Lip Balm

This week’s article is a little shorter and sweeter than the others, but it is important nevertheless. Last time I spoke about lip glosses but I feel like I needed to mention the all-important product to use on those magnificent pouty facial features… lip balm!

Lip balm comes in varieties of a gloss form, squeezy tube or the most common – the pot! Lip balms are designed to keep the lips smoother and crack-free with products ranging from gloss-balm hybrids to emollient lip balms.

I would always steer everyone to use the natural lip balms (made from natural ingredients or mostly natural ingredients) simply because of its purpose, it’s meant to be a care product to the lips and not a heavy-shine, glittery product. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with those hybrids but if you want to care for your lips then make sure you use a product that’s going to nourish them and keep them hydrated rather than strip them of their goodness.

When applying products to your lips you usually have the option of an applicator or your fingers. Both are going to an area of the face that will be higher in bacteria so make sure you have clean hands and keep an eye on the applicator – if it’s a stick applicator it might contaminate the rest of the product so try to apply as hygienically as possible!

If you suffer with painful cracked lips then avoid lip gloss-balms if you can as these will just make the issue worse. Try to keep to using natural lip care products.

If you have flakey lips then please exfoliate them. You can do this lightly with a toothbrush and make sure to apply balm afterwards to protect the top layer and almost mattifying the skin.

The weather can affect your lips greatly so pay attention to the changes and you may solve any issues you might have or are having. Also lack of nutrients or fluid in your system can cause the white line around the lips so take care of yourselves and keep those smackers nice, smooth and fresh.

They are a product that I really do need to use more of. I tend to use them a lot for a few days/weeks and then forget about it! However I don’t get insanely cracked, painful lips but I do get that annoying white line on the inner part of my lips (usually a sign of dehydration, so perhaps it’s drinking more water for me!)

Images reproduced from askafashionmodel.com, skintasticbeauty.co.uk and fabulousonabudget.com

Lip Primers

Gwen Stefani and her coveted red lipstick

This week I will be looking at lip primers which do the same as face and eye primers. They are designed to keep colour on for longer and making colours a little more vivid. I will also go into how to make your lips appear bigger and enhance their natural shape.

To enhance the natural shape of your lips there are a few easy techniques to follow before you make a knee-jerk reaction to get botox or fillers.

Lip primers either come in liquid form or solid like a lipstick. They really need to be moisturising for the lips which is why those kinds are more successful and popular with lip primers. Application is applying a small amount to the lips and making sure it has been fully blended out, sometimes lip primers are a nude colour and the application on the lips can give a pale effect, it’s just creating a base for the colour, most are colourless on application – but is for your information. A primer would go on just before you put lip liner & lipstick/gloss on. There are a variety of things you can do to enhance your lips just before you apply the primer.

Different Lip Primers on the market

Lip plumpers can be fabulous but I feel if you were to apply everyday you would build a natural tolerance to the sensation on the lips they give, which could make you think that it’s not working as well anymore, so for best results try not to apply it daily and stick to it being between special occasions or just use it now and again. Mint is a common ingredient in plumpers giving them a minty scent. Lip plumpers get the blood ‘rushing’ to the lips which gives off that pouty plump look. The texture of lip plumpers is often a thick liquid consistency.

Lip Plumper

Another tip to help smooth out the lips and prepare them for a lip plumper would be exfoliating. Please consider if you do this daily it may cause dry, cracked lips. Exfoliate when needed as this will get rid of the dead skin cells and the exfoliating beads will improve blood circulation to the lips, creating a slight plumping effect itself.

Lip Scrub by Sara Happ

Highlighting is a great effect that will make a difference. Applying and blending concealer out around the lip-line brings out the lips and gives an illusion of making them bigger. It’s a small and very easy tip, remember to line your lips with a lip-liner if you can as a little extra make-up around the lips might make your choice of lipstick bleed. Another tip – using white eyeliner does not work in this case, I have tried and it is not cute that’s for sure!

Lip liner is a product for delicate hands. What colour you use is up to you, keep it on the lip line especially after highlighting around the lips as this will create a very defined look and enhance the natural shape of your lips. Feathering the colour into the lip from the line will help blend the colour of your lipstick and have a more seamless effect. If you’re using similar lip colours, I wouldn’t advise you to do that for dark brown lip liner and a pale lipstick.

