Full lips are hot, and we can thank Angelina Jolie. Sure, women were concerned about lips before Brad Pitt’s leading lady hit the scene. But were they injecting fillers into their pout before Mother Jolie came into our consciousness? Were terms like celebrity pout, trout pout, and “For the love of Pete, someone stop that woman before she can blink her lips?” part of our consciousness? Not so much.
So women want full smackers, and they are going to great lengths to get them. (White women, we might add. Women of African descent generally have the genetic advantage.) Lindsay Lohan famously pouted up before her last rehab/jail stint. Jessica Simpson admitted that she looked like a blowfish after injections. Jennifer Garner is known for her “natural” work. Lisa Rinna, lip pioneer extraordinaire, recently admitted to silicone injections in her upper lip – which she has since had surgically repaired.
Wanting fuller lips isn’t so bad – just turning them into floatation devices can be problematic. After all, our lips are an erogenous zone and va-va-voomy smackers go a long way on the evolutionary train. But a little bee-stung look can go a long way in working a lipstick. And here are some natural ways to get a temporary pouty pucker.
1. Moisturize, you say?
If you lips are cracked and dry, they aren’t going to shine with health and beauty. Keeping your lips moisturized will reduce fine lines and let them look fuller. Recently, we checked out hellomellow’s Lip Butters, which offer up a natural hydration for under $10. Made from avocado and mango butters ripe in fatty acids, they are also free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates and other synthetic ingredients. Do they hydrate well? They do indeed, as well as any petroleum-based product.
2. Apply a lip hydration mask.
Did we mention you need to keep your lips moisturized? We may have mentioned that. For the ultimate way to pamper up your pout, whip up a homemade lip mask. Check out a “Just Juicy Red” mask courtesy of Narine Nikosian’s Return to Beauty.
Ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon cottage cheese, 1/2 teaspoon sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon beet juice, rose oil.
In a small bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, and beet juice, Mix well. Pat over the lip area with your fingertips. Relax for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and smooth a few drops of rose oil over your lips to seal in the moisture.
3. Brush your lips.
Your lips respond to mild irritation by swelling. But keep it light. As one expert noted, “mild irritation does not mean you scrap off layers of skin.” One way to achieve this is to mildly brush your lips after brushing your teeth. Then, as the same expert noted, be sure to apply a good lip balm. You’ve just exfoliated – the last thing you want is to dry out your pout.
4. Get spicy with cinnamon or peppermint oil.
Cinnamon or peppermint oils can increase the blood flow to your lips, making them appear fuller for a short period of time. Pick up a bottle of organic cinnamon or peppermint oil. Starting with just one drop, mix it in with your lip balm of choice and apply. But be careful not to apply the oils directly to your lips, as the oils can sting in concentrated doses.
5. Line your lips.
Yes, simple makeup can go a long way in making up luscious lips. For a more natural look, apply a subtle, natural lip liner just outside your natural lip line. Make sure the pencil is sharp so it gives a more natural look. Then apply a sheer gloss in your natural color. Your lips will look larger. Unless you went too far over your lip line. Then you will look like a pretty Bozo the Clown.
6. Face yoga. Yes, face yoga.
Some suggest daily exercises to promote your pout, such as puckering your lips and blow a kiss. Don’t believe us? Click here.
Image: gageskidmore