A busy lifestyle mandates you to dress up well but spares you very little time to do so. In such cases, a handy lipstick comes to your rescue. When applied in a hurry or not applied properly, you may end up applying excess or very little lipstick. It is also essential that your lipstick does not leave a trace or melt while outdoors. To help you apply lipstick flawlessly, listed below are a few tips:

1. Exfoliate the lips

Before applying the lipstick, make sure your naked lips are in good condition, without chaps and peels. An exfoliated and moisturized lip can give you a refined look. Avoid applying lipstick without prepping the lips. Directly applying lipstick on dry lips will make your lips look flaky and patchy. Steps to be followed in exfoliating and hydrating the lips are:

• Use a lip scrub to scrub out dead skin from the lips. Do not miss this step if your lips are dry.
• Moisturize the lips using a lip balm and allow it to soak for a few minutes.

2. Apply foundation
This step is particularly for those of you with dark lips. All colors may not sit well on dark lips; hence, lighten the lips using a foundation. A light color foundation powder will mute the color of the lips. This step also helps keep the lipstick smudge-free and intact for a long time.

3. Trace with a lip liner
Always remember to line the lips using a lip liner before filling them with lipstick. The liner gives the perfect shape to the lips. It also allows the shape of lips to be tweaked to your liking without making it look untidy. Lip liners come in various shades, almost in all colors, similar to lipstick.

4. Applying lipstick
Finally, applying lipstick is the most crucial step where you cannot afford to falter. Start by filling your lips from the fullest part of your lips. Moving from the insides of the lips to the outsides allows it to fill the whole of the lips. It will enable you to control the process of applying better. Putting a broad smile will help the lipstick spread out evenly. You can apply the lipstick right out of the tube or use an applicator if it is a gloss. Use a brush for more precise application. Do the same for the lower lip also.

5. Blot your lipstick
Blotting your lips is an optional tip that can be foregone if you are in a hurry. Following blotting diligently will reduce the transfer of lipstick on mugs, glasses, and spoons. Steps to be followed to blot your lips:

• Pick out a soft tissue that wouldn’t hurt your lips
• Separate the tissue to make it a thin layer
• Fold the tissue and place it in between your lips
• Press your lips onto the tissue to remove the oil from your lips