Starting Off: Lips

This is the second to last week of this Starting Off series, and I will be sad to see it end! But I do hope it has helped some of you, even just little tips and tricks here and there 🙂

This week is all about lips!

MUA Lipstick

There are so many different ways you can get colour onto your lips now, not just from lipsticks and lipglosses, but also lip pencils, lip crayons, tinted lip balms, lip stains etc etc…

I won’t be talking too much about all these types of lip colour products, just a short run down on the differences but then I will go more onto application. I won’t be talking much about colours here, as a lot of the time colour is just personal preference!

As a very short explanation, in general, the longer lasting the lip colour, the more drying on the lips it will be. The most moisturising/glossy ones will give an amazing finish to your lips but will most likely wear off very easily.

Lipsticks are generally very smooth and creamy in texture and should stay on for a good couple of hours depending what you are doing, lip stains – which generally come in either pen form or a little glass bottle – will give your lips a lovely stained colour for a long time, but you may need to keep applying a gloss or lip balm over the top to stop them drying out.

Lip crayons I would describe as a product that falls in between a lipstick and a lipgloss, in that it looks like a large pencil/crayon, and you apply it as you would a lipstick, but they have the texture and shine that you would get from a gloss. The lip crayons do usually give you a fairly good colour pay off too.

When it comes to application for all of these products, you can apply them all straight from the pencil/tube onto clean dry lips, but if you want your lip colour to really last then you are best using a lipstick with a lip liner underneath.

Lip liners are literally just that, a pencil to line your lips with. Using a lip pencil will help to create the perfect lip shape, and it will stop your lipstick “bleeding” out past your natural lip line.

If you have fairly pigmented lips you may find it easier applying a tiny amount of foundation/concealer to the lips, giving you a blank canvas to start again while being able to get the lipsticks true colour showing.

The best way I have found to get lipstick to last is to draw around the edge of your lips with the lip pencil to get the exact shape you want, but then to colour in the rest of your lips with the same lip liner. Lip liners are generally matte and will really stick to clean, dry lips, and will really help your lip colour last a lot longer. Then, instead of applying your lipstick straight from the tube, try using a brush to apply it onto the lips. You will find you will get a much smoother, more even finish to the colour, it’s a lot more accurate, and also it helps make your lipstick last longer.

If you want to leave it like this you can, or you could add a gloss over the top. If you apply gloss all over the lips it gives you a beautiful glossy sheen, or if you only apply some gloss to the centre of the lips then it gives the illusion of larger more pouty lips.

Another trick to getting your lipstick to last longer, is to apply the lip liner as discussed, followed by the lipstick on a brush, but then kiss/dab your lips off gently onto a clean tissue, and then apply the lipstick using a brush once more, then your gloss over the top if you wish. This helps to lock in as much colour as possible making it last a much longer time than if you purely used lipstick on it’s own.

Sometimes you may not want a full colour, and find yourself reaching after one of the more sheer colour options. This is where the lip crayons, lip stains and lip glosses can be perfect, depending on your desired look/result.

The last thing I will mention about using these lip colours, is to make sure your lips are clean, dry (apart from maybe a little lip balm) and smooth. Applying lipstick over dry/chapped lips will make the flaky skin stand out and isn’t the best look.

Just either buy a lip scrub, make your own (mix a little olive oil with sugar) or use a soft toothbrush to buff away all of the dead skin cells, giving your colour the best lip to stick to.

I hope this was helpful and that you try it out!

What are your best tips at making lipstick look it’s best? Or how do you get it to last as long as you can? Leave me a comment and let me know! 😀

 Kammi Signature

37 Comments

  1. katie

    October 22, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    some good advice on how to apply it etc 🙂
    those MUA colours look lovely!

    katiesworld-ofbeauty.blogspot.co.uk x

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 6:23 pm

      Thanks 🙂 I reckoned everyone would be talking about colours so I went a different route 😛
      x

  2. Hayfa

    October 22, 2013 at 6:20 pm

    I only JUST discovered MUA lipsticks a few weeks ago and I love ’em! Loved the tips, sadly I cannot stand lip liners! I don’t what it is about them but they make my lips feel 20 years older!

    Hayfa
    http://www.londonloafers.com

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 6:25 pm

      The MUA lippies are amazing for the price!
      Oh that’s interesting about the lip liners! I wonder why they don’t feel good on you!
      x

  3. Rebecca Sheen

    October 22, 2013 at 6:53 pm

    Such a great detailed post! I always put a swipe of foundation or concealer over my lips before lippie, it makes the colour so much truer and long-lasting.

    Rebecca x
    Cloud Nine Indulgence

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 7:06 pm

      Thank you! 🙂
      Yeah I do this too as I have really pigmented lips naturally and find it can help it last too 🙂
      x

  4. Liz

    October 22, 2013 at 7:19 pm

    Where is the best place to buy the MUA lipsticks?

