We’ve all been there: You think you’re rocking a stunning, bright lip color (say, a vivid fuschia or a daring red) until you steal a glance in the mirror and realize it’s seeped into the little lines around your mouth. Not a good look.

How to prevent this beauty blunder—known as “feathering” or “bleeding”? Before applying color, prep your mouth with a lip primer or foundation to give it something to adhere to. Then use a skin-tone lip liner to trace around the outside perimeter of your mouth (no need to fill in). Finally, apply the lipstick, blot with a tissue, reapply, then blot again. For extra staying power, you can tap on a translucent powder in between coats of lipstick.

Now that you know how to properly apply lipstick, why not treat yourself to one these 18 gorgeous shades?