Subtle Art of keeping the lipstick on

Lucknow: The last thing you want to worry about is your lipstick smudging, whether you're busy with back-to-back meetings or spending your day sightseeing. In the morning your lipstick color appears vibrant and fresh; but, as the day goes on, it starts to fade, leaving you with nothing but a horrible outline. However, there is a proper way to apply lipstick that will guarantee it will stay put all day. Telltale indicators of bad lipstick include fading, smudging, fading, or unsightly teeth marks. Luckily, there are strategies for achieving gorgeously shiny lips that last all day and all night.

Here's how to make your lipstick last longer:

Exfoliate

Use a sugar scrub, like Laura Geller New York's Lip Strips, to exfoliate your lips. Abby recommends applying the scrub, letting it rest, and then wiping it off with a damp cloth. Another option is to apply a nourishing lip balm. For any lipstick to adhere, a sugar lip scrub produces a moisturized and smooth surface. With its conditioning components, the mild scrub will remove roughness and leave lips smooth, as well as help prevent post-lipstick dryness.

Prime your lips

After exfoliating your lips and applying a gentle lip balm it's time to prime them. Apply a very small amount of sheer foundation or concealer to your lips. This will create a smooth and even base for your lipstick and fill in any lip gaps. While this step is optional, if you ask us, it would undoubtedly be our first suggestion for the age-old question of "how to make lipstick last longer."

Line and fill

Pros recommend using a lip liner to prevent color fading. The sensual nude shade of Butter & Like London's Plush Rush Lip Liner is long-lasting, moisturizing, and water-resistant. The trick is to apply the right lip liner. The advice from Abby is to "line and fill in lips completely with a liner." She also recommends "lining and filling in lips similarly with a lip liner before applying lipstick" for best results. This guarantees the ideal lip color that not only looks amazing but is also permanent.

Blot and set your lips

Blotting and setting are key if you want to set your red lip for long-term success. Apply your red lipstick in a single coat, then use a tissue to gently wipe away the color. Follow this with a second layer of lipstick. To get a deep red color in every crease and crevice, it works even better if the second coat is applied using the "dab and twist" technique.