Between the cold air and the unpredictable elements, the delicate skin around our lips never seems to catch a break. However, it’s never too late to take the reigns back on our skin care routine and get the soft, supple lips we crave. Thanks to some expert advice and amazing product picks however, we’re shedding the cracked and flaking skin and achieving a gorgeous pucker with this essential four step regimen.
Step One: SCRUB N’ SOOTHE
Our lips are made up of thin ceramide lipid layers, and when these layers are stripped away, our lips become dry, cracked and sore.
“Lips need more care and protection than the rest of our skin because the only natural source of moisture they have is saliva, which can sometimes be a drawback, creating dryness when we lick our lips,” says Suki Kramer, CEO and founder of suki® skincare.
“Instead of reaching for the typical petroleum-based lip balms and chap sticks, which do not moisturize, are not absorbable, and contain ingredients that are not at all nourishing or nutritive, opt for lip care products made with 100% natural ingredients, Kramer suggests.
Start your pout-perfecting process by exfoliating lips with a raw sugar scrub, which will gently remove rough, dry skin cells and soften lips. Follow with a hydrating balm formulated with nourishing ceramides to restore skin’s protective moisture barrier, and chamomile and calendula to soothe redness and irritation.
TRY: suki® 2 step ultra-soft lip kit ($8.48 at sukiskincare.com for the month of February only)
Step Two: GET IN LINE
Once lips are smooth and soft (as they should be), outline the lip area just outside the natural lip line to create an illusion of fullness.
“Lip liner has incredible staying power, and will last long after your lipstick or gloss, so try to find a liner as close as possible to your natural lip color,” suggests Hannah Hatcher, Global Educator for jane iredale. “Fill in your entire lip area with the same lip pencil used to outline as this creates continuity and a fantastic base for the products you are going to use on top.”
TRY: jane iredale Lip Pencil in Nude ($13 at janeiredale.com)
Step Three: STAY SHEER & GLOSS ON
Just as your favorite little black dress is slimming, dark lipsticks tend to make lips look smaller or slimmer.
“Instead, choose a neutral lip color, or, incorporate color with a sheer finish as these will make looks appear bigger. It can be tricky finding the correct neutral shade to create this type of illusion as you don’t want to go too light, or have a frost-like finish, which can be unflattering to your skin tone,” says Hannah Hatcher.
“Go with something more sheer versus opaque, and make sure that you look at the finish of the lip product that you choose as you definitely want a lipstick with a slight sheen rather than a matte finish. You can also add a gloss as a finishing touch right in the center of the bottom lip to give a fuller effect,” Hatcher adds.
TRY: jane iredale PureMoist Lipstick in Chloe ($25 at janeiredale.com) and jane iredale PureGloss Lip Gloss in Pink Smoothie ($24 at janeiredale.com)
Step Four: PLUMP IT UP
To get that come-hither plumping effect, there’s nothing better than using some makeup to feign a fuller-looking appearance.
“My favorite trick to create an illusion of fullness to the lip is to create a somewhat 3D like effect to the mouth area. Using either a white or light pink eye pencil or highlighter, apply a small amount just above the cupid’s bow on the top lip, and a small amount on the lower lip just below the lip line, and blend well with your fingertips so there are no obvious lines of demarcation or white around the lips. The light color around the lips creates an illusion of light, and it makes the lips pop,” Hatcher concludes.
TRY: jane iredale White Pink Highlighter Pencil ($16.50 at janeiredale.com) – for darker skin tones, try jane iredale Double Dazzle Highlighter ($16.50 at janeiredale.com)
You can purchase all reviewed and mentioned items using our site, www.BeautyStat.com!
What are your favorite lip care products?
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– Courtney Leiva | Follow Courtney on Twitter @CourtneyLeiva & Instagram @MissCourtneySays
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