I'd have to agree it's a bit challenging to put on straight from the tube. I wouldn't want to cover my entire lip with any lip pencil first either, because that'd be really hard to get a perfectly even layer of.
What works best for me is to pat a layer of TTT on from the tube, dabbing instead of swiping, then use my finger to warm it and pat it more into the skin - this gets it nice and even and gets the basic shape going. Then I do a second layer from the tube a little more heavily in a bit more of a swipe - but this color you really do have to apply in an even layer and people tend to put a little extra in the center of the lip - avoid doing that. After this, I either go back and define the edges with a brush - I use a flat edged sable hair water color brush instead of a makeup brush - gives the sharpest thinest line because fine art brushes of that level are made with extreme precision and sable is the most resilient for tight details. OR take your liner and now put it on along the edges, right on top of the lipstick! That is a good trick. Blend everything in a bit around the edges with a brush but not on the lip as a whole, because again, it makes it patchy. I think lip primer would be a help too, but I'm not sure if it would lessen the heavy matte finish - I don't own any lip primers personally.
I've actually been wearing TTT all day today, as a matter of fact; with Lavish Living on the cheeks and Stormy Pink p/p on the eyes - very good, simple combo!