Towards more beautiful lips…

If the thought of smooching under the mistletoe makes you wish your lips were a little more kissable, here are a few tips:

Dry, cracked lips. As soon as the weather grows colder, the lips (and the rest of your skin) give up moisture to the chilly air. Indoor heating methods also steal the moisture from your lips and skin. The lips are often the first part of you to dry out as, unlike the skin, they contain no oil glands.

Prevention is key to avoiding dry, cracked lips. Always use a lip balm under your lipstick, and after washing before bed. Remember that lipsticks containing pearlizing or sparkling ingredients—popular at this time of year—dry out the lips more than creme formulas. Long-lasting formulas can also be very drying.

If your lips are flaky, but not cracked, you may wish to mix a little brown sugar with olive oil and gently exfoliate them. Use a circular motion and be sure to follow up with lip balm.
Sore, flaky lips. Did you forget your sunscreen? On a clear winter’s day, especially at high altitudes (think skiing, boarding), your lips can be exposed to as much UV light as on a sunny summer’s day. Be sure that your lip balm has an SPF of at least 15.
Thin, undefined lips. The loss of lip definition is one of the many signs of aging, however, younger women can have poor lip definition as well. To better define your lips, first use lip balm, then gently dab foundation or concealer around their edges (known as the vermilion border). Pat with a little mineral powder, such as ColoreScience, and use your lipliner to line just on the upper edge of the vermilion border. Don’t take the liner right out to the sides of your lips as this will make you appear tight-lipped and is very aging. Blot the liner gently either with a tissue or your finger, then dab on a little more powder. Now fill in with your favourite lipstick. Remember that the darker the lipstick, the smaller your lips will appear.

Lips that you’d like to change. If the above measures are not enough, you might want to plump your lips up a little with an injectable filler. Afterglow now recommends Teosyal® Kiss for soft, kissable lips that look and feel natural. Teosyal® Kiss is made from hyaluronic acid that has been highly cross-linked to keep it from breaking down. This means your fuller lips will last longer. The product itself is a soft gel that cannot be detected after injection.

Injection with Teosyal Kiss® can also help lift the corners of the lips, which often droop with aging.

Vertical lines above the lip. Teosyal® Kiss can also be injected into the upper edge of the vermilion border, to plump and firm the lined area immediately above it. Many women (and a few men who have had the procedure) have been thrilled with their new, youthful appearance once these lines have been softened.