How to Apply Matte Lipstick for a Long-Lasting Look

Prep The Lips

Lip preparation is important before any lipstick application. It can be especially crucial with matte lips, as they tend to highlight any dryness.

Keeping the lips hydrated is an important preparation step if you're reaching for a matte lipstick. "A sheer or satin lipstick may have a sheen and stay emollient," notes celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay, "whereas a matte lipstick would feel drier on lips."

"Your best bet for a comfortable, long-lasting matte lip would be to prep beforehand," Gabbay advises. "That means sleeping with a lip mask on the night before, or hydrating while you do the rest of your glam to ensure your lips are plump and ready for application."

On top of hydrating the lips, you'll want to create a smooth base for your matte lipstick. Persico recommends regularly exfoliating your lips to make this possible: "Mix a little bit of sugar and coconut oil for an easy DIY lip scrub."

If you want to rock a matte lip celebrity-style, consider applying a pre-lipstick stain as well. "One trick I will use for the red carpet is applying a lip stain before I apply my client’s lipstick," says celebrity makeup artist Vincent Oquendo, who's given everyone from Lily Collins to Jenna Ortega a picture-perfect lip. "This way I can apply a creamy lipstick and not worry about my client ever having bare lips on camera if they forget to touch up."

Pick A Color

Choosing the right lip color is crucial in creating your dream matte lipstick moment. "Lips are the icing on the cake," Fraioli says. "They complete and transform the whole look."

"When working on a client, I will ask what shade they’re going for, if they have a reference photo, what finish they like, and more," Alexandra adds. "It’s important to be mindful that lipsticks look different on different skin tones and to choose accordingly."

Different colors complement different tones and undertones, and they also work differently based on the overall look you're going for.

Persico goes further in-depth, noting what colors work for each undertone. "The very first step in choosing the right lipstick color on a client is determining what undertone their skin tone is," she notes. "For cool undertones, soft mocha or nudes and ruby or wine shades look great. For warm undertones, the peachy nudes, copper, or bronze shades work well. Neutral undertones have a wide spectrum of colors—both cool and warm tones will work with their skin type." Learn how to ID your undertone here.

Apply Lip Liner

Once the lips are happy, hydrated, and smooth, it's time to apply liner. While this step is optional, it helps create an ideal shape and base for your lip application. It also helps reduce the chances of error during lipstick application.

"Most matte lipsticks don’t require lip liners, but you can use them if you want to," Alexandra notes. "I usually do because I’m a fan of lip liners and usually like to use them a shade or two darker to create dimension."

Use a Brush

This step is completely optional, as all of the makeup artists note that applying directly from the tube is a great method. For those who want to paint their lips with a brush, the experts recommend the extra preparation step.

Whether you use a steel cosmetic palette or the back of your hand, take your desired color(s) and apply them to your desired surface. If you are mixing two shades on a cosmetic palette, a spatula will be your best friend. If you're using the back of your hand, you'll want to reach for a clean brush to mix and create one consistent formula.

Apply a Matte Lip

If you've decided to use a brush, you'll want to quite literally paint the product onto your lips. "I always like to use a lip brush to get those crispy lines because it’s usually more precise than the provided applicator or lipstick tube," Alexandra says.

If you want to go straight from the tube but still are interested in using a makeup brush, Persico recommends dipping the brush carefully into the tube and applying the color on the lips. For a liquid matte lip, it's important to work quickly, as the product can often dry quickly and make application difficult.

For a matte lip straight from the tube, Fraioli recommends direct application: "If you're using a regular matte lipstick, you can apply straight from the applicator and blot your lips together." Gabbay adds that she likes to set her matte lip with a little translucent setting powder to ensure a long lasting color.

"Regardless of the application method, one even coat is all you need," Persico emphasizes. "Remember with matte lipsticks, a little goes a long way."

Clean Up the Lines

Lipstick smears are never the vibe.Oquendo never sends his stars down the red carpet without making sure their lips are clean and precise.

"One of my preferred ways to make lines look crisp around the lips is to use a concealer, he says. "Currently I love the TULA Skincare Radiant Skin Brightening Serum Concealer. I use a small flat concealer brush and take a little off the applicator and it apply lightly along the outer lip."

Oquendo adds that a matte lip doesn't call for much reapplying. However, if you do add a fresh coat, heed this advice: "Remove the former lip completely and start fresh," he says.