How to Apply Lip Paint

Last Updated: September 23, 2022

Lip paint stays on longer than lipstick or lip gloss. To apply it, you should first exfoliate and moisturize your lips. Lip paint works best when you lay down a foundation of setting powder and liner. Apply the paint slowly, starting with the bottom lip. Make sure not to use products like lip gloss over lip paint, as this causes feathering.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Adding the Foundation

1
Exfoliate and moisturize your lips. Lip paint can dry out lips, so take some preventative measures before applying it. Use a lip scrub to gently exfoliate your lips. Then, add a thin layer of lip moisturizer. Not only will this prevent drying, it will leave your lips looking smoother before you apply your lip paint.^{[1]
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- Wash your hands before exfoliating your lips.
2
Apply a setting powder. A translucent setting powder will make paint stick to lips easier. Before applying any lip paint, dab on a light layer of setting powder over your lips. In addition to making application easier, a setting powder can brighten the colors of your lipstick.^{[2]
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- If you prefer, you can use primer instead of setting powder.^{[3]
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3
Line your lips. As it's easy to smear lip paint, a lip liner will help your lipstick stay on your lips. Take a liner that's roughly the same shade as your lipstick.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Christin Birckhead
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 14 April 2020.} Carefully outline your top and bottom lip in the lip liner.^{[5]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying Your Lip Paint

1
Apply a small amount to your cupid's bow. Your cupid's bow is the center of your lips. Starting with the bottom lip, dab a small amount of lipstick on your cupid's bow. Use the small wand or brush that came with your lip paint container. With lip paint, you only need a small amount.^{[6]
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- You should not need more than a pea-sized amount of lip paint.^{[7]
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2
Spread the lipstick with sideways motions. Use the lip brush or wand that came with your lip paint. Use sideways swiping motions to spread your lip paint out evenly in either direction. Go slowly to avoid smearing your lips. Stay within the lines provided by your lip liner.^{[8]
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- It's best to fill in your bottom lip first and then move on to your top lip.^{[9]
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3
Fill in your lips completely. Continue applying the lip paint in back and forth sideways motions. Keep using the lip wand or brush that came with your container. Fill in your lips completely, making sure to get into the corners. When you're done, you should have strikingly colorful lips in your chosen color.^{[10]
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- If you smear the lipstick a little, dip a cotton swab in a cold cream or makeup remover and dab it on where the lipstick smeared.^{[11]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Addressing Common Problems

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Avoid lipgloss. For some lipsticks, adding a layer of gloss can make them look shiny and neater. However, this should be avoided with lip paint. Lip paint does not blend well with lip gloss and lip gloss can easily cause feathering.^{[12]
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2
Remove lipstick carefully. Lip paint is meant to last all day, so it can be tricky to remove. At the end of the day, use a textured makeup removal wipe to get rid of the lipstick. You should also wash and exfoliate your lips after removing the lipstick.^{[13]
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3
Use lip wax-based lip balm after using lip paint. Lip paint can dry out your lips. After removing your lip paint, use a wax-based lip balm. This will moisturize your lips after a long day wearing lip paint.^{[14]
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Community Q&A

Question

Why should I use a lip primer?

Christin Birckhead
Makeup Artist
Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Christin Birckhead

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

You should use a lip primer because it keeps your lipstick on all day without feathering.
Question

Should I use a lip liner that matches the color of my lipstick?

Christin Birckhead
Makeup Artist
Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Christin Birckhead

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

The lip liner should match or be maybe one shade deeper than your lipstick. There should not be much shade difference between the two.
Question

How should I apply a lip liner if it is a deeper shade than my lipstick?

Christin Birckhead
Makeup Artist
Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Christin Birckhead

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

If you use a lip liner that has a deeper shade than your lipstick, blend it more. You can apply the liner first. Fill in half of your lip with the lip pencil. Then put on your lipstick and press your lips together so both the colors merge and have a nice gradient appearance.