LIPS: Weapons of Mass Seduction!

Part 1 of 2

Feb is the month of love and I didn’t get a chance to blog about it, but it is never too late to talk about lovely kissable lips. Whether it’s for kissing a lover, a child, a family member, or a pet, we all want kissable lips! Dr. Oz Mehmet says “Kissing feels so good because your lips have some of the highest number of nerve endings in the body.” The problem is most of us have trouble finding the right shade of lipstick and even more trouble keeping it where we want it. Have you ever noticed that you feel better when you are wearing lip color? Have you ever been timid when hugging someone because you were afraid they'd end up wearing your lipstick on their clothing? Have you ever noticed how much time you spend during the day applying and re-applying your makeup? Have you ever spent time in front of the mirror quickly applying makeup just to spend one minute running into the post office or store? Have you ever seen an elderly woman with her lipstick surrounding her mouth and told yourself that you will never let that happen to you? Have you ever noticed that as you age your lips are becoming smaller and less plump and think that you would benefit from a lip color enhancement? Have you ever….wondered what it would be like not to worry about makeup?

Permanent makeup solves all those problems and more. No more “feathering” lip liner that draws attention to unattractive wrinkles around the mouth. We can do only lip liner to create a more defined look. It is good for correcting asymmetrical and faded lip borders. Lip liner can also be done with a shading technique by lightly coloring into the lip for a more natural look. Properly applied, permanent cosmetics look more natural than conventional makeup. Most people prefer full lip color that brings vibrancy to their face. Full lip color can give you the optical illusion of fuller looking lips without painful and temporary lip injections. Permanent lip color is the best way to have lip color that always stays in place. Permanent cosmetic lip procedures require a consultation to see if you are a candidate and may require you to take anti-viral herpes medicine before the procedure, if you’ve ever had a cold sore. My first suggestion is to schedule a complimentary consultation with a Certified Permanent Cosmetic Professional (CPCP) to discuss the treatment and find a flattering lip color that enhances your own natural lip color.

That’s not the end of the story, since I always say that permanent cosmetics can be the in between of no makeup and full (evening) makeup. What if you want to wear a new shade of lipstick? A frequently asked question is, “What if I get full lip color and want to change the color or shade?” My reply is simple, “just add lipstick.” If you want to change your lip shade for the day or for the night simply put lipstick over it. Most lipsticks act like a “cover stick”, so you can even put a lighter shade (opaque) over your darker permanent color. If you want to permanently change your permanent full lip color that may be possible as well, depending on the color and condition of your lips. You can play it safe with colors that are close to your natural lip color. If you want to add more color then go for it with a bold color of the season! Red is hot for spring and is all over the fashion magazines. It is a classic color that is making a big comeback on the red carpets. To get your high fashion glamour look select a shade of red that compliments your skin tone. To find a lip shade that matches your skin tone you will want to follow some basic rules. Are you warm or cool? When it comes to personality we like to think we are both warm and cool, but all complexions are one of two skin tones: warm or cool. Fair skin tends to be cool with pink and blue skin undertones. Medium, olive and darker skin complexions tend to be warm with a golden skin undertone. Remember this is just a generalization and everyone has unique skin undertones. If your skin is cool then lip colors that are pink and blue based look the best. Warm skin tones look best in warm and deeper colors. Natural hair color can be another indicator of skin tone. As a rule the lighter the hair the lighter the lipstick shade, meaning the cooler the color should be. It doesn’t mean that blondes can’t wear red lip color or that dark skinned ladies can’t wear pastel lip color. This is just a general guideline. You can find red that is (cool) blue based or (warm) orange based. To test colors apply lipstick to the inside pads of your fingers (as if you were finger painting) and hold the shaded fingers near your lip as you look in the mirror to see which color looks best. You can also use different lipstick colors directly on your bottom lip by applying them in sections to see the colors with your skin tone. You can do this at the makeup counter or with lipstick you already own. If red is too daring than try another spicy color that is popular for spring like coral. Coral is a universally flattering lip color, but again like all colors shades of coral can be more on the pink “cool” side or more “warm” with an orange base. Coral also has been reported to make your teeth look whiter. Another product that makes your teeth look whiter is blue lip gloss. I love the blue satin lip shine called “transcendent” by Being True. It contains “an infusion of peppermint oil, caffeine and exotic antioxidants to accentuate the natural fullness of lips and hydrate while helping to decrease fine lines.” Lips look fuller and sexier with a little shine, plus this formula adds freshness to the glistening. https://www.beingtrue.com This is not the viscous, glutinous gloss of the last decade with the super sticky mess that got caught in your hair. This is a gloss that we’re all meant to use.

Stay tuned for part 2.