Lipstick is arguably the most powerful tool in your makeup bag. It's the one beauty product that really finishes a look — so it's important to get it right.

Though it seems simple, applying lipstick incorrectly is one of the biggest mistakes you can make with your beauty routine, according to Sephora Collection's national makeup artist Helen Phillips.

Phillips said there are two things people usually get wrong when they do their lipstick.

1. You're rushing it.

"People tend to throw [lipstick] on really quickly," Phillips told INSIDER. But putting lipstick on in a hurry won't make it last all day.

While you could always use a lip primer before you apply your lipstick to help it stay put, Phillips recommends taking the time to apply lipstick with a brush.

This makes getting the right shape a lot easier — especially if you line your lips with your lipstick before you fill in the rest. (The makeup artist added that this won't work with liquid lipstick, however.)

Lining your lips first gives you a shape to work with throughout the rest of the day. "When you touch-up [your lipstick], you can do it quickly because the edges are perfect already," Phillips said.

This method makes lipstick "last the longest," she added.

2. You're pouting when you apply it.

Making a pouty face on Instagram is fine once you've done your makeup — but don't expect to get crease-free lipstick if you apply it making the same face.

Phillips said she recently noticed women at Coachella applying Sephora Collection's Cream Lip Stain in this way, or, as she described it, "a kiss face."

Putting on lipstick — especially a liquid one — like this "makes your lip wrinkly," and "doesn't look smooth," the makeup artist said.

Phillips suggests pulling your lips into a tight smile instead, that way "you can get a really smooth line," and "nice coverage."


By Chloe Pantazi

Source: The Insider