Lip color that lasts through dinner and dancing

A lipstick that looks perfect at the start of the night is easy. One that survives dinner, toasts and hours of dancing takes technique. These steps help almost any lipstick last longer, and they keep long-wear formulas comfortable.

What you'll need

• A gentle lip scrub or a soft, damp washcloth
• Lip balm
• A lip liner that matches your lipstick
• Your lipstick and a lip brush
• Tissues
• Translucent powder and a small fluffy brush
• A little concealer and a small flat brush

Step by step

1. Smooth your lips. Gently buff away flakes with a scrub or a damp washcloth. Never scrub hard, especially if your lips are chapped or cracked.
2. Hydrate, then blot. Apply balm and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes while you do the rest of your makeup. Blot off the excess with a tissue before you begin, because lipstick slides on balm left on the surface.
3. Line the edges. Start at the center of your upper lip, at the cupid's bow, and work outward in short strokes. Then line the lower lip from the center out. Follow your natural line, or stay right at its edge.
4. Fill in completely with liner. Shade the entire lip with liner. This gives you a lasting base, so when the lipstick wears, there's still color underneath instead of a ring of liner.
5. Apply your first layer of lipstick. Use a lip brush and work from the center outward. A brush presses color into the lip and gives a cleaner edge than applying straight from the bullet.
6. Blot. Fold a tissue, press it gently between your lips, and lift. This removes the extra oils that make lipstick slide and transfer.
7. Set with powder. Separate one ply of tissue and hold it over your lips. Dust translucent powder over the tissue with a fluffy brush. A fine layer passes through and sets the color without drying it out.
8. Apply a second layer. Repeat the lipstick with your brush. Alternating color and a whisper of powder builds a finish that lasts.
9. Clean the edges. Pick up a tiny amount of concealer with a flat brush and trace just outside the lip line. This sharpens the shape and helps prevent feathering.
10. Blot one last time. A light press with a tissue removes anything that would transfer onto a glass, a cheek or a dance partner's shoulder.