virtual try-ons of lipstick online (Ulta’s is fun to play with) are fun to do too!
Start with clean, dry, and moisturized lips
Prepping Your Lips
The first thing you need to do is “prep your palette”. Just as I’d prime a canvas before painting on it as an artist, you have to sort of prime your lips. I use a cruelty free lip scrub about once a week to remove any dry skin. Next, while I put on my makeup, I begin the lip plumping and extra hydration process by placing a lip balm or gloss on my lips. I like Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Hydrating Lip Plumper for lots of plumping. If you have sensitive skin, this may not work for you.
We also tested Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter for a skin base, which gave us a nice glow! Check out my one minute video below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
For the days when your skin feels irritated, I have used the gentle Rosebud Lip Salve for many, many years and it is amazing. It was my very first online purchase in the early 2000’s when I saw it featured in a beauty magazine. I put it on my lips to moisturize them while I do my makeup if they need it. I alternate between this and the Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme during the day, and every night I use Elizabeth Mott Lip Sleeping Mask to keep the moisturization going. It has saved my lips from dry winter heat for a long while.
How I use red lip liner to make my lipstick last
Lining Your Lips
Once your lips are flake free and moisturized, you can line your lips. I don’t always use a liner. A liner depends on the lipstick you use and the look you want. A liner helps perfect a lip and can make a red lip last a little longer. It can also help your lipstick to not bleed outside your lip line. Not all lipsticks, especially drier ones, need a liner.
I sometimes use GXVE by Gwen Stefani in Xtra Sauce, which is a beautiful, blue red shiny liquid lipstick that is a long wear variety. I apply it right from the tube according to the brand directions and it doesn’t bleed outside my lip line without a liner. The wand gives me a sharp enough edge to create a perfect red lip.
Influenster sent me a liner, Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat in Red Carpet Red, recently to test and after testing it for several days, I can honestly say it’s a great liner. It’s a soft pencil that actually lasts a long while on my lips. It glides on smooth like a gel, but dries quick and stays put. I used it to line my lips, overlining them just a touch. I apply the liner heavily, even adding more than you’d think. I almost fill in my lips completely with the liner, as it creates a great base for lipstick.
Red lipstick look inspiration
Applying the Red Lipstick
Once my lips are lined, I use the tube to add the red lipstick to my lips. I avoid getting too close to the outer edges of my lip line, as those are mostly covered when I use a liner and the lipstick can bleed if you get it too close to your lip line. If I am using a liquid lipstick or a lipstick that is older and no longer pointed, I use either the wand or a separate lip brush.
Influenster also sent me Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick in Hollywood Vixen, a beautiful and lightweight blue red lipstick. It has a nice square tip, making it easy to apply to many lip shapes. After testing it for a full day, it didn’t feather (or bleed), which is a big pet peeve of mine when it comes to lipsticks. It stayed flat with no pilling too.
After eating, it stayed on with only a little removed from the center of my lips. It didn’t look crazy though! The GXVE wears away more at the center of my lips after eating, which does look a little weird. It retouches well though.
I like a bold winged eyeliner when wearing red lipstick
Long Lasting and Clean Teeth Lipstick Hacks
After applying the red lipstick, I place my clean finger inside my mouth and pull it out quickly to remove lipstick from the inner edges of my lips. This helps keep the lipstick off your teeth. Then I use a tissue or a square of toilet paper to blot my lips.
Some people tell you to powder your lips at this point before adding another layer of lipstick. I’ve tried that, and it can make your lipstick last even longer, but sometimes it’s messy and can be drying if you don’t use the right powder, so I don’t usually do it. Powder can help make your bright lips a little more kiss proof for sure!
After blotting, I apply another light layer of lipstick and I’m ready to go. The Charlotte Tilbury lipstick is matte and perfect for every day wear, while the GXVE liquid lipstick is very shiny, making it great for night time wear.
In my testing of both products, they both last, but do not still look perfect after eating and that’s fine with me. Both retouch very easily and still look great. Whatever brand you use, my tips and tricks are easy to implement, so just test them and see what works best for you!
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Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.