Caring for your lips
It’s that time again where I blog about makeup tips and tricks or my favourite products.
Today’s topic is based on your lovely puckers! That’s right, your lips.
Our lips are probably the first thing (other than our eyes) that catches people’s attention. Today morning as I was getting ready for work, I stopped at the mirror and just stared at my reflection for a while. (My mum thought I was crazy, playing with my lips infront of the mirror!)
But it’s true isnt it? Lips require care too but how many of us actually bother with lip care products?
Having done makeup for the past 3 years, I’ve realized that unless my clients’ lips are soft and supple, the lip makeup will have no effect whatsoever, despite it being a rich red or a pretty hue of pink. So much so that its become a habit of mine to carry around a lipbalm for my clients to apply onto their lips to ‘prep’ their lips before I can apply the lipstick shade of choice. Applying lipcare to your lips doesnt just refer to people with dry or chapped lips. Why wait for a problem to occur, before you begin the healing process?
Don’t just be thankful that you have soft supple lips today, instead, have a daily regime of caring for your lips.
Here’s some tips and tricks I’ve learnt:
LipBalm:
Lip balm is a substance applied to the lips to relieve chapped or dry lips. The main purpose of lip balm is to provide a thin layer on the lip surface to seal moisture in lips and protect them from external exposure.
(taken from Wikipedia)
Lipbalms don’t just help care for your lips, but they also ensures much more smooth lip makeup application. With that said, here are some of my preferred LipBalms
Rosebud Salve
(not available in SG)
Vaseline
(Easily available at Watsons or Guardian)
Kiehl’s Lip Balm
(Not too sure where else Kiehl s located but I know Vivocity has one on the first floor)
Or if you’re not very fond of using such manufactured products, here are some cheaper alternatives:
(source: http://www.carefair.com/)
Honey
Honey is an excellent choice as a treatment for a bad case of chapped and cracked lips because it is moisturizing and healing. Honey is safe to use on small cuts, and it is antibacterial so it will also keep lips from getting infected. Use honey on lips before going to bed at night, or apply throughout the day.
Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is a good moisturizer for a case of dry lips, and can usually be found in just about any kitchen. For natural product choices out on the market, aim for a blend of olive oil and beeswax for a smooth consistency and thick coverage.
Aloe Vera
If the lips are chapped or over-dry from exposure to the sun, aloe vera might be a good choice for soothing and cooling the burn. Use the gel directly from a piece of aloe plant, or find a gel that is pure aloe vera for your lips. After using the gel from the inside of the plant, it can be broken open and the clear and wet inside flesh can be rubbed directly on the lips.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is extremely moisturizing and nourishing to the skin. and it is said to mimic the skin’s natural oils.
Apart from applying these products on your lips, its also VERY important to remember to DRINK MORE WATER. Keeping your lips moist is very important, to keep the skin hydrated.
But this DOESNT MEAN LICKING YOUR LIPS. This is because saliva takes the natural moisture out of your lips. Hard to imagine that’s true cuz you probably think you’re moistening your lips when in true fact, licking your lips are CAUSING your lips to dry out more! You can also EXFOLIATE your lips, by brushing them gently with a clean toothbrush once every fortnight.
Trust me, with soft luscious puckers, I’m sure you’ll be feeling all the more confident when smiling
