Matte lipstick is the velvety look to the lips that really stands out with a bold statement, easily stopping people in their tracks. It may not be the easiest look to pull off, but with the wide range of colors available, and if done right, you’ll look positively flawless. But how do you make any lipstick matte without investing in one?
There exist special lipstick mattifying products, but also some genius makeup tips to mattify any lipstick, which will help you not only turn your regular lipsticks into matte ones, but also get a long-lasting matte lip look that’s super-trendy. Below, you’ll find four easy ways to make your lipsticks matte in an instance!
In this article:
- Why Should You Go for a Matte Lip Look?
- What You’ll Need
- How to Make Lipstick Matte with Eyeshadow
- How to Make Lipstick Matte with Translucent Powder/ Baby Powder
- How to Make Lipstick Matte with Mattifying Products
- How to Make Lipstick Matte with Blotting Papers
Why Should You Go for a Matte Lip Look?
Matte lips are the anti-gloss and for years now have appeared on the fashion runways. This year is no different, with matte ruling the catwalk with its picture-perfect appeal. Super gloss might once have been the go-to look for us ‘80s and ‘90s babies, but it is the color-rich matte lipstick that brings in the maturity and has become mostly the only type of lip that we see these days. Why?
Today’s matte lipsticks do no dry out the skin at all and are much easier to apply, as we shall cover later in the article. Plus, the sheer amount of color added to your face allows you to go easy on the rest of your makeup, still looking incredible with a dab of rose to the cheeks and hair pulled out of your face in a simple style.
Furthermore, the plush lips you get with matte lipsticks contrast beautifully with the highlighter you are bound to use on the rest of your face, allowing for sparkle to exist elsewhere, without overpowering your features. All very good reasons to go matte, but the best is having absolutely no bleeding out of the product. Go for the fresh and modern, people!
What You’ll Need
While matte lipstick products do exist on the market in large numbers, there is no need to spend a whole boatload of money on revamping that makeup box of yours. Instead, you can use your favorite existing hues, simply made matte by your own efforts.
Literally any lipstick can be transformed into a modern sophisticated matte by using a myriad of products that are lying around your house. At the end of the day, you want to avoid lipsticks that are too chalky or cake up at the corners of the lips.
Things you can use to make any lipstick matte:
- Similar hued eyeshadow
- Tissue paper with translucent powder
- Mattifying products
- Oil blot papers
How to Make Lipstick Matte with Eyeshadow
Matte eyeshadow in a similar hue as your lipstick works perfectly as a mattifying powder for your lips. Use a brush and gently dab it on you freshly applied lipstick, creating a lovely matte finish.
You can also use matte blush for pink lipsticks and matte bronzers for browns, each working perfectly to remove the extra shine, but keeping the moisturizing effects of the lip products originally used.
How to Make Lipstick Matte with Translucent Powder/ Baby Powder
The most common way to mattify your regular lipsticks is doing it with a translucent powder, like Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder, the Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder or the Tarte Smooth Operator™ Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder. If you don’t use any setting powder in your makeup routine, you can reach for baby powder instead.
The steps are as follows:
- After an even application of the lipstick you desire, take a tissue and blot the excess color. Sometimes this is enough to create enough of a matte look to go on with.
- If not, take another tissue, separate the plies, use one piece over your lips and apply translucent powder on now. The tissue prevents unevenness and ensures you are not getting more product on than necessary.
- If you aren’t satisfied with the result and want an even more intense matte look, as your second step you can directly apply the translucent powder over your lipstick using a makeup brush.
- Press your lips together for an even distribution, and voila! If you do not have translucent powder, you can try baby powder as well, using the exact same process.
How to Make Lipstick Matte with Mattifying Products
Mattifying lip serum works quickly and efficiently, though it is a new product on the market. Few places currently have good mattifying lip serums to make any lipstick matte, and they are generally used by pro makeup artists.
You simply need to finish off your lipstick with a quick brush of the serum or gel, and you have gorgeous matte lips to show the world. The Smashbox Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer is one amazing mattifying product for your regular lipsticks, however, it doesn’t work with lip-glosses, balms and lip lacquers.
You can also use a mattifying face primer (like the NYX Shine Killer) on your lips for the same effect, but only if the main ingredient is a silicone called dimethicone. It blurs out the shine and looks rather lovely, if done right.
You can use most of the products with glossy lipsticks as well, in any stage of luster. Using a lip brush to spread around the area needed is a great idea as well.
How to Make Lipstick Matte with Blotting Papers
Blotting papers are great for removing more than just the shine on your forehead and nose. They are made to absorb the excess oils and remove shine, meaning that any lipstick will be turning at least a semi-matte with this product immediately.
To make your lipstick matte with blotting papers, simply press one onto your lips after your regular lipstick application to absorb the extra shine and get that perfect matte lip.
Photos via @caylabliss, @klaudiabadura, Instagram
