Are Your Lips Kissable?

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. One of the areas of the skin that is often neglected is our lips. Are yours ready for their close-up?

 Winter and your lips

Age, dehydration, forced air heating, harsh winds and cold temperatures take a toll on your lips, making them, well, less kissable. The skin on the lips is different than skin on the rest of your body; it’s thinner and has no oil glands.

Because of this, your lips are less protected than other parts of the body. They are also exposed to the elements all the time. No wonder they become rough and chapped, don’t hold lipstick colour and may become painfully dry. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, spending time on the ski hills, cross country trails and the skating rink, your lips may also become sunburned, even in the winter.

 Lip Tips

Love your lips and they will respond quickly by following these steps:

1.    Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – at least eight cups a day. Your lips and the rest of your body depend on H2O to stay healthy.

2.    Don’t lick your lips. This habit damages the protective barrier and will dry out your lips.

3.    Always use a hydrating balm containing shea butter, vitamin E, coconut or almond oil.

4.    Humidify – especially in Calgary’s cold winters.

5.    Exfoliate when required. There are special lip exfoliators on the market to slough off dead skin.

 Plump up

To really make your lips look outstanding, consider a derma filler to pump up the pout factor. Sometimes Mother Nature needs a little help.

 And then, pucker up!

Lip Enhancement

Who doesn’t want luscious full lips? Some of us are born with them, while others are not so blessed. As we age, our lips may also lose volume, becoming thinner,or we may develop fine lines and wrinkles on and around our lips.

If you’ve been following a good skin care regime and also refreshing your complexion with skin rejuvenation procedures, your lips may detract from the rest of your appearance.

What can be done?

Lip enhancement or lip augmentation using Juvederm or Restylane give you defined and shapely lips. If you’ve been wanting fuller, plumper lips, these dermal skin fillers use a substance that is created naturally within our bodies—hyaluronic acid.

How it works

Hyaluronic acid regulates and maintains cell growth. Like collagen, the amount or level of this acid in the body diminishes as we age – this is why we lose volume under the eyes, in the cheeks and around the mouth.

Restylane and Juvéderm work like sponges once injected into the skin, swelling up with water to create a plumper look.

Over the next three to 12 months, the acid is absorbed by the body and disappears. It’s also less likely to cause a reaction because it’s produced within the body, so it’s not considered a foreign substance.

What to expect

Juvederm and Restylane injections provide immediate results. Typically, there are no significant side effects because the injections mimic the acid already produced in the body.

Having an experienced injector is what makes all the difference. We’ve all seen media photographs of people who have had bad experiences and results such as too big lips, which are sometimes referred to as ‘duck lips’.

A skilled nurse or doctor is the answer to getting what you’ve always wanted—natural looking, plump lips.

Great Lips Forever

There are many different venues for you to get your fullest, brightest, and healthiest lips ever. Restylane and Juvederm are safe and successful treatments to consider if you’re interested in improving the size or shape of your lips.  Treatments are a great way to effectively improve your lips, especially paired with every day care. Here are tips to keeping your lips looking their best each day: whether it’s summer, winter, this year, or in twenty years.

Use Sunscreen

This is a tried and true rule for keeping your skin healthy that will be repeated ad-nauseam. Remember: collagen is broken down by harmful UV rays–and a medical grade sunscreen–especially one designed to lock-in moisture in your lips—is your best defense against losing collagen and volume in your lips.

Take Cover

Winter is coming up—unfortunately. Try to protect your lips with a scarf from the drying effects of wind; you’ll be glad you did come spring.

Drink Up

Keep hydrated with your eight glasses a day to stop your skin from drying out. Dehydration shows in the lips, with cracking from the tension of being dried out. Water is one of the easiest and best ways to keep your skin at its healthiest, and your body needs it to keep producing healthy cells that give your lips their bright, voluminous, and healthy structure.

Look for Vitamins

What you eat produces dramatic effects, and your lips rely on a vitamin rich diet to be at their healthiest. Look for Vitamins B and E in your food and drink to improve lip health.

Professional Consultation

Professionals can help you assess what exactly it is that you are looking for from your lips: whether it’s reshaping, volume, or overall improved health.  Search out what’s right for you by learning about medical grade lip plumpers, sunscreens and effective treatments such as Restylane and Juvederm.