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Let’s be honest about something. Can a girl ever have too many shades of lipstick at her disposal? I’m sure that if you love lipstick as much as I do, the answer will be a resounding no. However, you’ve probably come across a variety of issues, from your lipstick fading throughout the day to maybe not being exactly sure how to apply lipstick the right way. There are a number of common lipstick mistakes that might be getting in the way of your perfect lip color application. These range from choosing the wrong lip liner to even applying your lipstick the wrong way. Luckily for you, it isn’t too late to refresh your lipstick application skills. In this article, I’ll be teaching you how to apply lipstick without making any of the seven biggest lip makeup mistakes. Beyond that, I’ll share my top tips on how to fix those same mistakes fast if you have made any of them. My Recommended Lipsticks Before we get started on the best way to apply your lipstick, you need to know how to choose the right one. Here are some of my favorite options. I almost always select matte lipstick for work but I’ll bust out some gloss on a date night or a vacation. Once you have settled on your favorite, keep reading to learn about how to apply the lipstick you chose without having any mishaps along the way. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Plump and Shine Lipstick, Sheer Lipstick (available on Amazon): Formulated to plumped-up your pout, this lipstick will deliver lasting shine, all-day moisture, and a cooling, tingling feeling. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Les Macarons Scented Liquid Lipstick (available on Amazon): A gorgeously colored matte lipstick that also smells like Parisian macarons. Yes, please! This liquid lipstick also has a long-lasting formula you’re sure to love. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Ultra Matte Highly Pigmented Nude Lipstick (available on Amazon): With intense hydration and a super matte finish, this nude lipstick (there are nude shades for everyone!) can easily transition from day to night. L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick (available on Amazon): One of our all-time favorite lipsticks, this option delivers a stain-like feel with the color impact of a matte liquid lipstick. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Shine Lipstick (available on Amazon): With 16 luminous, high-definition shades to choose from, you can’t go wrong with this ultra-rich and radiant glossy lipstick. How To Apply Lipstick And Avoid Mistakes Once you have picked out your lip color we can brush up on the best method of applying it with these seven tips. Lipstick Mistake 1: Pairing Lipstick With The Wrong Lip Liner This is the lip liner lesson that I learned from a makeup artist when I was a teen before my older cousin’s wedding. If you don’t want your lips to look like a cheap coloring book that still needs to be filled in, don’t choose a lip liner that is too dark. You can avoid this somewhat questionable makeup look by choosing a lip liner that either matches your lipstick color or is in the same color family. If you want to achieve a well-defined lip with the liner, the way you do it is to color in your entire lip, both your top, and bottom lip. By filling in your lips completely with lip liner, you can help give your lipstick a smooth base and also help you avoid the “ring around the mouth” look once your color starts to fade. Think of your lip liner as a foundation for your lipstick. After you have finished applying lip liner, be sure to blend your lipstick all the way to the edge of the lip liner for a seamless finish. There's no such thing as too much lipstick for you! Here are two lip liner options that I have used with success: the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lip Liner (available on Amazon) or the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner (available on Amazon). Lipstick Mistake 2: Applying Lipstick Starting At The Corners Of Your Mouth Pause for a moment and think about where you start when you apply lipstick. If I had to guess, there’s a good chance it would be at the corners of your mouth. Interestingly, where you start applying your lipstick actually matters a whole lot. The best spot is not the outer edges or corners as you may have guessed by now. The rule of thumb to follow is this: Apply lipstick starting at the center of your lips, moving outward toward the corners. If you start at the corners of your mouth, you will almost certainly end up drawing outside the lines, which won’t make for an ideal beauty look at all. Also, you will likely be bunching your lips as you push the lipstick toward the center, giving you less control over where the color finishes up. Starting at the center and moving out will give you more control. Lipstick Mistake 3: Not Creating A Cupid’s Bow The Right Way Most new girls don’t realize just how important their Cupid’s bow is and how it makes your lips look more femme. It is a vital factor in creating your lip look. Here are five easy steps to get the perfect lipstick application, which includes defining your cupid’s bow, each and every time. Step 1: Create an ‘X.’ Reach for a lip liner and find the highest point of your natural lip. Draw a straight line extending down from that point with your lip liner. Do the same thing on the other side of your top lip to create an X. Step 2: Define your bottom lip. Now that you’ve created an X, you’ll see that the center of your bottom lip is directly below the middle of the X you just made. Draw the next line across that point to define your bottom lip. Step 3: Draw two ‘V’ shapes. Part your lips slightly, and draw a sideways V connecting your top and bottom lips at both corners of your mouth. Step 4: Connect. Use short strokes of your lip liner to connect the lines together. For precise application, angle the lip liner and hold it vertically, flat against your lip, with the tip of the lip liner pointing outward. Step 5: Fill in your lips. Of course, you aren’t leaving your lips as is. You’ll need to fill them in with lipstick. Go over your cupid’s bow with a swipe of lipstick and you’re all set. Bonus tip: A tiny bit of highlighter just above your Cupid’s bow will make it more pronounced. Here on Pink Femme, I have a list of 7 hacks for using nude eyeliner that will teach you exactly how to do that. Lipstick Mistake 4: Choosing A Color That Makes Your Lips Look Smaller For most girls, the goal is to make their lips look bigger, not smaller. You probably already know that overlining your lips or using a lip plumper can help you make your lips look bigger, but the right lip color can help too. Here is the article on Pink Femme that teaches you how to overline your lips like a pro. Lipstick is the finishing touch to any outfit. In fact, some shades you love may be making your lips look smaller. If you have naturally thin lips, choosing a bold lipstick shade may not be a good idea since this will likely have the opposite effect of what you want. What you can do instead is opt for a bright shade that has some transparency and shine to help make your lips look fuller. Here is the article on Pink Femme that specifically teaches you how to apply lipstick if you have thin lips. Lipstick Mistake 5: Not Cleaning Up Afterward If you don’t clean up around the edge of your lips after applying your lip color, it can likely result in a finished look that appears smudged and disoriented. Enhance your natural beauty with a touch of color. To get a clean finish that really makes your lips pop, grab some concealer and outline your lips. I use the L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer (available on Amazon) as it allows me maximum control and precision thanks to the crayon tip. Lipstick Mistake 6: You Don’t Exfoliate Beforehand In case you haven’t realized it yet, your lips need exfoliating too. If you fail to slough off dead cells from the surface of your lips, you can get a lipstick application that appears uneven and scaly. What you should do is use a gentle lip scrub before applying your favorite lip color to ensure a smooth, shiny finish. Bonus tip: You might not even need to buy a special scrub for your lips, since some face scrubs are gentle enough to double up and be used on your lips. Lipstick Mistake 7: Not Taking The Rest Of Your Look Into Account When you choose your shade of lipstick, you should also think about the rest of your outfit and how the different colors will play against each other. By way of example, if you’re wearing a red dress, it might be a good idea to leave that bright pink lipstick for another time since the two colors might clash. Or, if you’re going for a bold smoky eye, you will want that to be the center of attention, so wearing nude lipstick will be a better option than an eye-catching bright red. Feel confident and chic with your favorite lipstick. Why not expand your knowledge even further by reading another makeup/beauty article here on Pink Femme? You can find them either via the menu at the top of the page or by clicking this link that will take you to the list of all the beauty articles. When it comes to my choices for makeup and beauty products, I only use L’Oréal Paris (Available on Amazon). I have really sensitive skin and never once have I had any negative reaction to any L’Oréal product.