How do you make lipstick last all day?

You put lipstick on in the morning and by mid-afternoon only the outline is left. It's not bad luck: staying power depends mostly on how you prep your lips and how you apply the colour. With these steps, almost any lipstick lasts twice as long.

Step by step

1. Exfoliate and prep. Use a damp cloth or a gentle scrub to remove flakes. Apply a light balm and, after five minutes, blot off the excess.
2. Line and fill with pencil. Line with a pencil matching your lipstick and fill in the whole lip. The pencil acts as a base and stops feathering.
3. First coat with a brush. Apply lipstick with a brush from the centre outwards. A brush lays down a thin, even layer that grips better.
4. The tissue trick. Split a tissue into a single ply, hold it over your lips and dust translucent powder through it. It sets the colour without drying it out.
5. Second coat. Apply the lipstick again. Two thin coats outlast one thick one.

Choose the formula for your day

• A long day or a wedding: a long-wear liquid matte. They survive meals best.

• Office: a classic matte bullet with the tissue trick.

• Gloss: naturally shorter-lived. Fill the whole lip with pencil first and put gloss only in the centre.

Mistakes that cut wear time

• Applying over freshly applied balm: the colour slides.
• Rubbing your lips together: it drags pigment to the centre.
• Licking your lips: it removes the inner layer.

Frequently asked questions

Do liquid matte lipsticks dry out your lips?

They can. Prep with balm beforehand and carry a clear balm to dab on top in the afternoon.

How do I touch up a liquid matte without it building up?

Remove what's left with a bi-phase remover and apply a single fresh coat instead of layering many.