Keep them supple
One of the first steps to creating luscious lips is to keep them soft and smooth. That may be easy for those of you blessed with naturally moist skin, but most women need to turn to thick, soothing lip balms to help avoid cracking or roughness, particularly in very sunny, dry, windy or cold climates. The weather and environment can both wreak havoc on your lips, so look to products like Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm or Lifeguard's Choice, which contains ultra emollient lanolin and almond oil to protect and restore lips. The Lifeguard's Choice balm from Burt's Bees isn't restricted to your lips either; it can be used on ears, nose and other areas prone to dryness and chapping, so it's a great product to have on hand. There are all kinds of great lip balms (sometimes also called lip conditioners) available. Many come in delicious flavors and colors, as well as in different formats - pots, tubes and sticks - so shop around until you find one that works well for your lips and that you enjoy using.

Definition
You've probably heard of lip liner but may be wondering if it's necessary. If your habit is to slick on a light gloss, which needs to be reapplied fairly often, you probably don't want or need lip liner. If you wear lipstick, however, particularly in a bold shade, lip liner will give you a crisp, defined look with no smears or feathering. Plus, the liner will help your lipstick stay in place longer. Some women use lip liner to draw an outline at the very rim of their lips and then fill with lipstick while others draw the outline and then fill in the rest of their lips with the same color before adding lipstick for a more durable application. Lip liners come in traditional 'pencils' (you'll need a small sharpener, too) and also in highly pigmented cream pens. M.A.C. Cosmetics offers a superb collection of both pencil and cream lip liners in a terrific range of long-lasting colors. Check out your local M.A.C. cosmetics counter or go to their website for more information.

Dazzling color
Once your lips are smooth and defined, it's time to add some color. Fashionable shades change from season to season, but a good rule of thumb to follow is to stick to a natural shade during the day, and go a bit darker at night. You may want to choose a very dramatic shade of lipstick to highlight a special outfit or for a special occasion, but remember that the color may appear to change under different lighting conditions. That daring shade of lipstick that looked so good under the mellow lights of home may take on a more garish look under sunlight or the stark florescent lighting often found in retail outlets or in office buildings. On the other hand, it may be the perfect touch to draw attention to your lips in a softly lit restaurant. Keep your destination in mind when choosing a lip color. Again, there is a huge selection of lipsticks and lip glosses from which to choose. Generally, lipstick has more staying power than gloss but choose whichever you prefer. If you're just starting out in the world of li
psticks, several companies offer a number of quality lipsticks designed for moisturizing, volume-boosting and durability.

Fuller Lips
Nearly every model appears to have plump lips and there is a wide selection of lip-plumping products available on the market, but you may prefer a simple and more inexpensive trick to achieve fuller-looking lips. Once you've applied your lip color of choice, add a dot of shimmering white eye shadow (or eyebrow highlighter) to the center of your lips and blend it carefully toward the edges. Having a subtly lighter area where your mouth opens will give you the look of fuller lips.

Tags: Facial Care