If you've got a bit of romance planned for Valentine's Day, you'll definitely be wanting your lips to be at their softest.
As we age, our lips lose their plumpness, develop lines and become more dry; a change in the PH level can also mean they lose their natural colour, becoming pasty and pale.
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If you're worried that your imperfect pout gives the age game away, try one of these tips for luscious, kissable looking lips.
1. The at-home medical miracle
It’s not just dry lips you’ve got to worry about, but ageing ones too. Vitamin C, CoEnzyme Q10 and antioxidants in Jan Marini Skin Research’s C-ESTA Lips means instant results – think fuller, smoother, hydrated lips. It also works as a primer too, helping your lipstick stay on for longer. That’ll be helpful if kissing is on the menu!
2. The cheap and cheerful cheat
You don’t need to blow the budget to sort your lips out. Grab a soft toothbrush, apply a layer of lip balm and rub. The toothbrush exfoliates away dry or chapped skin and after a quick wipe with a tissue to reveal super soft lips.
3. The stick with it method
If your lips are looking less than desirable, intense action may be required. Jill Zander, founder of the Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic, suggests: “Twice a week, use the Medik8 hand-held Dermaroller for lifting and firming. With its ultrafine needles, it gently pierces the skin to initiate a healing response that creates more collagen for smoother and firmer lips.”
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4. The proper plumper
Lips a little on the thin side? Plump them. Smashbox O Plump Intuitive Lip Plumper will fatten them up before your eyes. Or treat them to a mask, like the StarSkin Dream Kiss Plumping Sheet Lip Mask; it hydrates, plumps and helps to reduce fine lines too.
5. The investment
Got a spare £200? Then head to Jill Zander’s clinic for the Exilis Elite, a treatment that uses mono-polar radio frequency to tighten, firm and plump loose tissue around the mouth. Think of it as framing your lips…
6. The practice makes perfect trick
If all else fails, cheat! Grab a white eye pencil or illuminator (try Rimmel Soft Kohl Eye Pencil in Pure White or YSL Touche Eclat) and apply to your cupid’s bow (the dip above your upper lip) and the groove that runs from the top of the lip to nose - this creates the illusion of full, pouty lips. Lip-smackingly easy.
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