21 Lipstick Hacks Every Beauty Lover Needs to Master
Unlock flawless lips with these pro lipstick tips—boost wear, precision, color, and more for every look and every skin tone.
Transform your lipstick game with these pro-approved hacks. Covering everything from prepping your lips for flawless color, to bold application techniques and life-saving fixes, these genius tips will help you achieve a perfect pout every time. Whether you’re new to lipstick or a seasoned beauty enthusiast, level up your look and maximize every tube with the following expert tricks.
1. Exfoliate Lips for a Smooth Foundation
Start every lipstick look with smooth, flake-free lips. Dry patches naturally grab onto pigment and can ruin even the best lipstick. Use a clean, disposable mascara wand and gently buff your lips. First, coat lips with a nourishing balm for slip, then lightly scrub in small circles to whisk away dead skin. Rinse and apply another thin layer of balm before moving on to color.
2. Prevent Lipstick on Teeth
Keep your smile flawless by removing excess product before it migrates to your teeth. After applying lipstick, stick a clean finger into your mouth, wrap your lips around it, and slowly pull it out. Any pigment that would have transferred to your teeth instead ends up on your finger—problem solved.
3. Use Lipstick as Cream Blush
Double duty makeup maximizes your stash. Just tap your favorite pink or berry lipstick onto the apples of your cheeks and blend with your fingertips. This creates a natural, monochromatic glow that ties your lip and cheek look together for a seamless finish.
4. Repurpose Broken Eyeshadow as Lip Color
Don’t toss that shattered shadow. If the color flatters your lips, collect the fragments in a clean mini container. Mix with a bit of balm on a spoon or palette until smooth, then tap onto lips for a custom shade and texture. This is perfect for experimenting with trendy hues!
5. For Precision, Use a Concealer Brush
Swap your regular bullet or wand for a concealer brush when you want sharp, precise edges. The brush’s flat, dense bristles allow for targeted application, enabling you to hug the lip line and fill corners that bulky applicators often miss.
6. Try a Fluffy Eye Shadow Brush for Diffused Color
For a softer, blurred effect, dab your lipstick onto a fluffy shadow brush and sweep across your lips. The bristles create a feathered, lived-in look that’s on-trend and easy to maintain throughout the day.
7. Make Lipstick Last With Translucent Powder
Give any lipstick serious staying power. After applying your lip color, hold a single-ply tissue over your mouth and gently dust translucent setting powder through the tissue. This method sets the pigment, reducing transfer and fading while keeping lips comfortable—not cakey.
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8. Conceal Your Natural Lip Color for True-to-Tube Results
If your lips have a lot of natural color, it can change how a shade appears on you. To guarantee your lipstick looks like it does in the tube, lightly tap concealer over your lips and blend before applying color. This neutral base cancels out redness and evens out tones, making every pigment pop as intended.
9. Reshape Your Lips for a Fuller Appearance
For a plumper pout, use concealer to fade the natural lip line. Then take a lip pencil and trace just outside your lips. Fill in completely for a matte look or add gloss for volume. This technique allows subtle reshaping and boosts confidence without injectables.
10. Blot Between Layers For Long-Lasting Color
Extend the wear of any lipstick by blotting between coats. After the first application, gently press a tissue to your lips to remove excess oils. Apply a second layer. This process helps pigment bond better and resists feathering or sliding.
11. Find Your Ideal Nude Lipstick
Choosing the right nude is about matching undertones and going slightly darker than your skin—never lighter. Here’s a pro breakdown:
- Fair skin: Opt for nudes with pink or peachy undertones. (Think “Honeyed Bloom”)
- Medium skin: Select nude shades with a hint of orange or caramel. (Try “Caramel Kiss”)
- Deep skin: Choose rich brown, rosy brown, or caramel tones. (Look for “Sultry Sienna”)
This approach ensures lips look vibrant—not washed out—and delivers the most flattering match.
12. Choose the Perfect Red for Your Skin Tone
Red lipstick is classic, but finding your perfect match is about undertones:
- Fair skin: Blue-based reds (e.g. “Hot”).
- Olive or medium skin: Orange-based reds (e.g. “Garnet Flame”).
- Dark skin: Burgundy or deep berry reds (e.g. “Tempt Berry”).
This method makes your skin glow and your lips pop, every time.
13. Define Cupid’s Bow With an “X” Trick
Get a crisp, symmetrical Cupid’s bow by drawing a tiny ‘X’ on the center of your top lip with a sharp liner. Then trace the rest of the lip line and fill. This creates a guide for even, precise application—especially with bold or matte formulas.
