Keeping your lipstick on your lips is a challenge for a lot of us. There are tons of great long-wear lipsticks out there on the market, but here’s a trick to make your lipstick long-lasting even if it’s a traditional formula.
All you need is lipstick, a similar or matching liner, translucent powder, a brush, and a tissue.
Step One: Define your lip shape with liner. I like to start by making an x at the Cupid’s bow, a little u shape on the bottom lip, and arrows at the corner, and then connecting the lines. Don’t worry if it looks silly, you’re going to be filling it in anyway! 
Step Two: Fill in your entire upper and bottom lip with liner. This is an important step. Lip liner is drier than lipstick and will adhere to your lips, which will help the color stay, even if your creamy lipstick formula wears off.Step Three: Apply lipstick. I like to use a brush for precision, but you can also just apply straight from the tube. If I’m doing a super intense color, sometimes I will do two coats, blotting in between.
Step Four: Take your tissue and pull it apart so you only have 1 ply. Lay it over your lips and powder on top of the tissue. This will let a small amount of powder set your lipstick without it looking dry or dulling the color! 
Make sure you take your lipstick with you to touch up just in case! This trick will definitely help it wear longer. Try it out and see what works best for you! xo. AnnaRoseCredits // Author: Photography: Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions. If you use AnnaRose’s styling tips, feel free to tag her on Instagram or Twitter @theannarose.
64 Comments
I JUST did a blog post on this!! I had pretty similar tips as well. Glad to know that you guys agree with my advice, hehe.
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
Interesting technique, I’ll have to give it a whirl!
http://www.racheltrieslife.com
What lip liner do you guys use? I have never purchased it. Also… what is the powder called? Is translucent and finishing powder the same thing? I have heard of both but I don’t know if they’re the same product. Thank you for posting! I put lipstick on and then half an hour later it all smears off when I get something to drink heh heh. Have a lovely day!
Anna Neumann from The Whistling Willow
Great tips! I have to start using lip liner and powder it down with tissue. My lipstick doesn’t stay long on my lips at all no matter what formula I use. Thanks!
http://shoppingobsessionblog.blogspot.com
Looks beautiful on Elsie! Nice easy-to-do tutorial!
Paulina
Smallwhitewave
I just read about this exact tip-powder&tissue just last week in one of the other blogs…time to give this a try..
xo
http://agoldentulip.blogspot.com/
Elsie, you’re a doll. Seriously adorable.
I’ve never seen the outline drawn like that before! So beautiful and perfect for fall lip. 🙂
<3
Daisy @ http://simplicityrelished.com
Hi Anna!
This tutorial uses an Urban Decay lipliner in ‘Bang’. They are popular and good quality but shop around and find one you love!
http://www.urbandecay.com/24-7-glide-on-lip-pencil-by-urban-decay/379.html
Both translucent and finishing powders help to set makeup and absorb excess oil, it’s just that finishing powders can have a colour either to match or balance the skin tone.
Hope I helped!
I never knew there was a proper way to put on lipstick! I’ll have to try this next time! xoxo
http://sundaycabanas.blogspot.com
Lovely tips – I can only ever get 2-3 hours out of mine. I will give this a go – thanks guys!
Bec x
http://www.dancingthroughsunday.com.au
Oh perfect timing! I’m going to a wedding this weekend and was planning on wearing red lipstick, thanks for the tips!
Nice tips, thanks! By the way, you look gorgeous! Love that bold lip color!
Has anyone tried this and noticed dry lips? I’ve heard of this tip before and was always reluctant to try it since my lips chap so easily!
So cute! Love these tips.
xo
http://www.iolablog.com/
Just what I needed, as usual! Thanks!
This sounds really good, now I actually have to go and buy lip liner haha!
Much Love, AnnCates
anncates.blogspot.com
Never thought to use powder to set my lipstick; great tips!
Nidhi
anunblurredlady.com
Beautiful and practical! I love it. I’m not much of a full fledged lipstick girl. I find it’s a bit too much for my every day life. My alternative is the Burt’s Bees tinted lip shimmer. It gives me a subtle color without the mess and drama of lipstick.
V
Life+1
This would definitely dry your lips, especially if you’re easily prone to chapped lips. You should always exfoliate your lips first (I brush them with my toothbrush) and then apply some kind of lip mosturitzer. Exfoliating gets rid of all that dead skin and use baby lips to moisturize, let that absorb for a while and then apply the lipliner and then your lipstick. This trick is especially important whenever you are using a matte lipstick. Good luck!
This is really helpful! Thanks for the great tips, and for showing me a whole new, easier way to line my lips. May I ask, what is the lipstick color? It’s just gorgeous, and looks AMAZING on you!
