Matte lipstick: 5 steps to get it just right

Matte lips are steadily becoming one of my fave makeup looks...you can look incredibly beautiful and elegant in no time at all. Today I share some beauty tips on how to master the art of applying and wearing matte lip colour:

1. Exfoliate your lips

Matte lipstick easily settles into any rough patches on your lips, so you want to start with a smooth canvas. Dry, dead skin is often what makes your lipstick look rough and uneven, so gently exfoliate your lips before you apply any color. You can use a sugar scrub or gently exfoliate your lips with a soft bristle toothbrush.

2. Add some moisture

Next, apply a lightweight lip balm or moisturizer. This will help keep your lips hydrated since matte lipstick can be super drying. Applying balm before the lipstick instead of after will help keep your lips looking totally matte.

3. Use lip liner to get the perfect shape.

Because matte lipstick is often highly pigmented, it is difficult to get off and redo without irritating or staining your skin, so you want to get it right on your first try. Applying lip liner before using your matte lipstick ensures you have lines to “colour in”. After lining your pout, use the liner to color in your lips about halfway before applying the lipstick. This will keep lipstick from fading, and it will help it all blend together better, too.

4. Apply your matte lipstick

Whether it’s straight from the tube or you’re using a lip brush, try to be a precise as possible.

5. Blot lips on a paper towel

This removes any excess color or leftover shine and allows a little bit of powder to come through the tissue and deposit onto your lipstick. The powder provides tons of staying power, just like it does to your face makeup. You don’t want to put it directly on your lips though because it’ll look cakey.

Ruthie Kinuthia is a makeup professional and founder of Makeup by Ruthie. You can reach her on [email protected]