How to learn to wear lipstick? I always look like a child who has drank cherryade

[DollyMixtureLulus]

I so badly want to wear lipstick but I always look smudgy.

I’m no expert but I’d think it’s about having the right stuff on before you apply lipstick and choosing the right product. I tend to do foundation, powder, lip liner and matt lipstick, powder again and matt lipstick again. Dab the excess of with a tissue. Minimal amounts of gloss on top not to make runny. Done like that it sits on for hours and still looks of after a dinner etc.

I think it also depends on prep of the lips. Exfoliate dry skin, etc. before applying it.

Lipliner, apply with a brush, not directly from the tube.

I tend to apply my foundation over my lip line, line my lips, fill in with lipstick, blot, fill in, blot then line lips again. I don't apply gloss on top and I apply blusher last if it's a bright lipstick so I don't over do it. Also use a good quality lipstick.

I don't get this either. A friend has quite olivey skin and wear a bright coral lipstick every day, it manages to look really casual. If I wear any form of bright lipstick I look really over done

I know what you mean! I feel this in brighter shades, or traditional red. I look ridiculous for some reason. My mouth is quite small but other people who aren't Julia Roberts don't have to rigidly stick to only browny pink shades.

I love lipstick. It brightens up my face. I apply it carefully, press a tissue over my lips to dry it, then apply another coat. It always works for me.

Sadly, there is no point in wearing lipstick if I have to wear a mask, and it would only get on my mask anyway.

I often wear pink or red shades as I like how it lifts my face. If I want to tone it down I put on, blot with tissue & then use a little lip balm.

I will try some of these, thank you!

also you might think the lipstick looks really loud & obvious on you but it's not, you just feel conspicuous if that makes sense. Having said that I grew up with a mother who wore red lipstick even when swimming! 😆

There is technique and there is what suits your tone, lip shape and size.
If it's literally just messy bleeding lipstick then look at youtube lips tutorials.
If you post a pic of your lips with lipstick on we could advise more specifically.

Now is the perfect time to practice because you have to wear a mask anyway so now one will see if it’s not perfect!

I actually found a more intense colour much easier to learn with than a nude/barely there colour, as I could see what I was doing better. My first few tries were with matt liquid lipstick (cheap so I didn’t feel bad for wasting money if I hated the colour). I watched a lot of you tube videos and practiced making slightly different shapes which I found helpful.

Yes we definitely need to know your colouring. I'm cool toned (plus freckles) with pink undertones but I have almost black hair and Hazel eyes, so luckily I can get away with most colours expect true browns and certain oranges. My go too shades are fuchsia pinks, reds, corals and muted pinks. I love red oranges too but have to be a it more careful. I go with what I like and hope for best. Mac shades I love are Rebel, Girl about town and Ruby Woo.

Mac shades I love are Rebel, Girl about town and Ruby Woo.

These are my fave too!

Gonshite I no longer have these but I'm planning to repurchase. Most of my current lipsticks have gone off (dry and taste funny 🤮) as I live in a hot country and they're 5 years old now.

Watching with interest! Would love to be able to wear lipstick but never know where to start. I have quite full lips so always feel I look OTT with anything other than a very natural colour

I find that a lot of the work is in prepping the lips.

So a good lip scrub with a soft toothbrush, wipe off the excess with a soft, damp cloth and then apply lip balm/oil.
Do that first before you do the rest of your makeup.

Lip liner is essential when wearing lipstick (for me anyway) as I find it stops the lipstick from bleeding away from the lips.
Make sure it's sharp, pop it in the freezer for 5 minutes to ensure that it's firm enough to apply a precise line, instead of a thick one.

When apply liner to the Cupid's bow, bring it down on to your lip slightly (from both sides, in an X formation) to add more definition.
Then, as others have said, powder your lips lightly, add lipstick, blot and repeat again.

Add a small dab of clear gloss to the middle of your lip to make them look fuller.

I find that smacking your lips together can smudge lipstick and make it look messy.

Lipcote as a top coat stops it from going anywhere but if I use it I have to also use gloss as I find it quite drying.

As for colours, have a google and look at complementary shades for your skin undertone. I have a warm tone so find coral, peachy and brown nudes suit me best.
There's loads of charts and swatches on google to guide you.
It's so important to find the right tone if you want to wear red lipstick; I found that I always looked like Coco the bloody clown until I found the right shade for me.

I’ve never found one that I like/that suits me! It either looks cakey, is totally the wrong shade, or just doesn’t seem to improve my face at all. I generally just use the Vaseline rosy lips stuff in the pink and white tin but I love how lipstick looks on other people.

Thank you, this is helpful. I’m sitting at home with Ruby Woo on feeling a bit daft, but I think I need to get over myself a bit too!

Ruby Woo is amazing. Very bright but totally stunning. I was sold the Mac blusher pink swoon to suit it at the Mac Counter. I think once you're used to seeing yourself in it you'll be fine.

Hi OP, if you're trying Ruby Woo Lisa Eldridge has a fantastic tutorial on her website about how to apply red lipstick.
www.lisaeldridge.com/blogs/videos/ultimate-guide-to-red-lips?_pos=2&_sid=acbcbf099&_ss=r

Oh thank you!

Ruby Woo is also a shade that Mac claim suits most people. I think I may have a spending spree at Mac soon.

Also, try to sit at a table or desk, with a mirror at eye level in front of you. Rest your dominant elbow on the table as that will give your hand stability. Then start from the top of your lips (under the cupid bow) and go to the corner from there. You will be less likely to go past your lips that way. Once you're more confident you can start from the corner and go up, as that will give your lips a more rounded shape if you like. Do the same on the bottom lip. If you are using the bullet instead of a brush, you can use the narrow tip of the bullet when you do the corners. Hope this helps!

I look silly if I apply lipstick properly so I use it as a tint for some colour. I apply very very lightly on lips and smudge together. I can use bright colours and it looks fine.