1. Prime Your Lips First and Foremost
Applying lipstick directly to your lips without any prior preparation is a recipe for disaster, Chang explains. "One of the most common ways women accidentally make themselves look older with lipstick is by not properly prepping the skin around their lips," she says. This, she adds, can cause the lipstick to bleed, smudge and settle into fine lines and wrinkles, making them more visible. "To avoid this, make sure to exfoliate your lips regularly and apply a lip primer before applying lipstick or lip liner," she stresses.
Sir John agrees, and adds that creating a foolproof barrier that surrounds your lips can keep your color lasting longer. "Avoid lipstick smudging or feathering by having a waxy border/barrier around the lips, such as a matte primer applied with a brush or your finger, followed by a lip liner," he advises.
2. Apply Lipstick Before Lip Liner
Applying lip liner first and then filling in the lips with lipstick is a common lipstick application technique, Chang says it can actually make you look older and more prone to smudging. "This is because when you apply lipstick over the liner, it can bleed into any fine lines around the mouth, making them more visible," she adds. To avoid this, Chang instructs to "apply lipstick first and then use a lip liner to define the edges of your lips if needed."
3. Find A Balance Between Matte & Glossy Lipstick
Another way your products can smudge or flake is from "choosing formulas that are either too matte or too glossy," Chang says. While you may think an ultra-matte product is the way to go for no smudging, Chang notes that a product that is "too-matte" can "highlight any dryness or flakiness" in the lips. Excessively glossy formulas, on the other hand, can "emphasize the appearance of fine lines," Chang says.
This, she concludes, is why it is best to "choose a lipstick or lip liner with a satin finish (that meets in the middle of the aforementioned product types) for a more youthful look without smudging.
Additionally, Sir John says that it's important to find a lip product that isn't too dry so it can be used in other ways. "After applying red lipstick, dab your finger or brush onto your lips to pick up some of the color and pat it onto your cheekbones for a subtle, yet beautiful red flush," he says.