Looking for a hot lip plumping gloss? LipTrix, developed by the Shirley of Hollywood lingerie line (shirleyofhollywood.com) may be the best one out there. Containing a patented Max-Lip ingredient, it boosts collagen protein in your lips, which increases volume and helps create that desired voluptuous bee-stung look. It's also packed with vitamin E, which contributes to kissable shine. Available in five shades, it works either as a sheer glossy color or as a gloss to wear over your favorite lipstick. You can purchase them at www.pamperedpassions.com.
Our favorite lipstick would probably be the aptly named The Lipstick by ultra-luxurious Kanebo. The Japanese Kanebo line operates under a very supple philosophy: that of hojun -- meaning "richness" and "full sensation" -- by layering luscious colors with superb skincare benefits. This product contains 24K gold particles reduced to microscopic colloids and injected into silk powder granules, giving the lipstick an unparalled luminous feel. Pure glow oil and apricot pulp contribute to the gloss and shine, and the sake extract is said to help regenerate skin cells in your lips. With such regenerative properties and shades like Ginza Red and Rannaculous growing increasingly popular among celebs like Amanda Peet and Marcia Cross, the product is flying off the shelves at Saks, Bergdoff and Barneys.
Another lipstick we are still raving about (and wearing) is Piaffe Beauty's Perfect Lip Color. Piaffe is a vitamin and mineral company, and their lipsticks, glosses and liners work together to help create the ideal kissable pout. They're available at piaffe.us as well as both the Bliss catalog and Henri Bendel. Their lipsticks come in seven feather- and crease-resistant colors, and have remarkable staying power. On my personal test drive, the lipstick stayed shiny and unmarred after two lychee martinis. That's the kind of thing that will keep this product a permanent fixture in my own purse.
Soft, smooth lips
Always remember, the moisture factor of your lips is as important as what you wear on them. "Lips should look inviting and kissable, so after taking good care of them by making sure there is no dead skin on them, and regularly maintaining them with vitamin E or balm, make sure they look polished and soft," suggests April Masini of askapril.com and the best-selling author of Think & Date Like a Man and Date Out of Your League. She advises using soft, sheerer hues to enhance your kisser. "Strong colors will just emphasize their thinness... Never use lip liner outside the natural lip line to try and fake bigger lips. You'll just end up looking like a clown."
As the weather grows windy and cold, chapped or dry lips can be a major stumbling block. Miss Oops Pucker Protection is a great dual lip balm/lip gloss, containing moisturizing petroleum, sunscreen and salicylic acid. These components will keep your smackers supple while its minty scent leaves your smelling as beautiful as you look. Available at missoops.com.
If your lips need a little extra help though, you may want to try Crabtree & Evelyn's Remedy lip products (crabtree-evelyn.com). Their Exfoliating Lip Smoother uses fruit extracts to replace older cells with newer, younger ones and Jojoba beads to rid you of flaky skin. (Rough lips are just not sexy, no matter what shade you put on them.) Their Lip Conditioner product contains SPF 15, and the line's Overnight Lip Repair is great for especially sensitive skin.
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Dark Chocolate & Peppermint Lip Butter is brand-new and decadent as well, and leaves an irresistibly sexy sheen while providing ultimate moisture. Tools such as these can go a long way in keeping your lips their most alluring. And if you like the peppermint pout, Burt's Bees (burtsbees.com) makes some fabulous slim lip shimmers. They offer a range of deep reds, but one of our favorites is the Champagne color, which adds a light semi-sheer shine that works well on bare lips or over a lip stain.
Pout-perfection can indeed be achieved naturally with the right gear. In February, Bare Escentuals will launch their new Buxom Lips Big & Healthy Lip Polish, a plumping lip gloss designed to create the ultimate curvaceous, yet, healthy appearance. Infused with Vitamin A and E, lips remain soft and protected but will over time become fuller, due to the product's all-natural collagen-boosting ceramide that repairs damaged lip tissue and stimulates production of new collagen. This gloss is available in four shades, and will be available at Bare Escentuals boutiques and bareescentuals.com.
We also loved Therapy Systems' lip plumper, Lip Plumper Clear You're So Transparent (therapysystems.com), which contains niacin and a water-soluble B vitamin -- plumping lips with a tingling rather than burning sensation -- as well as Napoleon Perdis's Love Bite Lip Plump, which instantly created noticeable volume on my lips. Love bites are traditionally seen as visible marks of passion, a notion that inspired this product, which contains capsicum pepper and cinnamon, which help stimulate and swell as menthol and jojoba smoothes. Available exclusively at napoleonperdis.com and Saks stores.
A girl on the go may appreciate SexySmile, invented by celebrity cosmetic dentist Dr Pia Lieb. This purse-sized double-ended teeth whitener, breath freshener and choice of lip gloss or lip balm is a must-have if you are one of those girls drinking coffee at your desk all day and red wine at the lounge all night. (Not that I would know of such things...) Available in Henri Bendel and select Victoria's Secret stores.
Love the luscious lip look?
So, what is the best protocol, from start to finish, for getting those plump lips? Celebrity make-up artist Belinda Moss has worked with some of the most luscious lips in Hollywood, including those owned by Eva Longoria, Beyonce Knowles, Scarlett Johansson and Angela Bassett.
For those of us aspiring to have red-carpet-ready lips, Moss offers the following tips:
Exfoliate lips regularly: This can be achieved by gently rubbing a damp washcloth or even the damp bristles of a toothbrush across the lips each day.
Apply concealer: A little concealer on the outside edge of your lips will prevent color from "feathering" or "bleeding."
Lightly powder: Dust powder across the whole mouth to set the concealer.
Line, but don't outline: Apply a nude lip liner to the entire lip, not just the edges. NEVER outline the lips with a liner that's darker than the lipstick you plan to apply.
Seal the deal: To seal the lip liner, apply two coats of Softlips Lip Conditioning Balm, which will also condition lips and protect from sun damage (with SPF 20). It softens the lips without making them waxy or greasy.
Bring on the color: Apply your favorite lipstick or lip gloss. For maximum precision with lipstick, use a lip brush to apply neatly and evenly. Your lips should look fresh for hours!
There's always the option of going the medical route. Celebrity plastic surgeon Dr Robert Guida believes that Juvaderm 30 HV is the future of plump lips. Juvaderm 30 HV is a crystal clear, biodegradable gel that's similar to Restylane but is less expensive and longer lasting. Once the gel has been injected, the area can be "molded", giving it a natural look, with results that last up to a year. Still, at around $500 a treatment, it may be cheaper and easier to go the product and homemade way.
Whether you engage the plumper, use a shiny gloss or a glossy lipstick -- or all of the above -- have fun with it! Although ingredients and colors are important, it's all just part of a sexy and confident complete package.
