beauty addict

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Top hairstylists, makeup artists, and beauty gurus answer your questions.

Q: No matter what I do, my lip gloss never stays put for more than an hour. How can I get more staying power?

There are several ways to make your lip color last longer. The choice of formula is the first key. If you want a shiny, glossy appearance—which is the look for any sexy, pouty-lipped diva—the jojoba oils won’t help your lipstick last very long, but there are a few things you can do to help seal the deal. First, apply lipliner to the entire lip, then apply a coat of lipstick (a shimmery, matte formula will last the longest), and finally add your gloss. A gloss with shimmer is good because it leaves some sparkle behind on the lipstick even after the gloss has worn away.

Now, about long-wearing lipsticks: These formulas tend to be drying when worn on a regular basis, so it’s important to exfoliate your lips and to allow the formula to dry completely, which takes one to two minutes after application. You can also apply lipliner after the color has dried; this way, nothing will come between your color base and your lips. Be sure to select a liner that’s close to your lipstick shade, and use the lip gloss that comes with your lipstick, as the oils in other glosses might break down your long-wearing formula. I like M.A.C.’s Pro Longwear Lustre Lipcolor; it’s sheerer than other brands and offers several lip gloss options.

One final tip: Always remember that the darker the lipstick, the thinner your lips will appear. Conversely, the lighter your lip color, the fuller your lips will look—maybe not Angelina Jolie full, but fuller nonetheless.

A professional makeup artist for nearly ten years, Kirsten Sylvester has an extensive background in film, editorial, runway, and commercial work. She has worked with celebrities such as Shannon Elizabeth, Izabella Miko, Paula Garcas, and Amy Davidson.

Photo credit: Naomi Hasegawa

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