Blistex

Matte lip colours do look beautiful in red but they can sometimes make you look dehyrated or have a chalky appearance. Adding a tiny bit of a natural lip balm can blend the lip colour where it’s needed to stop the chalky look. Glosses made from natural ingredients or SPF like Blistex are the best choice because of their qualities. Sometimes gloss is used as another layer of colour and that can really make the lipstick come off after a short period of time. Lipcote, and other products like it, do a good job of keeping lip colour on for longer but it makes the colour bleed very easily so try to use minimal amounts.

Glitter glosses can enhance the appearance of cracks in the lips and they are a hard one to pull off at the best of times. For best results, use these glosses on smooth, plump lips. If you have dry or mature skinned lips, place a lip plumper on before using glitter glosses. Primers do have a tendency to help moisturising lipsticks last longer.

Images reproduced from fashionstylebeauty.com, strictlyesthetics.ca, jaleesajaikaran.com, bellasugar.com, makeupconnection.com, product.madeinchina.com, lipexfoliator.net and eyecandybeauty.blogspot.co.uk

Fall in Love with Lancôme – Rouge in Love

Rouge in Love – An instant must-have, an irresistible ‘pret a pouter’ lipstick

‘Rouge in Love was probably the product I was most excited about when I came on board to work with Lancôme because I think it’s one of the youngest products that Lancôme has created. I love all the shades: there are 24 different colours of this lipstick, which I thought was amazing. I’ve only just recently started wearing lipstick, so it’s very nice that this is coming out just at this moment, it’s the perfect timing.

I chose the colour that I wore in the shoots, and it’s my favourite colour, Rouge In Love 159B, which is a really bright red. It’s great because it’s a new take on a classic red which I absolutely love. There is a pigment in it which makes it really bright, so it really stands out. This is why it was the one I chose for the ad campaign, and it was definitely my favourite.’

– Emma Watson, Lancôme Ambassadress and face of Rouge In Love

The Product

As comforting as a balm, as colourful as a lipstick, Rouge in Love achieves the perfect balance. Radiant shades in an ultra light texture. Endless tailor made looks.

The texture melts on application, leaving an essential concentrate of colour on the lips. At the heart of Rouge in Love lies an exclusive ‘colour catching’ formula that forms a fine film on the surface of the lips on which pigments and satiny agents are captured. With stunning colour, enduring hydration for up to 6 hours and with striking shine, lips feel smooth and soft thanks to the nourishing and repairing oils.

A wardrobe for the lips, Rouge in Love is available in 24 captivating shades. Inspired by three different moments during the day of a modern, stylish woman, the range is divided into three categories:-

JOLIS MATINS
Light, sheer shades for an ultra-simple, bee stung effect. Easy to wear colours, pure, fresh and natural shades with a hint of tone on tone particles.

BOUDOIR TIME
Punchy shades, electrified by contrasting silvery and white pearl particles, for the ultimate sophisticated lip look.

TONIGHT IS MY NIGHT
Seductive and magnetic shades are infused with golden pearl particles, for vibrant colour and intense shine.

Strikingly packaged, it nestles perfectly in the palm of the hand. Like a love note written in lipstick, the case features a mirror inscribed with Rouge in Love. Inspired by the intricate weave of couture stockings, the back of the case is marked with red top stitching. More than just a lipstick it is a true fashion accessory.

IN LOVE WITH EMMA WATSON

"Lancôme", "Mario Testino", "Emma Watson", "Rouge in Love"

It was perfectly natural that, after lending her charm to Tresor Midnight Rose, Emma Watson would become the ambassadress of Rouge in Love, not only becoming the face of the collection but also working closely with Lancôme on the shade range.

Emma has chosen her favourite shades from each colour universe. A beautiful morning with ‘Corail in Love’, a ‘Rose Boudoir’ afternoon spent with friends and an evening full of promise thanks to ‘Rose Sulfureuse’.

For those who long for gorgeous, kissable lips, Rouge in Love is destined to become a coveted item! Lips will shine like never before.

Rouge in Love is available nationwide at Lancôme beauty counters from 1st April 2012 priced at £21.