Makeup Monday: Long-Wearing Lipstick – Hive and Nest

It’s Makeup Monday and I’m here to preach the gospel of lipstick (especially long-wearing lipstick that lasts all day). If you’re a long-time reader of my blog, you’ve heard me rant about this before but I simply must insist that all women wear lipstick. Really. Unless you’re fourteen and have naturally red lips you really ought to be wearing it every day.  It makes your face look brighter, your skin look clearer and lights your smile right up.

If you’re not a regular lipstick wearer, there are few things that seem as daunting as walking up to the makeup department. Why are there so many colors and why do some cost $2 and some cost $25?  Honestly, there’s not that much of a difference. Yes, fancy brands use better pigments but it’s not a big deal. Mostly you’re paying for a wider selection of colors, especially colors that are very current. But cheapo brands are getting better every day. Don’t be afraid!

Most companies make sheer lipstick that is kind of like the training wheels of makeup. I currently like Revlon Lip Butters (Fig Jam is a nice pinkish brown that would suit most caucasian complexions. If you’re a lipstick coward this is a great place to start).  I use these later on in the evening when my lips are feeling dry and my long-wearing lipstick is needing a little oomph.

Every single morning I put on long-wearing lipstick and that carries me through most of the day. Gone are the days when you have to reapply lipstick after every meal and each time you leave the house. No wonder so many women hate to wear the regular stuff! Long-wearing lipstick seems scary (“what if I mess up?”) but after you get the hang of it you’ll be in love. Put it on in the morning and look lovely until bedtime. What could be dreamier?

Strangely the luxury brands don’t make super-long wearing lipstick; you’ll have to stick to drugstore brands (yay! They’re cheaper!)  Long-wearing lipstick is my number one favorite cosmetic item. I simply would never go without it. I currently wear Maybelline Super Stay. I’ve done not-very-scientific tests involving putting different brands on my hands and seeing how they wear throughout the day. The victor by far is Maybelline Super Stay. It stayed on my hand without budging for over 24 hours. The absolute worst was the Revlon Colorstay. Even on my hand it started smudging immediately and wearing off after about three hours. L’Oreal makes a decent version that lasts pretty well too.

It’s hard to tell what colors will look good without actually wearing them on your lips. My skin has warmish undertones and my lips are naturally quite pink so I know that all colors will seem pinker on my lips than on my hand. You’ll learn these things about yourself the more you wear lipstick. If you want to try some Maybelline Superstay but are nervous about colors, try Forever Chestnut. It’s one of the paler colors and is a neutral pinkish-brown that looks like the color of your tongue. I imagine this would be a good fit for most Caucasian women.

If I’m in the mood for red lipstick, I won’t wear it except in a long-wearing formulation. Regular red lipstick smears all over the place, smudges on anything your lips touch and looks hideous after about three hours. I’ve found that Everlasting Wine (Maybelline Super Stay) is perfect with my coloring and will last all day. It’s the only red lipstick I would dream of wearing to church (Sunday is typically my longest and most intense day and involves a lot of talking).

If you’re new to the world of long-wearing lipstick, let me give you a few tips:

1. Practice applying it in front of a mirror in good light. But don’t put it on in the car while you’re at a stoplight. Ask me how I know!

2. Your lips need to be a smooth and dry. I brush my teeth right before applying lipstick and brush my lips as well. Your toothbrush is great at getting rid of dead skin! Make sure you dry your lips throughly!

3. Buy some makeup remover. This will take off your lipstick at the end of the day or in case you make a mistake.

4. Have a square of toilet paper handy. Darker colors need blotting, especially around the edges, and this stuff dries fast.

5. Before you decide that you hate a color, wear it all day. It will look different in all kinds of light and it’s a good idea to get other people’s feedback. A lot of times a new lipstick will make you feel like your lips look like a neon sign, but as you go throughout the day you’ll get a dozen compliments. So just relax and let people give you feedback before you decide that your new lipstick is no good. (Just don’t ask a man. They’re dumb when it comes to makeup.)