Lips Tips

by Valerie Gladstone — February 15, 2008

Lips always need care but winter especially can be hard on them. Tips to keep them smooth through the winter:

• Lips are constantly exposed to the elements and need to be protected, so keep a lip balm on hand at all times.
• Condition your lips every day with lip products that contain vitamin A, vitamin E, and natural emollients. The sun, wind, and other elements can dry, chap, and wrinkle your lips. Choose lip products with SPF protection of 15 or higher
• As you age, your lips lose natural moisture, so it's best to use very creamy, hydrating lipsticks that fill in the creases in your lips--your lips will look smoother and shinier.
• Look for hydrating lipsticks with natural emollients. Sheer lipsticks give a hint of color and wonderful sheen. Plus they help lips look more plump and youthful, which is fantastic because lips tend to appear thinner as we age.
• Lip gloss and lip glaces are wonderful for creating super shiny lips. Remember to apply the gloss from the center--the plumpest part--of the lips. And because glosses and glaces tend to feather and fade more easily on dry or crinkled lips, be sure to re-apply as needed.
• For color choices, you must consider your skin tone, which can change with age and the seasons. Skin can become more sallow in winter, for example.
• Older women should shy away from bold colors that contrast with their natural skin tones. Seek out muted lip colors and let your natural color and brightness shine through.
• Lip liner is the true trick for getting lip color to stay put longer. It's especially necessary with creamy or slippery lip colors. After lining your lips with a lip pencil that matches your lip color, fill in the rest of your lips with the lip pencil. It acts as a base for your lip color so your lips look good longer.
• Don't just blot your lips in a tissue. If your lips are naturally soft and smooth, press a tissue against your lips and then powder them lightly with a brush or puff.
• For more mature lips that need a more moist finish, after powdering your lips, simply apply a little more creamy lip color.
• Frosted lipsticks usually don't look good on dry or wrinkly lips. They contain shimmery particles that catch the light and draw attention to ridges, which can make dry lips look drier. Unless you have soft, conditioned lips, avoid lipsticks with lots of shimmer and frost. If you want a little shimmer, however, find a lipstick with a light shimmer.
• There are different levels of shimmer available, so just ask a professional which type is right for you.
• Some matte lipsticks can look chalky on mature or dry lips. Avoid them unless your lips are smooth and soft.
• Older women should be careful with the lip gloss. If your lips are thin, dry, or creased, slippery glosses are likely to feather and run off. Apply lip gloss beginning at the center of the lips and reapply as necessary.
• Don't count on glosses to condition your lips. Gloss on dry, wrinkly lips may emphasize your flaws just as a shimmery lip treatment can do. So make sure your lips are conditioned and smooth before applying a very lustrous gloss.