What do you put on lips before matte lipstick?

A matte lipstick is the all-terrain vehicle of makeup. It can go places other lipsticks fear to tread. From work to weddings, there is no situation for which a proper matte lipstick is not an appropriate and sensible choice. But while we love them for their longevity, some object to any sensation of dryness on the lips.

If you keep reaching for the matte lipsticks but regret it by lunchtime, or find the very idea of matte lipstick unbearable, then I have a few suggestions for you...

Firstly, lip balm, and I don’t mean Vaseline. I mean something rich and nourishing that will hydrate and renew the lips, rather than just seal them off from the world. If our skin is dry, we may use a more nourishing foundation, but we’ll also moisturise to give our skin the help it needs, the same should be true of our lips. The MAC Lip Conditioner is a luxurious balm full of emollients (moisturising ingredients) to help soften, rehydrate and plump the lips. A little extra care taken over your lips will ensure you get the most comfortable wear out of your matte lipstick.

Secondly, primer. If your lips are fine for moisture but matte lipstick still emphasises texture in an unwanted way or wears off unevenly, the Prep + Prime Lip primer will change your lipstick-wearing life. Swipe this colourless balm straight onto the lips before you apply your lipstick. Vitamin E hydrates, while the contours of the lip are smoothed and left feeling silky soft. Lipstick will glide right on top and last even longer than before!

PRO TIP:
If money or storage space is tight, a good eye cream can double as an excellent lip salve. The skin around the eyes and lips is similarly delicate and some of the active ingredients in eye cream, such as caffeine, are great for smoothing lines in a hurry! MAC Fast Response Eye Cream is one such pick-me-up eye cream that can work wonders around the lips as well as the eyes.