How to Keep Lips Moisturized with Matte Lipstick
Let’s first take a look to see why certain ingredients dry you out. Then we’ll share some suggestions about how to wear matte lipstick while keeping that pout perfectly moisturized.
Lipsticks generally contain wax, oil, and pigment, as well as additional ingredients. Candelilla or beeswax can act as a barrier to protect the lips against the elements and lock in moisture. It also lends lipstick its shape and substance. Oils are emollients that soften the lip skin and enable the color to go on nice and even. This is the major source for moisturization. Pigments are powders that provide color for the lipstick. Some lipsticks may also contain other ingredients like texturing agents, antioxidants, perfumes, and preservatives.
With matte lipstick, there tends to be less oil than with the glossy variety. It’s more opaque than sheer, and shows off a deep rich color because the pigment takes center stage. But without as many emollients, wearing matte or liquid lipstick can cause drying. Because many fashion trends favor a matte makeup look, there are a few things to think about to achieve the best results. Shop smart, pick the most moisturizing beauty products you can find, and stay hydrated.
Any makeup artist will tell you there are multiple ways you can work a matte lipstick, so let’s learn about lipstick application, shall we? Below you’ll find some hints to help you crack the case of dry lips and rock that matte.
See Related: What Moisturizer Should I Use Before Applying Makeup?
1. Drink up!
Okay, before you get too excited about this tip, we are talking about water, though there is H2O to be found in other beverages as well! Making sure you consume a healthy amount of water and eat nutritious foods is a surefire way to step up your mouth’s moisture game. You may have noticed after excessive imbibing of red wine that your lips aren’t exactly ready for their close-up. You and your mouth can look and feel parched in those moments, and that red ring around your lips is a tell tale sign it’s time for a water break!
It’s ok, we’ve all been there, having more than our fair share of wine or coffee and while it can be enjoyable in moderation, the mouth craves moisture. If you want lips at their fullest and most supple, then send them some water, juice, or even decaffeinated tea or coffee. Water is just about the best thing you can do for your health, fitness, hair, and skin that’s free!
Of course you can enjoy your drinks of choice, but why not add in some refreshing alternatives now and then? Throw in a few pieces of fresh fruit or sliced cucumber in your tumbler of cold water. Make it a little more exciting to take that next sip, and you’ll see how your lips come to life.
2. Scrub your way smooth
Just like you wouldn’t paint a house before sanding away the rough spots, you shouldn’t smear matte lipstick – or any lipstick for that matter – on your mouth if it’s peeling. It’ll only make matters worse. Of course, you also don’t want to rip away that excess skin by roughly pulling or peeling it. You need to show a little tenderness and take it easy. Lip scrubs are specially formulated to slough off dead cells and debris without going overboard (that is, of course, assuming you don’t get too aggressive while rubbing it in). But the bottom line is you want to exfoliate your lips before applying matte lipstick.
A light touch and a gentle scrub are all that’s required to get the job done. A scrub that works wonders is Viviane Woodard’s Delicious Sugar Lip Scrub, which leaves you soft and smooth. With nourishing emollients like shea butter and vitamin E, your lips will be conditioned and cleared for color (and noticeably softer kisses). It prevents flaking and chapping and is also rich in antioxidants that provide protection for your skin. It preps you for that next step to apply a lip balm or use a lip liner, and has a vanilla-mint scent that will give your newly buffed and beautiful mouth another reason to smile!
3. Treat yourself to a lip treatment
Your fellow family members or housemates will soon be asking, “Who was that masked mouth?” And the answer will be: It was you, making time for a little self care and setting up your lips for success. Lip masks can include anything from a balm or gel to a sheet you press against your pout. There are a variety of ways to improve the texture of your lips and maintain the moisture underneath any makeup you might apply.
You can swipe on a balm with shea butter that work to soften lips and waxes that lock in moisture for longer, or layer on some gel that leads to more luscious lips. A lip mask can be used daily, or you could save it for particularly dry days when your lips need a little extra lovin’. And speaking of great ingredients, another one to watch for that always increases moisture content is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a powerful humectant that attracts moisture and traps it inside cells, keeping that tissue lubricated. If used in combination with softening emollients like jojoba or coconut oil, you’re sure to see positive results.
Some face masks use clay to draw out impurities and slough off dead cells. Clay lip masks are no different. There are some great ones out there that use deep-cleansing clays in combination with smoothing options like mango butter or avocado oil. You can leave some of these on all day, and others have instructions to leave on until they dry, at which point you can rinse them off with warm water. Many lip masks melt into the skin on your lips overnight to infuse maximum moisture while you rest and relax. That’s some real beauty sleep right there.
While there are plenty of products on the shelves when it comes to lip masks, sometimes you want to control what ingredients go in them and whip up your own mixture. If you’re feeling inspired by that DIY spirit, or wish to feel like a kid again by playing at making your own “potions” check out these 11 ways to make your own DIY lip mask.
