And there's good reason for that.
No matter the environment we're in, our lips are the first to show it: Chilly winters bring flakes, while steamy summers can burn us dry. We also decorate our lips according to mood; if we want a hint of glamour, we paint 'em red. If we're going for date night sexy, we break out the glossy nude.
But nowhere is there a greater minefield of problems than our pout. From chapped skin to lipstick feathering to cold sores, a gloopy and gunky lip can ruin our whole look and mood.
The good news? StyleList has your back.
Read on as we find solutions to the frustrating lip problems that have been plaguing you forever, and learn how to easily fix them so you can enjoy the softest, sexiest and most kissable lips ever.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
Nothing looks messier than lip color that has migrated out of your lip line and taken a voyage all over the surrounding skin - but the solution is probably already in your makeup bag. "Prime lips with a small amount of foundation and line with a neutral lip liner," suggests Villanueva. A liquid foundation like Clinique's Perfectly Real Makeup works best as a base, as its thin texture won't interfere with your color, but won't allow product to budge either.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
If you're relentlessly applying lip balm to your chapped lips but see no improvement, it's most likely because those pesky flakes block moisture from penetrating. Gently exfoliate moistened lips with a scrub like Mary Kay Satin Lips Lip Mask to remove the chapped layer, or make your own homemade Vaseline and sugar mixture for the same effect. Then slick on a rich layer of shea or cocoa butter lip balm like Palmers Lip Butter to cocoon your new fresh new layer with moisture.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
There's nothing more annoying than a lipstick that pulls a disappearing act by lunch time. "The best makeup artists layer lip products for greater depth of color and the bonus of longer wear. First apply lip pencil in a color that is similar to your lipstick. Lightly color in the whole mouth with the pencil and smudge with your finger," advises New York Makeup Artist Andrew Sotomayor. Try MAC's Cremestick Liner, which has a soft pigment that spreads and blends easily and a mechanical function so you never have to sharpen.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
The unsightly look of cold sores has embarrassed countless victims into hiding out at home - but there's a quick way to treat. "If you can get to your dermatologist, the best treatment is prescription
Valtrex, which shuts down a cold sore outbreak and helps it go away quickly," says New York Dermatologist Dr. David Bank. "If you don't have access to a derm, you can treat the sore topically over the counter with Abreva. Another alternative that my patients have found effective is dabbing Aquaphor to the sore," adds Bank. A trigger for outbreaks is the sun, so prevent another cold sore by wearing a lip balm like California Baby's SPF 30 Sunblock Stick daily.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
While most makeup tutorials instruct to line outside your natural lips to increase size, the easiest and most goof-proof strategy is to go with a lip plumping gloss. "Using gloss in place of lipstick can give the appearance of a fuller lip. If you choose lipstick, dab a small amount of gloss on the center of the bottom, which can also make lips appear fuller," advises Orange County, CA Makeup Artist
Michelle Villanueva. LipFusion's Infatuation stimulates natural proteins in your lips to visibly enlarge lips for a lusher look.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
Hate how you put on a pretty lip color only to have it settle into lines in your lips? Start by adding a cushion of lip balm between your lips and color so lines are filled with balm. Then opt for a light shade, as deeper hues call attention to lines. "Stay away from darker shades! Stick to a color that is one or two shades darker than your lip color," says Villanueva. Neutrogena's MoistureShine Lipsticks come in a variety of super natural colors, all made to add just a hint of color and lots of hydration.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
Angelina Jolie has made millions off her mega pucker, but if your large lips bother you, a clever little makeup trick can help you downsize. "Apply concealer along the edge of your lipline or use a flesh-toned pencil like Three Custom Color's Clarifier Pencil," says Sotomayor. Tinted lip balm is a great way to add sheer color without drawing spotlight attention to your lips.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
If you can't get out of a desert dry cycle, you most likely need to double up and treat day and night. By day, choose a lip treatment rich in essential oils and shea butter like Decléor's Nutri-Smoothing Lipstick. And before bedtime, take advantage of your body's overnight restorative abilities by smoothing on an exfoliating balm like Ling's Eye & Lip Exfoliator, which uses gentle Vitamin C to turn over cells faster while gently hydrating with hyaluronic acid.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
If your lips feel achingly dry after a day spent in the sun or at the beach, you could be nursing a lip burn without even realizing it. Prevent painfully burned lips by keeping a broad spectrum high SPF balm like Bath & Body Works' True Blue Spa Watch Your Mouth SPF 45 Lip Balm with you, and reapplying throughout the day - including over lip color if you must.
Lip Service: Solutions for Problematic Pouts
Lipstick that fades before liner can leave a not-so-cool ring around your lips. Ward off this makeup faux pas by using a lipliner like Lancôme's Le Lipstique - which is a lip pencil that comes with a brush on the end. "After applying lipliner, use the brush to smudge the pencil so color fades inward. Lipliner should be a similar shade to your lipstick or one shade darker," advises Sotomayor.
