All of Your Lipstick and Lip Balm Questions, Answered
Isobel is a skincare obsessed Piscean hailing from Byron Bay. She studied law and journalism in Brisbane before moving to Sydney where she’s now living by the beach in Bondi. She’s worked as a Beauty Writer for BEAUTYcrew, a Digital Content Editor for Marie Claire and InStyle, and her words have appeared in Vogue, Gritty Pretty, ELLE, Women’s Health - and of course here - at Adore Beauty.
Ever wondered what you’re doing wrong when your lipstick cracks after a couple of hours? Is it possible your lips are too dry for lipstick?
Or—after what feels like hundreds of applications—have you questioned whether lip balm *really* helps dry lips?
Well, we cover all these questions and more in this ultimate lippie guide.
It’s your all-inclusive cheat sheet to everything there is to know about lipstick and lip balm.
Plus, we’ll be doling out all our top recommendations on good lipsticks for dry lips as well as the best lip balms for dry lips.
How to Apply Lipstick
- Start with clean, smooth lips (try a lip scrub).
- Apply a hydrating lip balm and blot away the excess with a tissue.
- Starting at the centre of your upper lip, use your lipstick to trace a line outwards along the edge to one corner. Repeat on the other side.
- Trace your lower lip in the same way.
- To fill in, blend colour towards the centre of your mouth with a brush or your finger. In a hurry? Simply rub your lips together.
Why Does My Lipstick Get Crusty?
If you find your lipstick starts to crack or flake during the day, dry lips could be the culprit.
Try upping the ante on your lip hydration and exfoliation routine.
If these efforts don't fix the issue, consider switching to a more moisturising lipstick with ingredients like shea butter.
For recs on the best lipstick for dry lips, keep reading to find our suggestions below.
How to Seal Lipstick on Lips
The secret to lip colour longevity mostly lies in the application (follow the above steps).
But there are a few other things you can do if you prefer even more endurance.
Follow one or all tips as you like...
- Apply a lip primer before lipstick.
- Line your lips with lip liner.
- Set your lipstick with translucent powder.
Amelia shares her tips on how to make red lipstick last longer in the YouTube video below...
Here Are 3 of the Best Lipstick for Dry Lips
Hunting for a better-than-good lipstick for dry lips? We’ve got you. Try these moisturising lipsticks we love.
- Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick - Those who love colour will be spoilt for choice with YSL’s dizzying array of shades. Pomegranate and rosemary extracts make this formula feel lovely on the lips as it delivers long-lasting moisture.
- Nude by Nature Moisture Shine Lipstick - Just as you’d expect from its name, Moisture Shine Lipstick is here to treat your lips to a serious hydration hit. Shea butter and jojoba oil feature in the list of 100% natural ingredients list. Plus, the formula is PETA-certified cruelty-free.
- Inika Vegan Natural Lipstick - This Australian-made lipstick is heavy on natural, plant-based oils to keep lips nourished throughout the day. And Inika isn’t just a good lipstick for dry lips; it’s also certified organic, cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and halal. Impressive.
How to Apply Lipstick for Dry Lips
If you’ve ever wondered whether your lips are too dry for lipstick, these tips will get you sorted.
- Hydrate and exfoliate your lips regularly.
- Use lip balm before applying lip colour.
- Steer clear of drying lipstick formulas.
- Choose moisturising lipsticks with added hydrators.
How to Prevent Matte Lipstick from Cracking
As gorgeous as matte lipstick looks, it’s not the easiest formula to master.
If you love wearing matte lip colours, you’ll want to keep your pout in tip-top condition with heaps of hydrating products and regular exfoliation.
- One of the best lip balms for matte lipstick wearers is ultra-nourishing Weleda Skin Food Lip Balm 8ml
- And choose a matte-finish moisturising lipstick (yes, they do exist!) like M.A.C Cosmetics Powder Kiss Lipstick
How to remove long-lasting lipstick
When it comes to lipstick, everyone wants a colour that rocks hard from morning to night without 17 reapplications throughout the day. The only downside to said long-lasting lipstick... How on earth do you remove long-lasting lipstick at the end of the day!? There really is nothing worse than having stained skin around your lips that makes you resemble a clown. Unless that's your vibe, then you keep doing you boo! But let's get back to business. Here are our tips for removing long-lasting lipstick, and just incase you need it, how to get lipstick off of skin.
- Oil based or balm cleansers are best when it comes to removing long-lasting lipstick.
- Take a pump or small swipe of cleansing balm and massage it into your lips (and the surrounding area if needed.
- Remove the cleanser with a cotton pad or reusable makeup cloth to ensure no residue is left behind.
- For oils make sure you use a little bit of water to emulsify the product
- If your lipstick is particularly stubborn, rinse and repeat! Go through the same process but massage slightly longer.
- If your lipstick is STILL refusing to budge, try a lip scrub treatment and buff the lipstick off gently. Don't forget to hydrate afterwards with a lip balm or lip mask.
So, Does Lip Balm Help Dry Lips?
There’s an age-old beauty fallacy that lip balm dries out your lips.
In truth, a quality lip balm will keep your pout smooth, soft, and perfectly primed for flawless lipstick application.
Here Are 3 of the Best Lip Balms for Dry Lips
The right lip balm makes it easy to keep dry lips away for good. These are some of our favourites.
- AVEDA Lip Saver Lip Balm - Protect your lips with this deliciously hydrating botanical balm. It’s waterproof, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free.
- Aspect Hydrating Lip Balm - Think of this as a lavish, hydrating skincare treatment for your lips. Jojoba esters, shea butter, and coconut oil deeply nourish without any icky stickiness.
- Dr. Bronner's Organic Lip Balm - This certified organic choice is made with beeswax, avocado oil, and hemp oil. Plus, it contains no parabens or artificial fragrances.
How to Use Up Lip Balm
Trying to use up a lip balm you don’t love?
Besides the obvious, there are loads of ways to repurpose lip balm.
- Tame eyebrows.
- Nourish cuticles.
- Hydrate dry heels or elbows.
Keen to find your new favourite lippie product? Take a look through the guides below...
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
Lips
Ready to embrace power lips? There’s no better way to create a chic and trendy makeup look than with the right lip products. And we aren’t talking about your mother’s lipstick! Today, it’s all about custom products. Dealing with dry lips? Start your day with a light lip oil, and then give yourself a midday perk-up with a luxe hydrating lip balm that's tinted to perfection. To keep your lips looking gorgeous for years to come, upgrade to an anti-ageing formula. Applying SPF to protect and antioxidants to revitalise your lips can make a world of difference. But it’s not all about being practical! Sometimes, you want to let your vampy side show. When you're ready for a big night out, you need some lip plumper to create the lush, pillowy look of your dreams. If you’ve been put off by the overwhelming sting of some plumping products, it's time to upgrade to luxe plumpers. On the hunt for a lip colour that lasts? Check out extended wear lipsticks and lip stains. Whereas lip stains are perfect for a subtle look that’ll never wear off, extended wear lipstick is ideal for a bold style that’ll last through every sip and kiss.
