Lipstick is a woman’s best friend and worst enemy all at the same time – it can make our smiles brighter and more beautiful but the process to perfect lips sure can be a nightmare!
With a range of skin tones, and thus a range of lip colors, South Asian women have a whole new level of frustration to handle when it comes to lip wear. Besides the usual fears of our lipstick bleeding or getting in our teeth, we’ve got to look harder for the perfect shade that complements beige skin tones and also go through more trouble if we want lighter-colored lips than our natural tones.
{via Bridal by Jyoti}
It’s easy to fall in love with lipstick, whatever your shade of choice – and these basic steps on how to achieve your ideal lip look will help this affair (and your lip color) last!
1. Scrub
It’s important to start with clean, lush, and soft lips – so a scrub is the way to go! You can do this a few days in advance or right before you apply lipstick. Using a lip scrub will soften your lips so that they hold color better, and it’ll even out any dry, chapped parts that might cause the lipstick to apply unevenly or flake off.
You can buy a readymade lip treatment such as Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment or Do It Yourself! Mix some olive oil or honey with cane sugar (more liquid than sugar), and apply it to your lips in a circular motion. Wash it off and your smooth lip canvas is ready for painting!
2. Prime
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Many brands like OCC’s Lip Tar will tell you to use their clear primer before applying any lip color. Primers keep the lipstick on for longer, while providing an even base for application. You can also use a layer of thin, clear chapstick as a primer before you begin.
3. Line
In order to prevent your lip color from running past your intended surface, it’s important to line your lips with a matching liner color or a universal liner that’s clear. Line right above where your lip line ends and draw it on in small sketches, not long strokes, until your lips are fully outlined.
The liner will keep your lipstick from straying, and therefore, staying on longer!
4. Layer
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This part is the most important lipstick commandment – so heed it well! Layer your lip color carefully, starting with one even layer across both the upper and lower lip. Blot between applications, and apply more layers for thicker color.
For darker lips like South Asian women tend to have, more layers are necessary if you’re using a lighter lip color than your natural tone. I recommend bright reds and pinks or deeper burgundy shades to Indian women – these shades are dark enough to show up on any pair of lips. But if you’re craving a champagne pink, go for it! Just apply it evenly each time you layer, otherwise you’ll have chunks and flakes all over!
If you want to apply less layers and prevent flaking, choose a lip stain or higher pigmented lipstick. Both light and dark colors can be found in cream lip stains, which don’t require as many layers to infuse color. The less layers, the less flaking!
5. Lock-In The Color
Now that you’ve carefully applied your favorite lip color, you’ll want to make sure it lasts! The primer and liner should help, but an extra trick is using a translucent powder (face powder works well!)
Lightly dust off your makeup brush or applicator so there’s very little powder on it and no excess hanging off of it. Gently dab it over your lips, taking care not to smear any lip color. Applying a finishing powder will remove any excess liquid from your lipstick and keep your look intact!
6. Gloss
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This commandment is actually optional, and in my experience, matte lipsticks tend to last longer anyways – but sometimes a girl’s gotta have her moment to shine! Apply gloss very last in your lipstick process.
Use a small amount and spread it lightly (preferably with a lip brush) so the underlying lip color doesn’t spread with it. You don’t want to lay it on too thick since there’s plenty of stuff on your lips already!
For darker, Desi lips, pigmented gloss can come in handy if your original color isn’t showing like it’s supposed to. Sparkles are a great trick to add a fun flair to your look, and since they reflect light, they’ll emphasize any red or pink lip colors.
7. Touch-Up
Another key commandment: always keep an eye on your lipstick! Darker colors, especially red, can destroy the rest of your makeup if they smear out of line. While your routine so far has been meticulous, you’ll want to be on the safe side by asking your friends to alert you to any mishaps or checking your reflection after eating or drinking.
The sad truth about lipsticks are that once your beautifully decorated lips make contact with an auntie’s cheek or a wine glass, they’ll lose some of their color. If you invest in good lipsticks and use the proper application routine, your color should still last through any event – but be prepared for your glam lips to lose some of their shine as the hours progress!
Every woman deserves to flash her fabulous smile and feel like a movie star with colorful lips – Indians included! There’s no reason why we should be excluded from looking pretty in pink, or any other light color. By following these handy commandments to lipstick perfection, you can say “cheese” and sip wine with an extra flair!