Lip Tips for the Office

Lip Tips for the Office

Wearing lips at the office is a tricky situation for any professional. I’m sure you’ve suffered from the deadly “lip liner” when the majority of your lipstick has worn off except for the outer part lining your lips. Well we’re here to give you some lip tips for the office! We’ll be discussing how to choose colors for the office, what formulations to choose, and how to apply it in a way that will make it stay all day - through coffee and lunch!

CHOOSING COLORS 

What color you choose to wear really just depends on your personal style. A red lip is not necessarily "off limits" if that’s what you’re comfortable with! If you do choose a bold color, make sure you tone down your eye makeup to compensate. If you show up with a bright lip AND a dark smoky eye, you’ll look like you’re heading to a club instead of to work! Wear something neutral/nude, or no shadow at all on your eyes if you’re planning to wear a bold lip. Also, keep in mind that a bright colored lip will require a little more maintenance and caution than a neutral lip, especially when it comes to eating or drinking. If you are more of a low maintenance type when it comes to your appearance, a light neutral lip may be a better choice for you. Avoid anything with too much glitter or sparkle to it, as it will look overdone and unnatural in an office setting. Although there are lot of “rules” about what colors certain skin tones should choose, I say, if a color really speaks to you, go for it! As long as you wear it with confidence, you’ll look fabulous no matter what!

CHOOSING FORUMLATIONS

There are SO many different formulations of lip products out there, so it's easy to understand how it’s hard to know where to start! I would recommend that you start by asking yourself what kind of mood you’re in and how high or low maintenance you are when it comes to your makeup. Do you mind having to check on your lips throughout the day to make sure they are still in place? If you don’t, you can get away with a wider variety of formulations (and colors!) than if you are not wanting to have to bother with your lips at all throughout the day. 


Lip gloss:

These are a great option for super low maintenance if you are someone who maybe isn’t as bold or daring when it comes to makeup. It won’t give too much color, but will make your lips look polished and give them a nice flush of color. They don’t make a mess around your lips when you eat or drink but you WILL have to reapply throughout the day, especially after eating and drinking since they tend to not have much staying power. Be cautious when picking a gloss color though, as they now tend to make lip glosses that offer a much more bold color payoff similar to a lipstick.

Recommendations: MAC Lipglass $15.00, NYX Butter Gloss $4.99

Tinted lip balms:

These offer the same exact benefits listed above for lip gloss except that they are usually not “high-shine” the way  lip glosses are and they offer better color payoff if you choose a darker color. They also tend to feel less sticky than a lip gloss which is great if that’s something that bothers you about lip gloss. These are a good option if you don’t like the shiny look of lip gloss, or its sticky texture,but still want to add some low maintenance color to your lips. Although they are easy and no fuss to apply, they have little staying power and will require multiple touch ups throughout the day. But the good news is, “touching up” is as easy as applying lip balm.

Recommendations: Fresh Sugar lip treatment from Sephora $24.00, Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm $4.99

Lip butters: 

Lip butters are a happy medium between a tinted lip balm and lip stick. They are moisturizing like a lip balm, but offer wide color ranges and great color payoff like lipsticks. These are great if you are a person who either, likes lipstick but feels like they dry out your lips OR if you want to try some bold colors, without the intensity of a lipstick. Lip butters do have good color payoff, but they will still be more on the sheer side and can be intentionally worn sheer if you feel the color is too bold. These will wear off after food and drink and will require touch ups throughout the day!

Recommendations: Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick $22.00, Revlon ColorburstLip butter $6.59

Lipsticks: 

These are a classic and a great choice if you want vibrant color. The only downside to lipsticks is their occasional lack of staying power through food and drink, and their tendency to smudge all over anything you put your lips on (coffee cups, water bottles, etc.). It can be difficult to eat with lipstick on without getting it on your face or teeth, especially if you are wearing a bright or bold color. However, if applied correctly in the morning after you’ve eaten breakfast (see below for application tips!), you should be good to go until lunch at which time you can wipe off what you have on, eat, and re-apply! Be aware that lipsticks tend to be a little bit drying, unless it’s specifically formulated 
with moisturizers, so you may need to layer with a lip balm either underneath, 
or on top of the lipstick. 

Recommendations: MAC lipstick $18.00, NARS Satin Lip Pencil $26.00, 
Milani Color Statement Lipstick $4.99, L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Lip Color $5.99

Lip stains/liquid lipsticks: 

These are heavy duty lipsticks, and our personal favorite for the office! The great thing about liquid lipsticks is that they give you the color payoff of a lipstick, but don’t smudge or wear off! This is a HUGE benefit for dentists such as ourselves, since we are always required to wear face masks while in the office. There is nothing worse than your lipstick imprinting from your lips to your mask, and then from your mask to your face! Liquid lipsticks are great if you want a no fuss lip that can survive your coffee break and even your lunch break. They are especially great for bright or bold lips since you won’t have to worry about color smudging off on anything. The only downside to liquid lipsticks is they do tend to be drying on the lips, and layering a lip balm on top tends to increase the smudging of them and decrease the lasting power. However, once you apply,  just be cautious not to touch your lips, bite your lips, or rub your lips together and it should last you almost the entire workday with maybe the need for one touch up after lunch. It is also recommended that you don't put on a thick layer of these products as it increases the tendency of them starting to peel off the wet line of your lips. Make sure you take your time to apply these carefully since it can be a little more difficult to correct any mistakes, especially once the color sets! You often need a makeup removing wipe to get this stuff off so don't forget to pack one in your purse for any catastrophes during the day! 

Recommendations: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick $24.00, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick $20.00, Sephora Collection Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Color $16.00, Covergirl Outlast Lip Color $7.99

TIPS FOR APPLICATION 

How you apply a lipstick has a drastic effect on how long it lasts. Rather than applying the lipstick directly from the bullet to your lips in one thick layer, it is actually better to apply it in multiple thin layers, using a lip brush, and blotting between layers! This will make the lipstick go on more like a stain. With this product,  if some color happens to wipe off, a light staying of color will remain even if you're unable to touch up throughout the day. This method also helps you avoid the “lip liner disaster” where you’re left with just an outline of color on your lips and nothing in the middle! We would recommend investing in a lip brush (MAC 316 Lip Brush $20.00). They can be pricey, but if you plan to wear lipstick a lot it is a worthy investment and can last you years and years if you take care of it! Make sure your lips are nice and moisturized before you start. I usually apply lip balm at the start of my makeup routine, so that by the time I get to my lips, they are moisturized, but don’t have too much slip to them (which can result in a little difficulty when applying your product choice!) Apply one very thin layer of color with your lip brush and really press hard to work it into your lips. Once you have the first layer on, blot with a tissue. Repeat one or two more times and finish with a final layer of color straight from the lipstick bullet. For liquid lipsticks, you need not blot or apply in layers, unless you want the color to be a littler richer. In that case, apply one layer of the liquid lipstick carefully, allow it to set, and apply one more layer. If your lip stain came with a gloss then apply it after your second layer, otherwise, you are finished and ready to start your day!