Whether you’re obsessed with gloss, sheen or matte, lip products look awful when applied to dry lips with dead, flaky skin.

I just thought some peoples’ lipstick just looked better on them than it did on me, until I learned how to do this. Lightbulb moment…anyway.

Most days I opt for nothing more than simple lip balm, however on days where I am on top of my makeup game, I will always exfoliate my lips first. While you can buy lip scrubs, you can also use a pinch of baking soda on your finger, dampened with a few drops of water until a thick paste is formed. Apply this onto your lips in a circular motion and massage in for a minute or so. Rinse well and spit; this will taste salty for just a second. Pat dry, and apply a balm to add moisture. Then, go bananas with your lipstick. Your lips will look magazine-shoot ready.