How to make a matte last till midnight.
Prep, blot, seal. The same routine our makeup artists use on shoots — distilled into four steps you can do at home in under 90 seconds.
— the metabu studio
Matte lipstick has two enemies: oil from your skin and friction from cups, masks, and conversations. Both wipe pigment off long before the formula is done. Here is how we make ours hold from a 9 a.m. desk to a midnight wedding.
01 · prep the canvas
Wipe lips with a warm flannel for ten seconds — this lifts dead skin without abrasion. Pat on a thin layer of balm, blot the excess off with a tissue. The lip should feel hydrated, not slippery.
02 · line, fill, line again
Use a lip pencil one shade deeper than the lipstick to outline. Fill the entire lip with the pencil, then go again on the cupid's bow and corners. Pencil acts as a primer for the colour and stops it from feathering.
03 · two thin coats, blotted
Apply the matte in two thin coats. Between coats, kiss a single-ply tissue. Counter-intuitive but critical: blotting locks the pigment without disturbing the base.
"The blot is the entire trick. Without it you have a beautiful coat, with it you have a tattoo."
04 · seal
A press of translucent powder across a folded tissue, lightly tapped over the lip, sets the colour. No shine, no transfer, no need to retouch through dinner.
That's it. Four minutes the first time, ninety seconds once it's muscle memory. Fewer touch-ups, more presence in the room.
Frequently asked.
How do I make matte lipstick last all day through meals?
Prep and blot off excess balm first, line and fill your lips with a lip crayon as a base, apply your matte lipstick in two thin coats with a tissue blot between them, and press a dusting of translucent powder over a single-ply tissue to seal the pigment.
Why does my matte lipstick flake or crack after a few hours?
Usually because a single thick coat was applied over dry skin or unblotted lip balm. Exfoliate gently with a warm damp cloth, blot balm completely so the lip is hydrated rather than slippery, and use two thin layers instead of one thick one.
Does blotting lipstick remove the colour?
No — kissing a single-ply tissue between two thin coats removes only the surface oils while pressing the pigment into the lip, which is what stops transfer onto cups and cutlery.
Which Metabu lipstick resists transfer?
Our Zero Fade Liquid Lipstick sets to a transfer-proof matte film built for long wear, and pairs with the Stay & Play Lip Crayon as a liner base. Both are cruelty-free and dermatologist-tested.
