Left on the bathroom mirror it competes with steamy afterthoughts, punctuate an “I Love You” as a souvenir of your heart’s desire, or allow remnants of its temporary tattoo to be a memory on their tattered hoodie, your kissable lips are your own unique, intimate signature.
With your attention peaked, les kissables (the kissable lips) are easily attainable with the methodical, approach described below.
~ EXFOLIATE ~
We exfoliate our face and body, so why not Les Kissables (our lips)? Gently exfoliating your lips once a week with a lip scrub helps remove loose, dead cells that often end up with no fixed address. Additionally, gently scrubbing your lips encourages blood flow to this area, resulting in a healthy, pink colour, providing the landscape for a more polished look. While there are numerous options available, a DIY (Do It Yourself) home remedy comprised of a few simple ingredients provides an easy, accessible solution. 1 tbsp. of brown sugar to 1 tsp of coconut oil has a shelf life of 1 week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you’re hesitant to consider a DIY solution, here are some of our picks for great lip scrubs: Burt’s Bees-Lip Scrub with Exfoliating Honey Crystals, Fresh-Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator, Tarte-Pout Prep Lip Exfoliant and Sephora Collection-Lip Balm and Scrub. As you would expect, moisturizing is next on the agenda.
Burt’s Bees “100% Natural Conditioning Lip Scrub with Exfoliating Honey Crystals” $9.97
~ MOISTURIZE ~
Providing hydration for your lips is essential in maintaining healthy, kissable lips. With overexposure to the cold, dry air, and persistent sun, it limits creases and wrinkles destined to become the norm. A lip balm worn daily helps prevent chapping, cracking and encourages super (pronounced “SUUUPPPEERRR”) smooth kissables. Consider a nightly ritual lip balm or even, simplicity at it’s best, Vaseline (petroleum jelly) to master supple lips. A few “favs” offering these results are: Bobbi Brown-Extra Lip Tint, Maybelline-Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm, Ilia-Lip Conditioner and Fresh-Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment. Next up, line the kissables.
Bobbi Brown “Extra Lip Tint Bare Pink” $45.00
Fresh Sugar “Tinted Lip Treatment Nude”
~ LIP LINER ~
Lip liners typically assume multi-faceted roles as primer to boost colour, promoting radiant pigment, preventing bleeding, and as a lasting alternative to wearable lipstick. Used correctly, it can create a flawless, defined kissable lip. Lip liner tends to enhance shading and contouring, so its important to choose one that compliments your lip colour. My all-time favourites are: Charlotte Tilbury-Lip Cheat Lip Liner in 15 shades, Mac-Lip Pencil in Ruby Woo boasts a perfect red lip, Nars Velvet Lip Liner, NXY Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil and Make Up For Ever “Aqua” Lip Liner. Lipstick, is next and, like the little black dress, it does not disappoint.
Charlotte Tilbury- “Lip Cheat Lip Liner pillow talk”
MAC Cosmetics “Lip Pencil Ruby Woo”
~ LIPSTICK ~
Lipstick draws attention to your lips and makes them worthy of a second, long look. It also offers an inexpensive way to express your artistic, creative, and, “Badasssy” side. An endless selection of colours and textures make the kissable lips attainable. Adding a hydrating lipstick will promote a silky smooth texture, if not hypnotizing “Medusa-style” beacon to those who cast their eyes in your direction. MAC-Satin Lipstick in Ruby is available in satin, crème sheen, amplified or with glaze finishes that will keep your lips moisturized. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in various shades and finishes are highly moisturizing, Tarte-Drench Lip Splash Lipstick offers a full-coverage matte without the drying effect, while Marc Jacobs “Le Marc Lip Crème” in an infinite colour palette is another favourite for it’s moisturizing qualities. Swaddled in lipstick, lip gloss offers a make-sense addition for the well-dressed, kissable lips.
~ LIP GLOSS ~
Having nourished your lips with the perfect lipstick, it’s the addition of a well-paired gloss that offers up the elusive “cherry on top”. Glosses are less sticky in texture, boast longevity, provide some hydration, and come in a variety of vibrant hues, making choosing an arduous process. Top of my list are: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss. In pursuit of les kissable lips, Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath, offers a hydrating, fresh afterglow of a balm but the look of gloss. A heart shaped applicator ensures each application is administered with consistent precision. While lip gloss is a no brainer, lip stains come bearing unexpected results.
Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath
~ LIP STAIN ~
In search of longer lasting vibrant colour and circumventing, the sometimes tedious, repeated applications of lipstick and/or gloss, allow lip stain to court you, even entice you. In addition, stains encourage versus inhibit the mated tango of pouty borders. Noteworthy are: Yves Saint Laurent Vinyl Cream Lip Stain which also hydrates, boasts a plethora of colours ranging from nude to brilliant fuchsia, and has approximately 10 hours of staying power. Additionally, the following get the nod of approval: Tarte Lippie Lingerie Matte Lip Tint, Revlon Balm Stain, Dior Addict Lip Tattoo and Benefit Cosmetics Lovetint Lip and Cheek Stain.
Yves Saint Laurent “Vinyl Cream Lip Stain”
~ LIP PLUMPER ~
For those sporting thinner lips, achieving more voluptuous, kissable lips are within reach with a plumping product. Plumpers have a glossy quality which give the illusion of fuller lips. Listed among our fav”s are: Buxom Full Force Plumping Lipstick, Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss and Sephora Collection Outrageous Effect Volume Lip Gloss.
“Full-On Plumping Lip Polish Gloss”
If “Pucker up Buttercup” is your internal mantra, ready Les Kissables (yours) with the suggestions above, intent on healthy, well dressed kissable lips!
G.G Grande