Start by exfoliating your lips to remove any dry, flaky skin. You can gently scrub your lips with a homemade sugar and lemon scrub (1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of sugar) or use a soft toothbrush to slough off the dead skin. 

Next hydrate. Apply a hydrating lip balm to moisturise and nourish your lips, giving them a soft and supple base for lipstick application. 

Apply the lip balm before you start your makeup. Lips take at least 15-20 minutes to get properly hydrated. Once your lips become moisturised and plump, your lipstick won't have many cracks to settle into, providing a perfect, hydrated, and seamless look. 

The key to applying lipstick perfectly is precision and control. Start by lining your lips with a lip liner that matches the shade of your lipstick. Outline your lips, emphasising the cupid's bow and defining the corners. This will create a crisp and polished lip shape. 

To make lipstick last longer, makeup expert Singh recommends filling in the entire lip with the lip pencil first. This will ensure that you are not just left with the lip outline by the end of the night. 

Next, fill in your lips with the lipstick using a lip brush or directly from the bullet. Start from the centre and work your way towards the corners, ensuring even coverage blending the lipstick with the lip outline. For a more precise application, use a lip brush to reach the edges and corners of your lips.

Lipstick that is pressed into the lips looks more real and classy. Apply lip gloss only in the centre of the mouth so as to not be too thick.

If you mess up the application, use a lip brush or a Q-tip with your concealer to work your way around the edges to clean up any excess, split colour or bleeding.

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