Who doesn’t want youthful lips at any age? As you get older you may find that your once plump pout is looking a bit on the lean side.
And just like those new crow’s feet around your eyes, you may begin to notice an increasing number of fine lines and wrinkles on and around your lips.
If the appearance of your aging mouth is bothering you, there are a few key things you can begin doing, other than injections and lasers, to keep your kisser looking youthful and attractive.
Always Exfoliate
Dry, flaky skin is an issue that plagues many women as they age, and since lips tend to be one of the first parts of your body to become dried out and chapped, you’re likely to find that as you get older it becomes more and more noticeable and even uncomfortable.
The first step to combatting the unsightly appearance of parched lips is to exfoliate regularly. There are a couple of easy ways to do this.
You can simply gently wash your lips with a washcloth and warm water nightly to slough off any dead skin.
And once or twice a week, mix up a quick sugar scrub using equal parts olive or coconut oil and brown or white sugar, rub it onto your lips and rinse off for a more intense exfoliating treatment.
Bonus: the oil will help boost the moisture in your lips.
Remember to moisturize
Once you have a clean slate, cleared of any flakes, you can start layering on the moisture.
Start each day by moisturizing your entire face with a moisturizer containing SPF, then layer on a super-hydrating lip balm, which you should reapply throughout the day whenever your lips begin to feel dry.
Another good moisture method is to apply a thin coat of honey to your lips, top with petroleum jelly and leave on for 10-15 minutes before washing off. You can do this at night before you go to bed.
And remember to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water each day, to keep your skin moisturized from the inside out.
Also read: 4 Luxurious fragrances for ageless women
Use the right lipstick
Though it’s tempting to stick to the shade and formula you’ve used for years, as you get older, you should reevaluate whether your old standby is still working for you.
Lipstick shades that are too dark, matte or sparkly, can draw attention to the fact that your lips are showing signs of age.
Dark shades can make your lips look thinner and very matte or sparkly shades can highlight dryness.
Try a rich, creamy formula in a shade slightly brighter or deeper than your natural lip color.
For a plumper look, layer a light gloss over your lipstick, particularly in the middle of each lip which will create an illusion of fullness.
Mind fine lines
If there’s any common thread to note here, it’s that layering is always a good thing.
Layering on both moisture and color will give you maximum results when it comes to keeping your lips looking their best.
So, once you have applied a good quality moisturizing balm, you might consider lining your lips, which will keep your lipstick from bleeding into the fine lines and wrinkles around your mouth.
You can either line at your actual lip line or slightly outside to make them look a bit fuller.
Bonus: fill your entire lip in with liner before topping with lipstick and/or gloss for better coverage and more staying power.
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