Lips to dye for

I can't promise you full lips like famous actresses, but I can say this much...it doesn't take much work  to get lips to die for.

Basic steps:

Exfoliate - gently scrub off the top layer of dead skin. There are several "masks" available that help you do this.

Trap moisture - use a petrolium based lip balm before going to bed (try to avoid "medicated" ones)

Protection - try to use an SPF 15 or better lip balm during the day to keep them from burning. (Yes, your lips CAN burn.) Also keep it with you to reapply after eating.

Let them breath - don't always cover up your lips with lip gloss.

Drink water - as I've said in previous blogs, trapping water on the skin = moisturization, but to be truly hydrated, you need to keep the skin cells full of water to function at their best.

Plumping - although there are products out there, be aware all they are really doing is irritating the sking to cause it to puff up, giving the appearance of fuller lips. (Sorta like whitening your teeth, this is best in moderation -- too much can actually be bad for you.)

Try not to bite or chew on your lips. Also don't lick your lips. You'll end up removing anything you put on to protect them. (The enzymes in your mouth -- designed for helping to start digesting your food, can actually cause damage to the lips/skin causing chapping.)

The fun part:

When applying color to your lips you do have options. There's clear lip balm, tinted lip balm, scented lip balm, flavored lip balm, lip gloss & lipstick to name a few. Some people prefer to layer on products for a longer lasting look. For example, I use a lip primer, and then put on a lipstick, followed by a lip gloss (which I brush on for the best results.)

Try to avoid a "clown" look by not going outside the lines where your lip color changes from pink to flesh tone. I was instructed never to "smack" my lips after applying or blotting them as you smudge off that lovely top layer and ruin the look you were going for. (Obviously, you will eventually talk or eat something, but that's what going to the restroom to powder your nose is for -- just bring your favorite color along to touch up.)

Lip liner is optional -- it tends to go in and out of trend faster than most Hollywood romances last. I have heard one idea for that old lip liner, use it after the primer to coat the whole lip, before using lipstick or instead of it, then topping with the lip gloss. (Most of my lip liners are matte and so they logically go nicely under a sheer sparkly gloss topcoat.)