No outfit is complete without a smile, and we stand by its ability to make everything – a million times better! However, achieving that perfect beam requires giving your lips some well-deserved love and care. Did you know that our lips have fewer oil glands, so they cannot protect themselves from dryness, irritation, and sun damage? They are also thinner than the rest of your face, so they’re more vulnerable.
Today, we break down a step-by-step process on how to achieve the perfect pout for every occasion. Make note and never be left wanting for that gorgeous smile!
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Step 1: Start with a lip scrub.
Exfoliating your lips using a lip scrub helps remove any dead skin that can make your lips look rough and chapped. Moreover, this makes your lips look soft and supple, allowing your lip makeup to sit better! Apply a small amount of lip scrub and gently rub it onto your lips twice weekly as part of your nighttime skincare routine. Using a soft, wet toothbrush or a damp face cloth also works if you don’t have a lip scrub.
Step 2: Hydrate your lips with a lip balm or mask.
After exfoliating your lips, it’s time to moisturise them to reinforce a layer of protection. Since your lips don’t have oil glands, they are more prone to dryness and irritation. There are two ways to do this: a lip balm or a lip mask.
We recommend using a lip mask after exfoliating as its effects last overnight, so you can wake up with a plump pout. Our favourite? The LipLift Magic Mask by Skin Ppple! The LipLift Hydrogel Mask provides deep hydration to smoothen any lip lines and also improves the shape and natural volume of your lips.
A lip balm works great if you’re going out and need to prep your lips for your makeup. These products deliver moisture and keep your lips hydrated, preventing them from chafing throughout the day. And if you can find SPF-infused lip balm, all the better! After all, we don’t want the sun’s UV rays to damage our lips.
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Step 3: Trace and fill your lips using a liner.
We can’t emphasise this enough: the ultimate hack to get the perfect pout is to start with a lip liner! Use a lip liner (make sure it’s the same shade as your lipstick!) to trace the edges of your lips. This enhances your natural shape, but you can also overline it to slightly alter the shape. You can also use it to fill in the sides of your lips for a seamless colour blend.
Our favourite lip liner hack, however, is to apply it all over your lips before your lipstick. This can turn any lipstick formula into a long-lasting one!
Step 4: Time for lipstick!
It’s an underrated talent to be able to apply your lipstick effortlessly and slay every single time. But through practice, we’ve learned the best way is to start from the centre and work outward. This allows you to control your application better by starting from the fullest region of your lips. Try drawing an “X” using a lip liner on your cupid’s bow for a more even application. This enhances the definition of your cupid’s bow and provides a visual guide as you apply your lipstick.
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Step 5: Add your finishing touches.
If you prefer a matte lip, blot your lipstick with a tissue and re-apply another layer. This step helps remove excess product and allows your lipstick to set faster. However, if you’re into the glossy look, make sure to set your lipstick before topping it with lip gloss. This helps void any colour transfer and helps your lipstick last longer.
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