Make-up Tip: How To Keep Your Lipstick Last Longer

2013 has come to an end and we know that a lot of you are wanting to look extra special for that New Year's Eve party! For makeup- in particular LIPSTICK that stays put all night during your New Year's celebration, consider these valuable tips that will let you have fun without stressing over touch-ups and re-applying your lipstick throughout the evening.

   - Prep your lips in a healthy state
Lipstick cannot adhere as well to lips that are dry, chapped, or cracked. First, lightly scrub away the top surface of your lips with a damp toothbrush to get rid of dull, dry skin cells. After that, apply a lip balm without sunscreen before going to bed. In the morning, lips will feel soft and smooth. Gently rub the lips with a washcloth to remove excess balm and chapped skin. This mild exfoliation creates a smooth surface for a neater lipstick application.

- Try Lip Primers
Lip primers are designed to go under lip pencil, lipstick, or gloss. Use a non-petroleum lip moisturiser on the lips to moisturise the fresh skin. Another alternative to primer is foundation. Like a lip primer, foundation creates a smoother surface for lipstick. Apply a thin layer of foundation to the lips and blot to remove excess oil.

- Use a Lip Pencil Lip liners
Lip liners contain the same pigments as lipsticks, but the color is suspended in a waxy pencil instead of a creamy stick. Particles of pigment cannot move as freely in their waxy base, so they provide a platform to which layers of lipstick can cling. Use a sharpened, neutral lip liner around the edge of the lips. Apply the lip liner by starting in the middle of the lips instead of on the edges ensures that the most intense color will be near the center of the mouth. Blend it softly in or you won't be left with any definition once you apply your lipstick.

- Finishing touch
Place a thin layer of tissue over the lips and apply loose or pressed powder through the tissue to set the lipstick in place. The tissue gives a finer coverage of powder going through to the lips so that you aren't removing the lip color -- you're just matting it down and setting it in place. After applying lipstick, blot it with a tissue and apply a new layer. Blotting removes excess oils and emollients from the first layer of lipstick while leaving the pigments largely intact.

*Apply a final layer of lipstick to give a long lasting glossy finish.

* You could also apply a dot of gloss to the center of the lower lip instead of slicking gloss on the entire lip surface. The key to getting a glossy look without sacrificing long wear is using gloss only where it is most likely to catch the light.