Lip Balm Softens the Colour of Lipstick

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Lip Balm Softens the Colour of Lipstick

— by Angie

on August 29, 2011

I apply Burt’s lip balm before I apply my lipstick because it softens the shade against my pale skin, and it makes my lips feel extra moist. Sometimes I apply lip balm after the application of lipstick to soften the colour even more. It’s especially effective with red lipstick, which always looks too severe on my complexion when applied on its own.

Burt’s actually makes lip balm that’s mixed with lipstick. I’ve tried this product a few times and it doesn’t work for me. My lips go a very odd colour and I don’t like the texture. So I’m sticking with mixing the two products.

I remember both my Mum and Grandmother dabbing their lips with tissue paper to soften the colour of their lipstick. I’m glad that I can use lip balm.

Grooming

26 comments · Add a comment

Patti @ NotDeadYet Style

(website)

I use the tissue method, as well as the lip balm : > and I have fond memories of my grandmother pressing her red lips into the tissue. She only ever had one or two lipsticks, always red. We have such abundance now!

August 29, 2011 at 3:33 pm

Inge

*Snap* I do the exact same thing. It works like a charm, both to keep my lips moisturized (some lipsticks on their own feel a little dry) and to “manipulate” the colour.

August 29, 2011 at 3:44 pm

Aida

Veteran

I do this as well, and sometimes with Vaseline for those days when I really need the extra softening. It’s a great tip, and works better for me than tissue (which tends to leave color in the grooves of my lips). I have also found that tinted lip balms as the base layer is a great way to subtly change sheerer lipsticks/glosses, such as layering a pink balm under orange gloss, or an orange balm under red lipstick. I didn’t like the texture of Burt’s mixed balm either :\

August 29, 2011 at 4:42 pm

Angela

I find the price of burt’s balm expensive compared to other lip conditiioner’s. I use plain old Chap Stick over lipstick and recently I have switched to gloss, lighter colours

August 29, 2011 at 5:34 pm

Kari

Veteran

I do this often in the winter, and really like Alba’s lip balm. However, I also prefer a more moisturizing lipstick in general, because the color goes on much smoother and more naturally.

August 29, 2011 at 5:38 pm

taylor

Veteran

must give this a try…:)

August 29, 2011 at 6:19 pm

Aziraphale

Veteran

I do this too, only I use Vaseline rather than lip balm. For me, lip balm seems to have an addictive quality — the more often I put it on, the more often I seem to need it.

I’ve recently started using lipliner, too, since the demarcation between my lip skin and regular skin seems to be blurring as I age. I’ve discovered that the lipliner must go on before the Vaseline, or it won’t stick.

August 29, 2011 at 6:32 pm

Sihaya

Veteran

I use Vaseline. I don’t apply lipstick right after because with my dark lips the lipstick color gets completely swallowed. But if I don’t use Vaseline my lips feel too dry during the day.

August 29, 2011 at 8:10 pm

Jonesy

Veteran

Blistex all the way! I do this too, but with Blistex (the regular one in the teal tube). Sometimes I actually mix two lipstick shades plus my lip balm. I’m such a daredevil :). My lips tend to turn any sort of reddish lipstick color pinky, so I frequently apply a very faint layer of MAC Paramount first, then the lipstick shade, then balm.

But if I’m wearing make-up and going out in the evening, I usually do a smoky eye combined with just Blistex, so I don’t have to worry about the lipstick coming off and leaving a ring, etc. etc.

August 29, 2011 at 8:32 pm

Annette

I use Burts with lip stains. It gives me the additional moisture and I like the stains for the long lasting color. I have about 5 tubes of Burts (one in the bathroom, one in the car, one in the bedroom, one in my purse/backpack, and one in the sewing room) I’m prepared.
Annette

August 29, 2011 at 9:24 pm

Carol

I am forever using lip balm but I use Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream. They also do a version of this as a Lip Protectant Stick, which is lip balm with SFP15, I use the Sheer Tint which gives a subtle rosy lip colour. When I’m going on holidays and want to cut down “stuff” I simply take this stick and a lip liner and that my lips taken care of. Although not cheap this lasts for ages.

August 30, 2011 at 12:51 am

Louise

Veteran

I rarely wear lipstick as it never seems to last, I think I talk, eat and drink too much so it vanishes I’ve just ordered a Stila lipstain so I’ll see if that works any better. If I did wear lipstick I’d definately be using this tip as I hate dry lips x

August 30, 2011 at 2:01 am

Astrid

Veteran

I do this too! Like Jonesy I use Blistex with my lipstick, normally before applying some color. Then I use it again during the day, when my lips get dry. I like the way the lip balm softens the color. In winter I sometimes use Vaseline.