14. Sharpen Your Lip Edges With Concealer
For ultra-defined lips, finish by lining just outside your lips with a flat concealer brush and a touch of cover-up. Blend out for seamless, sharp results. This trick works wonders for correcting uneven lines or cleaning up feathered edges.
15. Travel Light With a Pill Box Organizer
No need to lug every lipstick tube on the go. Scoop a piece of each bullet into a day-of-the-week pill box. It keeps shades organized, compact, and prevents mess. Plus, you can carry multiple looks for touch-ups or day-to-night transitions.
16. Fix a Broken Lipstick With Heat
Broken lipstick doesn’t mean the end. Gently melt the base of the broken bullet with a lighter, then press and fuse it back to the remainder in the tube. Let it set in the fridge for a few minutes. Handle with care; avoid excessive heat to prevent further melting.
17. Revive Dried Out Lipstick With Oil
If your favorite lipstick has dried out, don’t toss it. Add a drop of beauty oil or petroleum jelly, then mix with a clean spatula until creamy. This refreshes the texture, restores glide, and makes every last bit usable.
18. Blend Old Lipsticks for Custom Shades
Get creative by melting and mixing leftover lipsticks together in a microwave-safe container. Experiment with ratios to develop unique colors and textures, then scoop into a small pot for easy application. This is the beauty hack for custom-lip aficionados!
19. Apply Lip Liner First for Maximum Impact
Start your lipstick routine with liner—not just as an outline, but filled across your entire lip. The liner base helps color grip better, prevents feathering, and amps up opacity, especially for lighter or sheerer lipsticks.
20. Store Lipstick in a Cool, Dry Place
Maintain formula integrity and prevent melting by storing lipsticks away from heat and sunlight. A drawer or makeup organizer works better than a steamy bathroom or sun-baked vanity. If you live in a hot climate, keep your best shades in the refrigerator between uses.
21. Quick Lipstick Removal With Oil-Based Remover
For stubborn, long-wearing lipstick stains, use an oil-based makeup remover or a gentle micellar oil. Apply, let sit a few seconds, and then gently wipe away. Follow up with a hydrating balm to nourish lips post-removal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How do I stop my lipstick from feathering or bleeding?
A: Always use a lip liner to create a waxy barrier, and set with translucent powder. Applying concealer around your lips afterward also helps seal edges and prevents smudging.
Q: What’s the best way to make lipstick last through eating and drinking?
A: Layer color with a liner base, blot between coats, set with powder, and avoid oily foods which dissolve pigment. For the most staying power, opt for a matte or long-wear scent formula.
Q: How can I choose a nude that won’t wash me out?
A: Pick a nude lip color that’s one to two shades deeper than your actual skin tone, and ensure it matches your undertone—pink for cool, peach or caramel for warm, dark rose or brown for deep skin.
Q: Is there a quick fix for dried-out lips before lipstick application?
A: Always exfoliate lips first, then use a hydrating balm and let it absorb. For emergency moisture, place a warm washcloth over your lips for a minute and gently buff with a soft toothbrush before applying any color.
Q: Can I turn my regular lipstick into a matte version?
A: Yes! After applying your traditional lipstick, lay down a single tissue ply over lips and lightly dust with a translucent setting powder. This turns glossy lipsticks matte and locks color in place.
- Bonus Table: Quick Lipstick Problem Solvers
| Issue | Hack |
|---|---|
| Dry, flaky lips | Exfoliate and use balm before lipstick application |
| Lipstick on teeth | Finger-in-mouth trick to remove excess product |
| Chapped lips showing through color | Use tinted balm or creamy lipstick formula |
| Color fading quickly | Layer, blot, and set with powder through a tissue |
| Crooked lip lines | Apply with a brush and perfect edges with concealer |
| Travel mess | Store in pillbox instead of bulky tubes |
Whether you’re crafting a statement lip for a big night out or perfecting your everyday nude, these lipstick hacks ensure you get the most out of every swipe. Enjoy experimenting, and let your lips do the talking!
References
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a34361/lipstick-hacks/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/videos/a42148/the-only-beauty-hacks-youll-ever-need/
- https://www.cosmopolitanme.com/beauty/556-12-genius-lip-balm-hacks-every-woman-needs-to-know-about
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/beauty-hair/makeup/a47760/diy-liquid-lipstick-hack/
- https://www.sazan.me/blog/7-genius-hair-hacks-with-cosmopolitan-mag
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjodkBKQ6o
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