Almost every woman owns an eye cream, but how many of us think to protect our pout beyond a cursory swipe of lip balm on the run? But just like the delicate eye area, your lips lack the oil glands that keep the rest of your face looking youthful, while saliva dries them out even further.
In fact, lips lose hydration faster than any other area on the face – particularly if you have a history of smoking (tsk, tsk). But this is a story with a happy ending: incorporate the below five-second fixes into your daily beauty routine and you’ll be smiling from the inside out.
1/ Add a nightly lip treatment to your routine
Just as we dutifully slather on night cream before bed, so, too, do our lips require specialised treatments if you really want to see results. Dermalogica’s new Nightly Lip Treatment is the stuff dreams are made of: it’s enriched with shea butter for overnight hydration and to improve skin elasticity, plus works to restore lip volume and strengthen fragile skin around the lips. Simply massage around and on the lip area with the cooling metal applicator and let it work its magic while you sleep.
2/ Choose the right lip balm
Too many popular lip balms contain ingredients that actually make your pout more parched (avoid anything with artificial fragrances or flavouring). Look for a formula that’s rich in moisturising ingredients like shea butter, beeswax or coconut oil, plus SPF. Apply lightly before lipstick (blotting away excess first with a tissue if need be) to prevent feathering and cracking.
3/ Accentuate your shape
Our lips lose volume and shape as we age, so introduce a lip liner to your daily routine to subtly accentuate their size. Charlotte Tilbury’s world-famous Pillow Talk Lip Cheat (a celebrity favourite) is universally flattering and nude enough to appear virtually invisible: wear alone or under lipstick.
4/ Steer clear of matte
Matte lipstick may be trending, but unless you’re in possession of Kylie Jenner’s pumped-up pout, the effect can make lips appear smaller and less voluminous. Instead, experiment with bright colours in creamy satin finishes to fake fullness – a hydrating formula will help prevent the colour from bleeding and, unlike matte, won’t dry out your lips.
5/ Go for (subtle) glow
Just a dab of creamy highlight or strobe cream on your cupid’s bow will help your top lip appear fuller. Fair complexions should look to pale pink-flecked shades (try Benefit High Beam) while medium to dark tones can carry warmer golden shades (we like Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment Illuminiser).
