Beauty Goodies

Luscious Lips Sink Ships

March 17, 2010 Beauty

A smooth, full, bee-stung pout has always been a symbol of attractiveness, youth, and sensuality. According to studies, the second-most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedure behind botox is lip enhancement through the use of hyaluronic acid fillers to plump lips. Many may not be ready for such procedures,  so the beauty industry short-cut to the achieve a pillowy pout has been lip plumpers. For thin lips, lip plumpers may be the solution.

Many products in today’s market claim to give Angelina Jolie’s pout in a bottle. How do lip plumpers work their magic to achieve the perfect pucker? There are two ways to achieve increased volume in the lips.  The first is through vasodilation of the vessels of the lips.  Vasodilation can be due to the introduction of irritants that cause temporary contact urticaria (swelling).  Ever feel that satisfying tingle after application of a lip plumper?  The tingling is actually a form of irritation.  Such irritants are found in a variety of lip serums and plumpers,  the most common being essential oils of cinnamon, menthol, and cayenne pepper. The overall effect should be expected to last about 2 hours.

Another way to increase lip volume is through direct hydration of the skin. Added moisture and hydration are key players for plump lips. Hydration can be increased by ingredients such as marine collagen, hyaluronic acid, and peptides (specifically, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine tripeptide).  Wound care research has shown that this tripeptide was able to enhance collagen when introduced in the skin,  and recently this tripeptide has made its way into various skincare products and lip plumpers. Hyaluronic acid and collagen are naturally found in the skin,  but its levels decline as we age.  They are like mini water balloons that are able to hold moisture weight about 50 times greater its size. Since it’s able to hold onto moisture,  skin cells appear much fuller. These types of plumpers claim to last a little longer, up to 24-48 hours,  with increased improvement upon continued use.

So how else can luscious lips be achieved,  sans needles or lip plumpers?

Exfoliate weekly to rid of dry surface skin cells and renew your lips
Flaky, scaly lips can be corrected by exfoliation.  Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells,  while the circular motions stimulate blood flow to the lips. I’ve tried Benefit’s lip exfoliating scrub with micro-beads,  as well as made my own by mixing brown sugar with a little olive oil.  Massaging your lips with a soft toothbrush also does the trick.  Keep exfoliation to just once a week, though,  because over-sloughing may develop irritation.

Moisturize and protect lips to keep them soft.
Dry chapped lips are not kissably soft.  Dehydration and sun damage contributes to dry lips, so be sure to drink plenty of liquids throughout the day and keep lips protected with an SPF lip balm.  Look for lip plumping ingredients and skin smoothers such as retinol and hyaluronic acid.

Makeup works wonders to add dimension and illusion of full lips.
Use lighter, nude shades of lipstick rather than darker hues; light objects always appear to be magnified.
A dab of clear gloss in the center of  top and bottom lips adds reflection to the zenith of the mouth,  which creates the illusion of a larger pout.
Lip liner that’s the same exact shade of your lips also works wonders; apply it slightly outside of the lip line and camouflage with a nude lipstick,  then top with clear gloss.

Credits:
Lip Plumper Contact Urticaria. Firos, Elnaz, et. al.
www.imageshack.com

Tags: collagen, lip plumper, peptides