Tricks for getting better coverage from silver lipstick

October 31, 2015 11:06 AM

I realize this is slightly similar to the previous question, except it's about lipstick, and less about setting it than getting it to show up in the first place. My silver lip color is just not doing what's advertised on the tin.

For my Halloween costume, I bought some Nyx silver lipstick. I know this isn't exactly a high-end brand, but I didn't want to spend a lot on a product I won't be wearing often, and I've actually had good luck with their eyeshadows. The product is also described as "richly pigmented," so it sounded perfect.

The reality, however, is another matter. I'm going for a very frosty look, but it doesn't apply evenly (either directly from the tube or using a lip brush), and while I can get some effect on the lower lip with a little effort, it doesn't show up at all on my top lip. Granted, I don't exactly have a Christie Brinkley mouth, but generally when I wear lip color it applies evenly to both lips.

I've tried extra moisturizing my lips first, using a primer, even using a Milk pencil as a base (which is great for bright eyeshadow colors, but turned out to be a disaster on the lips). Should I use the lipstick as a base, then dust it with silver eyeshadow, set with a clear gloss? I didn't really want a shiny effect, but I also don't relish the idea of eyeshadow in my mouth.

Any ideas for getting this stuff to go on and actually make my lips look frosty silver?

posted by Superplin to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

Do you have a 'long wearing' foundation? I'd try nude-ing out your lips with a thick layer of foundation, maybe a layer of powder on top of that, and then go ahead with silvering them up.
posted by kmennie at 11:39 AM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

I'm looking at product reviews for this one online and it looks like it creates just sort of a shimmery cast (akin to a dead mackerel, or Laura Palmer) instead of a solid Tin Man silver. Is that the effect you're seeing?

I would keep experimenting. I would avoid the eyeshadow idea if your eyeshadow contains ultramarines, ferric ferrocyanide, or chromium oxides, which aren't supposed to be safe for lips.
posted by mochapickle at 11:42 AM on October 31, 2015

I have certainly done the eyeshadow thing, and it works best dabbed on top of 12-hour or 24-hour lipstick (do it immediately after applying the lipstick). It doesn't feel great, but neither does silver lipstick. If you can pack heavy-duty remover and supplies to reapply, you may need to eventually.

Putting gloss on top just makes it heavy and gloopy. Let it set into the lipstick underneath, it'll stick pretty hard.

I can't say I've consulted the ingredients in the eyeshadow beforehand. Don't make a habit of it and you'll probably be fine, but if you happen to be using indie eyeshadow a lot of it is actually lip-safe.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:00 PM on October 31, 2015

Response by poster: I'm looking at product reviews for this one online and it looks like it creates just sort of a shimmery cast (akin to a dead mackerel, or Laura Palmer) instead of a solid Tin Man silver. Is that the effect you're seeing?

On the bottom lip, with a few passes I can get more than a shimmery cast and something akin to silver, but unevenly. The top lip is barely noticeable. Laura Palmer would actually be great!

I don't usually wear foundation, but I will tonight to make my skin a little paler, so maybe using that on the lips as a base will help. If necessary, I'll dab a tiny bit of shimmery light blue eyeshadow to highlight it. I have a wide variety of brands, but in any case I'll be using so little I don't think I'll have to worry about the ingredients.

If anyone has any other tips, keep 'em coming! Thanks to everyone who's responded so far.
posted by Superplin at 1:00 PM on October 31, 2015

Yeah, Stone Cold is much more for layering than what their packaging copy implies, so Temptalia is right on. It was a disappointment for me. I had luck layering over a matte gray or a matte black, and I found that the more I reapplied, the patchier it got, so try to do one application and don't touch it further. If you're open to buying something last minute, OCC has a lip tar in metallic silver that is probably what you were hoping for, and it's a liquid so it's more useful for other applications, like blending with other colors.
posted by juniperesque at 1:36 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

Definitely try the foundation trick, with some powder. That will probably give you the driest, most neutral base for it to stick to. Good luck!
posted by delight at 3:49 PM on October 31, 2015

Best answer: Do you have white eyeliner? Try using that to fill in your lips as a base and then put the silver on top. Sheer colors will usually pop when layered over white.
posted by ananci at 3:55 PM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Products that are safe for eyes are, afaik, pretty much always safe to use on lips because the safety requirements for eye products seem to be so much more strict.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 4:00 PM on October 31, 2015

If eye products are safe for lips, then maybe an eye primer would help on the lip? I think a white eyeliner on the lip could help too.
posted by easter queen at 6:41 PM on October 31, 2015