Going into year three of the pandemic (yikes), you’d think that by now, we would have solved the lipstick and mask problem, right? Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. Every time I

want to wear a bright, bold lip, I find myself doing a bit of mental calculus. How long will I be wearing a mask over this? If I take off my mask, will I end up with a clown nose? Is it even worth it to put on lipstick?

It’s become abundantly clear that even as the pandemic ebbs and flows, we’ll likely be masking in public places for a while longer. On the other hand, bright lipstick is back in full force—it’s evident that we’ve all been aching for a lip moment. 

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through Instagram, and came across a hack from one of my favorite Instagram makeup artists, Rose Siard. In a video, Siard put a makeup sealant over one of her favorite (but transfer-happy) lipsticks, and transform it into a smear-resistant formula. Intrigued, I reached out to Siard to learn more about this trick so I could try it for myself.