As desirable as flawless lip color applications are, attaining that isn’t always child’s play. Getting perfectly glossy or matte lipstick coverage every time requires the right tools, technique, skill, a steady hand, and a little patience. A good lip color can drastically change and improve your makeup look. So if you are looking to level up your lip game a little bit, here are 8 lip color tips from beauty professionals that will help you.

• Use a lip balm
  Lip balm to your lips is the same as sunscreen to your screen. It protects the lips from extreme weather, and using one with a similar tint as your lipstick allows you to create more depth of shade. A pro tip is to apply a lip balm slightly outside the lines and let it sit on the skin for a while, before applying the lipstick. This will ensure the lip color gets a smoother base.
• Keep a smooth lip liner handy
  Lip liners help you stay inside the lip borders. This comes in handy when applying creamy lipsticks. Beauty professionals recommend slightly highlighting the lip borders to create a more contoured look and a lusher pout. If you want to emphasize your lips, you can even go for a lip liner in a contrasting shade for a pop effect.
• Mix and match
  This is one of the most interesting lip color tips from beauty professionals. Choosing lipstick tones that are similar to, or complement your eye shade can create a more unified look, making you seem well put-together. For instance, deep reds, purples or blue-toned lip colors for brown-colored eyes, warm orange, red, and coral shades for green or blue eyes.
• Exfoliate your lips
  This could be one of the most important steps in your beauty routine. Exfoliating your lips with a sugar scrub can help you get rid of dead skin on the lip surface. This ensures a smoother surface, letting you apply your favorite lip color evenly. Scrub a small amount of sugar, rinse with lukewarm water, and pat dry. Avoid using a sugar scrub on chapped lips.
• Concealer to the rescue
  There can be some small creases and uneven application, no matter how perfectly you apply a lipstick. Use a concealer or lip brush to hide those imperfections. Beauty experts recommend using a full coverage concealer for an intact lip color.
• Create your own lip color
  This is one of the most unique lip color tips from beauty professionals. Get creative! Create your own beautiful shades and textures by mixing and matching from your cosmetic arsenal. Just apply a matte liquid lipstick and then put a regular lipstick over it.
• For those perfect red lips
  To get the best out of your red lipstick, beauty experts suggest working backwards. This means apply lipstick and then the lip liner of the same or deeper color to get those perfectly defined, pouty red lips.
• The correct way of checking a lip color
  Contrary to popular practice, most beauty professionals suggest you avoid trying lipstick at the back of the hand when at a store. Clean the lipstick with an alcohol-based spray and apply it directly onto the lips to better understand if it matches with complexion and desired look.