How to Apply Liquid Lipstick: 4 Tips for Applying Liquid Lipstick

Liquid lipstick is a lip makeup product that brings color and sheen to lips. Unlike traditional lipstick—a solid tube of wax and pigment—liquid lipstick is a liquid formula. Liquid lipstick comes in a tube with a sponge-tipped brush applicator. Liquid lipstick is available in various colors, from nudes to intense red lipsticks, and many finishes, from matte to gloss.

Liquid lipsticks come in a variety of lipstick formulas:

1. 1. Creamy: Creamy lipsticks have intense pigments that offer full coverage. They are also hydrating and give your lips a plump look.
2. 2. Gloss: To make your lips plump and shiny, use gloss liquid lipstick. Glossy lipsticks are hydrating and will give your lips a wet look. Glossy lipsticks can be sheer, lightly colored, or intensely colored and require frequent touch-ups.
3. 3. Frosted: Frosted liquid lipsticks contain bits of shimmer or glitter to make your lips glisten and sparkle.
4. 4. Matte: A matte liquid lipstick is a pigmented lipstick that dries on your lips with a matte finish, with no shine. A matte formula is long-lasting, but it can dry your lips—be sure to apply a lip balm beforehand.
5. 5. Satin: Satin lipsticks, also known as sheer, give your lips a plump look. Satin formulas are moisturizing and will hydrate your lips. They are also lightly pigmented and look natural. Unlike matte lipsticks, satin or sheer lipsticks are not long-lasting—you will need to touch them up throughout the day.

Follow the step-by-step tutorial for proper liquid lipstick application:

1. 1. Exfoliate and moisturize your lips. Prep your lips by exfoliating with a lip scrub to remove any dead skin. Then, apply a lip balm to moisturize your lips. Dry lips will prevent the lipstick from staying on.
2. 2. Line your lips. Line the edges of your lips with a lip liner to outline your lips—this will prevent you from going over your lip line with the liquid lipstick. Lining can also prevent darker colors from feathering or bleeding out onto your surrounding lip area. You can fill your lips with lip liner to create base for long-wear lipstick.
3. 3. Apply the liquid lipstick to your bottom lip. Start applying your lipstick from the center of your bottom lips where your lips purse, and work outward with the applicator. Carefully apply the color along the edge of your bottom lip.
4. 4. Apply lipstick to your top lip. Press your top and bottom lips together to transfer some of the color. Starting from the center of your top lip, line your cupid’s bow with the lipstick and work outward.
5. 5. Add another coat. For a more intense pigment, apply a second coat of liquid lipstick.

When applying liquid lipstick, consider these tips:

1. 1. Wipe excess lipstick off the applicator. It is best to build light layers of color with liquid lipsticks. When pulling the lipstick applicator out of the tube, wipe off the excess product on the top of the container, so you don’t get too much.
2. 2. Use a lip brush. Instead of the angled lipstick applicator, also known as a doe foot applicator, use a lip brush to apply your liquid lipstick. A lip brush offers more precision and control.
3. 3. Steady your hand with your pinky finger. When applying lip liner or lipstick, you can rest your pinky finger on the center of your chin to help balance your hand.
4. 4. Fix mistakes with a cotton swab. To cover any lipstick marks on your outer lip area, use a cotton swab or makeup brush with makeup remover or moisturizer. You can also dip a lip brush in concealer for matte lipstick mistakes and apply it over the smudge.
5. 5. Line your lips with concealer. Applying concealer around your lip line will give your lips more definition, especially for bolder colors. Accentuate your cupid's bow by lining it with concealer before using lip color.

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