    Liz xx

    http://www.theotherdress.co.uk

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 7:21 pm

      Superdrug, it’s their own brand makeup line! 🙂 The lipsticks are only £1 each! xx

  5. Lianne

    October 22, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    Some fab tips there hun!! 🙂
    Can you believe we’ve almost finished the project!!!
    Lianne | TheBrunetteSays…

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 7:35 pm

      Thank you! 🙂
      I know!! It’s scary thinking it all started about 2 months ago, especially when I have been blogging for less than 4!
      x

  6. Charlotte

    October 22, 2013 at 7:27 pm

    Such a lovely & detailed post! I like the lip liner tip :3 i’ve never really used it before :/
    haha

    Char, xo
    charlottewritesblog.co.uk

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 7:36 pm

      Thank you 🙂
      Aww you should! Especially if you like bright/dark lips it’s fab!
      x

  7. saida

    October 22, 2013 at 8:22 pm

    nice tips! I tend to find that matte lipsticks last longer than ones that give some shine. so whenever I want a shiny look on my lips, instead of applying a glossy lipstick, I apple a matte lipstick instead and just put a small layer of lipgloss on top, which makes it last a lot longer for me.
    saida x

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 8:49 pm

      Thanks! Yeah I totally agree with you there! The glossy lipsticks are so pretty but really don’t last as long! The gloss over the top of a matte lipstick also make it less dry too! 🙂 x

      1. saida

        October 22, 2013 at 9:21 pm

        Yeah that’s always a good thing. I’ve never come across a blog that covers both beauty and books, will be really interesting to see what you post in the future! new follower here 🙂
        saida xx

        1. Kammitted

          October 22, 2013 at 9:22 pm

          Haha I am an odd one! 😛 I just love reading too 🙂 next book review should be up in the next couple of weeks! Just been really busy! I have left you a comment on your blog and I am now following you too! 🙂 x

  8. Jessie

    October 22, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    I LOVE MUA! I love their eye palettes and their lipsticks.. I had the plum one of these but lost it 🙁 gonna get another one as soon as I’m in town next though! New bloglovin follower:) your blog is super cute! xx

    http://www.allthingsbeautiful-x.blogspot.com

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 9:06 pm

      Haha they are a fab brand aren’t they!
      Aww that’s a shame you lost it, at least they don’t cost much to replace! 🙂
      Thank you, I am following you back too! xx

  9. Hannah

    October 22, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    Ooo I will definitely have to try making my own lip scrub thanks for sharing how to make one.

    Hannah xxx
    htttp://adayinthelifeofanortherngirl.blogspot.com

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 9:46 pm

      No problem! It’s how I do it when I run out of pre-bought, as I am not a huge fan of the toothbrush method! 🙂 x

  10. Serena Davina

    October 22, 2013 at 9:56 pm

    As always, I love your posts,
    You always put a lot of detail and very useful infomation into each post you do.
    Think I might have to invest in one of those Lip Crayons x

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 10:08 pm

      Thank you so much! I used to be worried I rambled on too much, but everyone seems to like the excessive amount of detail in each post.
      I am so glad you like it! 🙂
      Lip crayons are fab! 🙂 x

  11. Ebony Jay

    October 22, 2013 at 10:29 pm

    I tend to stick to lip gloss and lip balm but I do have a few lipsticks that I am loyal to (: but I find putting concealer on before does help it appear brighter and truer and I like that (: great post as always!

    1. Kammitted

      October 22, 2013 at 10:36 pm

      Thank you my love! You are always so kind! 😀
      Yeah concealer can be a god send when using some colours can’t it! 🙂
      xx

  12. Clare

    October 22, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    Great post as always. I love reading your #theSOproject posts. You reminded me I need to try those MUS lipsticks 😀 xxx

    Budgetbeautyhealth.blogspot.co.uk

    1. Kammitted

      October 23, 2013 at 12:08 am

      Thank you! 🙂
      Can’t believe next week is the last one! Although there is a new project starting so keep an eye out! 🙂
      Ohhh yes you need to get some! They are fab! 🙂
      x

  13. Kelly

    October 22, 2013 at 11:54 pm

    Tips for those starting out, start with hydrated lips. I’m constantly moisturizing with balm or plain Vaseline. Nothing looks worse with lipstick than flaky dry lips. For bold lips, a liner also really helps to prevent that ‘feathered’ look…it also makes lipstick or gloss looks last longer.

    xoxo
    Kelly
    http://www.dreaminlace.com

    1. Kammitted

      October 23, 2013 at 12:09 am

      Fab tips! I totally agree with all of them! 🙂
      Lip liner and vaseline are a god send before applying lipstick!
      x

  14. Abigail

    October 23, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    I don’t really have any lip tips, but I’d love to try some dark purple berry shades this Autumn!
    Abigail x
    http://www.lerevasser.blogspot.com

    1. Kammitted

      October 23, 2013 at 8:34 pm

      Dark purple lips can be utterly stunning on! I hope you do try some!
      Thanks for the comment! 🙂
      x

  15. Jules

    October 23, 2013 at 10:18 pm

    What a brill post – def going to try to make my own lip scrub and will give your lip liner trick a try – always looking for ways to make my lippy last longer x

    1. Kammitted

      October 23, 2013 at 10:46 pm

      Sounds good! If it works for you do come back and let everyone know! 😀
      x

  16. emma

    October 23, 2013 at 11:49 pm

    love they way you have explained everything and have given your own tips and tricks form your own experiences of the products i love mua lipstick too x

    1. Kammitted

      October 24, 2013 at 12:12 am

      Thank you for your lovely comment! I am glad you liked reading it! 🙂
      x

  17. Debra

    October 24, 2013 at 5:07 am

    This is such a lovely, helpful post! I myself am a huge fan of lipstick but I’m always looking for tips on shades to suit my skin tone, application and lasting. Love the starting off series 🙂

    Debra Bros Blog

    1. Kammitted

      October 24, 2013 at 11:00 am

      Thank you I am glad you like it! Yeah I decided not to talk about colours and shades really as I knew that would be the main thing everyone else would be talking about and didn’t want this post to be massively long! 🙂 x

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