Six Essential Lipstick Life Hacks

Photo: Emilie Heathe team member Malka Nebro

With the launch of our new Lip Atelier Lip Colour collection, we bring you five wearable lipstick shades that you can rock anywhere. These buildable semi-sheer lipsticks make taking your look from day to night a breeze. Read on to learn some lipstick life hacks and how to get the best use out of our Lip Atelier collection.

Lipstick Hack #1: Exfoliate for smoother application

Exfoliating and moisturizing your lips is always essential, but it’s even more important before applying lipstick. Think of your lips like a canvas; the paint can only apply evenly if your canvas is smooth, and a quick lip prep prevents your lipstick from settling around cracks and dry skin. An easy tool to prep and perfect your lips is our Lip R&R. It gently exfoliates while hydrating to create a perfectly smooth surface with it’s dissolving sugar beads and moisturizing ingredients. 

Lipstick Hack #2: Mix your shades for endless colours

You’re not limited to just our five shades. You can channel your inner artist (that’s what the atelier is for, isn't it?) and create an infinite number of lipstick colours by mixing two or more together. Try some of our tried and true mixing and matching options:

• Tone down 212, our red lipstick, with Mude, our mauve-nude.
• Brighten up Public, our shimmering orange with 212’s pink undertones.
• Deepen any other shade with The New Vamp, our dark and stormy plum. 

Lipstick Hack #3:Blot your lipstick to make it last

Blotting lipstick is the oldest lipstick trick in the book, but it’s common practice for a reason! Follow these easy steps to get this hack down pat.

• Apply an even coat of lipstick all over the lips, and blot it with a tissue until a matte stain remains.
• Repeat this step until the intensity of the stain has built up to your desired amount of coverage.
• Then without blotting, reapply your lipstick one last time for some added shine and a final boost of color. 

This technique is best used with bright or dark lipsticks. Try it out with our lipstick bundle called The Pops, which features our boldest shades called 212, Public, and The New Vamp.

Lipstick Hack #4:Get plump looking lips

Lip liners are a great tool to make your lips look more plump. When lining the lips prior to applying lipstick, draw ever-so slightly outside the lines, particularly across the cupid's bow and central bottom lip line, to emulate the appearance of the oh-so-trendy lip flip. Adding a shimmering lip topper or a high-shine gloss after applying the rest will reflect light, making your lips look even more plump. However, feel free to keep it subtle, as the Lip Atelier lipsticks already contain a moisturizing gloss!

We recommend these clean lip liners:

Lipstick Hack #5: Use your lipstick as a cream blush

While our lipsticks were formulated mostly with lips in mind, they can absolutely be used as a cream blush too. Who doesn’t love a 2-in-1 beauty product? Using the same shade on both your lips and cheeks not only helps to tie your look together, it’s also wildly convenient!

Follow these easy steps for a lifted-face look:

• After applying your base layer of foundation, concealer, and/or setting powder, swipe a dime-sized dot of lipstick on the apples of your cheeks.
• With the warmth of your fingertips, bounce and blend upwards towards your temples and the highest point of your cheekbones. 
• Dab the excess lipstick on your fingertips onto your nose, chin, and center of your forehead to create a naturally flushed look.

We recommend 212 as a blush as its pink-toned red hue will provide a lively flush of color. 

Lipstick Hack #6: Apply lipstick like a pro

It can be pretty difficult to colour within the lines, but don’t shy away from lipstick for that reason! Once you get the hang of this easy technique, you’ll be able to apply lipstick in your sleep.

Follow these easy steps:

• Applying your lipstick directly from the bullet, start at the center of your cupid's bow on your upper lip for a full coverage look.
• For a more sheered-out look, apply your lipstick with a lip brush.
• Follow the lip line up to the two peaks of your cupid’s bow, and slowly swipe your lipstick down towards the outer corners of your mouth. Repeat this on both sides of your upper lip.
• Make sure not to overline your lips near the outer corners, as this might look unnatural and create a wide-mouthed effect.

We recommend these three lip brushes for the perfect lipstick application: