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You apply lipstick in the morning and it looks amazing–for the first hour. Even if you’re not drinking, eating or licking your lips, there’s a good chance you’ll soon check your reflection in the mirror and gasp: what is that gross gunk in the center of your lips?
That sticky, thick mess that is ruining your look is often caused by dry lips and over applying your favorite shade of lipstcik says Lauren Carelli at Blushing Brides. Don’t worry: the solution to handling it is so simple it will blow your mind.
“The biggest mistake people make is re-applying over gunky looking lipstick without wiping off the existing product,” Carelli says. “When lipstick starts to cake your best bet is to wipe away the remaining product, then moisturize with your favorite lip balm before reapplying lipstick. This way there is no leftover product to mess up your perfect pout.”
Keeping lips moisturized is the number one way Carelli says you can keep lipstick in place. If your lips are dry or chapped, you may be picking, biting and licking at them without even realizing it, which can contribute to that nasty lip gunk. Carelli recommends whipping up a lip scrub (a bit of vaseline or honey and brown sugar is all you need) and applying it to your mouth 2-3 times a week to keep lips healthy which, in turn, makes color stay on longer.
“Add a drop of vanilla or peppermint extract for a yummy twist on things,” she says. “After applying lip color, using a concealer stick around your lips will also help to create a barrier so color doesn’t run or smudge as much. Make sure to blend it so you don’t have an awkward rim! I’ve also put a tissue over my mouth and lightly dusted with a setting powder to ensure longevity.”
Hydration + exfoliation + a few good lipstick tricks of the trade = bye, bye to center lip gunk!
For more beauty tips, check out Hack: How to turn eyeshadow into lipstick and 6 Lipsticks that will make your teeth look whiter.
Follow me at @lisacfogarty on Twitter.
[Photo: Imaxtree]
