How To Get Kissable Lips This Valentine's Day

The verdict is in. Scientists have shown that the most attractive feature on a woman's face are her lips. Men spend more time looking at a woman's mouth than any other facial feature. In fact, if she's applied lipstick, a man will actually find it difficult to look away.

There is more science to back this up. When primates are aroused, blood rushes to their lips. This makes them appear thicker, more red and a little shiny... enter lipstick. Mankind has been mimicking this effect with red lipstick since the ancient Egyptians.

So here we are in February, the most romantic month of year. With everyone starting to plan their Valentine's day, these are our tips to get your lips as kissable as possible.

1. Exfoliate for Smooth Kisses

Exfoliation helps to remove the dead and dry skin on the lips, keeping them smooth.

There are several ways to do this, but my favourite is using my tooth brush. Rinse your toothbrush with water and gently rub your lips. The whole thing should be less than a minute and done once or twice a week.

If you have a sweet tooth, sugar based scrubs are also excellent for the lips. Sugar is a humectant, meaning that it draws moisture towards itself. The overall effect is both exfoliation and moisturising.

2. Moisturise for Soft Kisses.

Lip balm, lip balm, lip balm! I can't say it enough. Apply lip balm at before bed to reduce the moisture loss that happens overnight. Apply it in the morning to moisturise during the day. Lip balm underneath any lipstick you wear so that there is protective layer between your lips and the harsh chemicals that can often be found in lipstick (especially matte). Lastly, use a moisturising lipstick.

I personally can attest for the lip balm and lipstick range made by Arbonne. Vegan, preservative and sugar-free, these products have the added benefit of an edible fruity taste, encouraging you to use it over and over again.

3. Plump Up for Full Kisses

Keep in mind that bit of primate science I mentioned earlier. Full lips signify arousal and are particularly alluring to the opposite sex. They are also a feature of youth.

But don't despair. Lip augmentation with hyauluronic acid-based fillers can give you the full lips that nature did not. Small amounts can make a big difference, and I recommend no more than 1ml at a time. Lip augmentation is an art and in the correct hands, lips can be made fuller, their shape accentuated and signs of ageing reduced. If you do one thing in preparation for Valentine's day, this should be it.

Read our blog on Ten Do's and Don'ts of Lip Augmentation if you are considering lip enhancement, or contact us at Cosmetic Beauty Secrets for a free consultation.

4. Get Rid of Wrinkles for Youthful Kisses

A youthful mouth isn't just about full, soft lips. Signs of sun damage, rough texture and wrinkles detract from the appeal of lips. But all is not lost.

To prevent and reduce sun damage, reduce sun exposure, avoid the tanning bed like the plague and use SPF....especially around the mouth and on the lips.

Regular exfoliation combined with mild chemical peels can also help to reduce the effects of sun damage and promote an even skin tone. If you are looking for safe and effective products to do this, I suggest the Arbonne Resurfacing Pads. These pads are infused with botanical retinoids and chamomile, to reduce dark spots, even skin tone and smoothen skin texture.

If you have wrinkles around your mouth, there is help here as well. These wrinkles are often called smokers lines and are due to the repeated action of the same muscle we use to suck through a straw or whistle. Luckily, small doses of Botox to this muscle can reduce the appearance of these lines. But don't worry...you will still be able to pucker up for kisses. Click here to get more information on Botox to smokers lines.

5. Good dental hygiene for Fresh Kisses

This is often overlooked. The most drastic change anyone could make in this department is to ditch cigarettes. Smoker's breath is a notorious turn-off, the chemicals discolour teeth and smoking can lead to unsightly wrinkles around the mouth.

If you find yourself plagued with bad breath, try gargling with baking soda and warm water. Baking soda is not acidic, so it doesn't harm the teeth or gums and helps to eliminate sulphur-producing bacteria. We suggest using one tsp of baking soda with one tsp of salt in warm water.

Again, don't forget the basics of twice daily brushing, flossing and mouthwash.

So there you have it. Our top tips for Kissable Lips this Valentines Day.

For more information about any of the procedures mentioned contact us at Cosmetic Beauty Secrets.

If you need any advice about the range of products mentioned, feel free to check them out here.

Stay tuned for next week's article on our Favourite Celebrity Lips.

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