4. Here’s to humidifiers!
While we can’t control the weather quite yet, we can add moisture in our immediate environment in a pretty simple way. Having a humidifier in your bedroom is a great boost to any beauty treatment. If you have applied a lip mask, the moisture in the environment will allow it to work even better. Air that is dry and cool causes moisture to evaporate from the skin, but humidifiers work against this process.
Especially during the winter months, or if you live in a dry climate, a humidifier can bring multiple benefits to your health. It can be beneficial in counteracting breathing difficulties and bring about healthier, hydrated skin. In one study researchers even found that humidity levels above 40 percent rapidly deactivated flu virus particles, making it less likely to transmit infection. Of course, it is important to clean the humidifier as instructed so that there’s no build up of bacteria, and it doesn’t end up doing more harm than good. Be sure that if you do get a humidifier, you clean it often and fill it with purified or distilled water when possible.
If you go the extra distance and moisturize your entire face before bedtime, then your skin will be softer all over when you wake up. Sure, you may still have that morning breath, but a humidifier can’t solve everything now, can it? But when you brush those teeth, here’s a bonus tip: lightly run your toothbrush over your mouth to remove any excess lip mask, dead skin cells, or debris before applying anything new.
Bonus: What To Look For In A Moisturizer
5. Look for a moisturizing matte lipstick – it exists!
Some makers of matte lipsticks seem to have skipped over the fact that their product will be applied to human lips, and not a mannequin mouth that doesn’t need to move. Remember, that mouth of yours is busy for much of the day — eating, drinking, mumbling to yourself about menial tasks, or singing at the top of your lungs in the privacy of your own home when you think nobody’s listening (sure your neighbors say they can’t hear you, but maybe they just enjoy the free concert). All kidding aside, some lipsticks do nothing for a matte lip look other than add color, so make sure you know what to look for as you shop for the perfect stick.
There are certain things to consider when you shop for a moisturizing matte lipstick. Remember that there needs to be a balance of emollients, waxes, and pigment that doesn’t overplay its hand and overdry. Viviane Woodard’s Luxury Matte Lipstick strikes a beautiful balance delivering dramatic color and saturating the lips with hydrating sodium hyaluronate.
Sodium hyaluronate is a humectant, which, as mentioned above, means it attracts water to the skin and keeps cells hydrated. Sodium hyaluronate is a derivative of hyaluronic acid, but since it has a lower molecular weight, it is able to be absorbed on a deeper level, hydrating and smoothing where other ingredients can only dream of going. Okay, so maybe that’s a little dramatic, and the truth is, sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid are often used in combination to maximize moisture.
As if it needed more moisture, the Luxury Matte Lipstick also contains sunflower seed oil, which enables you to easily smooth it over the lips leaving a super velvety swath of color. And since we’re on the subject of lip color, can we please talk about how the search for the perfect red is over? As Tina Turner would say, it’s simply the best. It’s aptly called Marilyn, and it’s a wonderfully warm red with a yellow undertone.
The other options are equally eye-catching and cool. The Kate is a marvelous mauve that will keep you pretty in pink for hours because this matte lives up to its long-lasting promise. Plus, it’s vegan, gluten free, and cruelty free to boot. Apply a lip liner and lip primer beforehand if you want to your matte finish lipstick look to pop.
6. Drop the lip balm on you, baby
So you’ve downed your drinks of water, scrubbed and treated your lips, found a matte lipstick that you love, and think you’re all done? Wait just one moment. If you’d like to hear one last pointer for a perfect pucker, stick around.
You can refresh that matte lipstick with some Hyaluronic Smoothing Lip Balm from Viviane Woodard. You can smooth it over lip color and it will absorb that moisture as it maintains your matte look. It’s colorless and can be used as often as needed throughout the day. You can’t go overboard when you layer on this luxurious lip-loving balm.
With hyaluronic acid for plumping up the lips, as well as Shea butter and Jojoba seed oil for softening and smoothing, it has the right stuff to revive your lips. You can even try this product as a lip treatment overnight. With a subtle vanilla scent, you’re sure to have sweet dreams.
Les lèvres, los labios, die lippen, lips. No matter how you say it, you need the lips to say “the lips.” And in order to keep that pout prepared, you’ve got to make sure it’s moisturized. Lips aren’t just there to sit pretty – they need to move around and express thoughts and pout and blow kisses.
Now, just for fun here’s a blowing kisses compilation starring Jin from the boy band BTS:
Keep Reading: 10 DIY Recipes to Treat Dry Hands
For over 60 years, Viviane Woodard has represented “The Purity of Skincare”. We are the leading beauty brand for water-based skin care products and promote the importance of good skin hydration. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for skin care tips, product discounts and more.