I’ve never heard this particular tip before. Looking forward to trying it out and sharing it with my brides if it works (like I’m sure it will!) 🙂
Definitely trying this next time I do a bold lip!
http://spinningbridge.blogspot.co.nz/
I have heard this tip before, but I actually had never heard about creating the “X” at the top of your lip to line it. Very cool!
XxMO
madame-ostrich.com
Your skin looks stunning here! What foundation do you use?
Interesting, I haven’t tried this technique but I’ll definitely have to try it before my wedding day!
I do this too and it works perfectly!
We haven’t tried this exact technique – but it’s always great to try something new!
Elsie, you are so beautiful! And powder on your lips?! Who knew?
Love this simple tutorial! I often have the faded-lip look because I forget to reapply lipstick the days I wear it. I’m excited to try this!
xoxo
ahoykate.com
Wow, you look really amazing. xa
http://www.fashiondenis.com
Great tips! Urban Decay always has the best lip colors!
StephanieLists.com
Great tip! I’ve known about this tip for a while, but guilty of not following it! Haha… I should try this tomorrow!
Love, love, love…
Mai
http://www.stylemythighs.com
Brilliant! thank you! I would’ve never thought to use liner as a base – fab technique
Love that lipstick colour, so pretty!
Zoe
http://www.bohomixology.com
Great tips! I’m an everyday lipstick wearer so this will come in really handy. xxx
Great post! Thx for tips!
http://www.anaviglam.com
My lips are easily getting dry. Would it be suitable for dry lips? Anyway, I’m definitely going to try this tips but me too first I have to find the matching lip liners. thank you. 🙂
This is a really helpful post! I never buy lip liners but I feel I should start!
Beauty and Lifestyle Blog
xx
Love the shade!
http://www.peonyandpeach.blogspot.com
You have a beautiful smile! My problem isn’t my lipstick or application technique… it’s a lack of lips. Don’t think I could fit the “x” on my cupids bow… sigh…
Wow, nice technique! I’ll give it a try for sure! Thanks!
This is awesome! Love this sweet beauty tutorials! That lipstick shade is darling!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
Awesome tips! I would’ve never have guessed that last step! I gotta try this sometime 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Annie
http://www.themamagazette.com
I’ve never heard of the one-ply paper and powder trick, but I’ll definitely try that next. A makeup artist recently told me that lipliner isn’t necessary with paler shades, but if you’re going with red or other bold color, you definitely want a liner. As she said, “red always shows mistakes!”
ahh i need this today! its so hard to make it last!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
These are some great tips. I always have a hard time getting my lipstick to stay on long plus I always forget to make a point to touch up later in the day. Also, I can only imagine the giggles taking place during this shoot! How can you not laugh with such silly looking photos (in a good way! Putting make-up is always a silly process from an outside point of view).
xoxo
Taylor
I have that problem too, so I love your extra tips for moisturizing, Pricila.
xoxo
Taylor
wow, thank you I will just try that tomorrow <3
Great tip! I love the way you begin with the X. I’ve never see starting your lip looks like that. I definitely need to invest in more lip liners for sure!
I love the lipstick color, it suits your skin totally.
http://www.purelysandy.com
This is great, but why no mention of what color Elsie is wearing in the photos,it is fantastic.
What a wonderful tip! I will be giving this a try very soon with a bright bold lip I’ve been wanting to wear!
Great tips. I’ll have to try them out and let you know how I get on 🙂
I can be soooo super lazy about lipstick especially when it’s a shade that needs to be topped up quite regularly, so I’ll definitely be trying this out. Thanks for sharing! ♡
I love this lip shade! But I’m also interested in learning how Elsie normally does her lips where they almost look two toned. Would love a tutorial on that!
will definitely try that. 🙂
thanks for that!
pssshhht.blogspot.com
Great tip! My biggest challenge occurs when I wear mat lipsticks (which I love). Though I use powder, I’ve tried applying moisturizer before application, I still haven’t quite gotten it right yet. Any tips?
I’ve tried this and it works great!!!
I have never heard of that powder trick before!! Will definitely try it – thanks for the tip 🙂
Bailey
aka Bailey
Thanks for the guidance as I was looking for it, I have to spend more than half day in the office for which I wanted a way through which I can make lipstick last longer on my lips.
Thank you so much for the guidance!
Please share the contouring tips as well…
Thanks for sharing the information, I am indeed looking for this information. Looks like I found good information on this article. Nice website 🙂
Should try the way have shown.Because wearing the lipsticks is a art.
I like the tip that you gave to keep your lipstick with you where ever you go, so that you can touch up if you need to. My wife has been saying that she wants to start wearing lipstick more often, and it would be important for her to know everything that is important before she starts wearing it. I will be sure to mention the idea of bringing her lipstick with her, so she can keep her lips looking fresh.