Liquid lipstick is typically a matte blend and will show any kind of flaky residue as a result of dry lips. So the first step in applying liquid lipstick is to prep your lips to ensure that the lipstick spreads evenly across the lips, per Maybelline. Another reason to do this is that any hints of dry lips, like peeling or cracking, will look magnified under the matte finish.
It’s best to start with exfoliating your lips before you put on any lipstick. Exfoliating is meant to work with gentle movement and you shouldn’t exfoliate to the point that your lips hurt. Store-bought exfoliators often contain moisturizing against like shea butter and coconut oil to help rehydrate (via Cosmopolitan). If you don’t have any on hand, you can also grab a washcloth and use a circular motion to exfoliate, but remember to go gentle and use a little lip balm afterward.