August 30, 2011 at 3:04 am

April

Veteran

I do this too, when I’m using a lipcolor that seems too intense.

I have yet to find *anything*, though, that keeps my lips from cracking and peeling. I know that I do better with waxy balms than petroleum-based balms, but “better” only means less cracking and peeling.

August 30, 2011 at 3:39 am

Lynne

Veteran

Angie, I was introduced to this by the make-up artist who did my wedding make-up, and I’ve done it ever since. yay for lipbalm :).

August 30, 2011 at 4:54 am

rute

Veteran

Love Burt’s lip balm! One of my favorites!

August 30, 2011 at 4:57 am

Lisa

Veteran

I’ve never tried layering on the lips. I usually wear a tinted lip gloss. I’m keeping this tip in mind!

August 30, 2011 at 5:10 am

morethanbeige

Veteran

I do this too! I love Burt’s lip balm. Right now I have the medicated with clove and I love the combo of the balm and lipstick.

August 30, 2011 at 5:59 am

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

i’m always mixing my lip products to get different effects/colors/feels. balm is awesome! i use thinner, shinier ones like Burt’s or Carmex to give a bit of gloss. i like to use the original, classic Chapstick to give a dewy/matte finish but classic Chapstick also has many of the same ingredients found in ‘reverse lip liners’. So you can also use it to ‘prep’ your lips before lipstick to help keep the color from bleeding.

Carmex is wonderful used as a cuticle cream, too.

April, hands down i’ve found the absolute best balm for dry, cracking, etc. lips is Rachel Perry Lip Lover. if you haven’t tried it i’d encourage you to give it a whirl. also, have you spoken to a dermatologist about this? i have ‘peri oral dermatitis’ and it really aggravates the lip troubles. treatment helps a lot if you have access to a derm.

for those whose lips eat lipstick, you might try Lipstick Queen’s Sinners line. matte, very dense pigment, lasts through the dishwasher, really beautiful and flattering colors. very easy to wear with gloss or balm for a softer look.

good luck with your lips everyone! steph

August 30, 2011 at 7:16 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lots of lipstick-mixers here! Thanks for the extra info about other lip balm brands and Vaseline.

I also use Blistix and have a tube in my make-up drawer. My favourite lip balm is Labello but you can’t get that in the US. I try to stock up when I go back to Europe.

August 30, 2011 at 7:23 am

Melody

Active Member

I’ve been using Burt’s balm under lipstick and before bed for a while. I just recently got hooked on Burt’ s new tinted balm and like it so much that I bought tubes for my mom & sister. So many lip products now are long wear and they’re drier than I like.

August 30, 2011 at 11:32 am

Scarlet

Veteran

Thanks for the tip, Angie. I will try this and see if it makes a difference for me. Burt’s is my favorite lipbalm, by the way.

August 30, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Scarlet

Veteran

Just adding, I know that Labello is very popular, but I still prefer Burt’s. Labello is like a band-aid, and Burt’s makes the dryness disappear. I suspect that different things work for different people. I find Aquaphor quite good. Blistex dries my lips out more. Okay, that’s it from me on lip balms.

August 30, 2011 at 12:04 pm

Shirley

Blistex! I apply it a few minutes before I apply my lipstick. I’ve tried other products, but always come back to Blistex. Lately, I’ve been using Blistex, then an almost nude shade of Maybelline Superstay 24 lip color, and then apply my lipstick. I find the superstay 24 helps my lipstick color last longer. I just touch up with lipgloss to keep my lips moist.

August 30, 2011 at 1:05 pm

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

It’s cause chapstick actually breaks down the lipstick color. That’s why MAC has that “prep and prime” lip stuff that acts like chapstick but won’t change the color on you. At least that’s what they say anyway…. >.>

I really don’t like Burt’s Bees products. I know they’re very popular but i have tried a lot of them and none of them as worked for me. Some even gave me allergic reactions.

I always apply chapstick after i brush my teeth, let it sink it and after i’m all done getting ready, blot it away, apply lipstick and then gloss overtop in case i need to lighten it up/change the color. Plus i have tiny lips so it helps them look bigger.

August 30, 2011 at 6:42 pm

bj1111

Veteran

i have terrible chapped lips. lancome glosses have done a great job keeping my lips hydrated. i’ve tried many a lip balm and not are as moisturizing for as long as the glosses.

now if only i can find a good RED gloss or a lipstick that retains its redness when mixed with a moisturizing gloss, i’ll be in heaven!

August 30, 2011 at 7:42 pm

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