How to Create the Perfect Pout

Your lips have the thinnest skin on your body, yet get the least amount of proper conditioning!  While it’s true that winter can take the heaviest toll on the skin and lips, air conditioning, wind, improper moisturizing and drying lip products can all help create flakey cracked lips any time of year.  Exfoliating and moisturizing, and using a conditioning lip color is the best way to create the perfect pout every time.

Here, makeup artist Amanda Gray gives us her tips to great lips.

1. Exfoliate: Exfoliating first helps get rid of all the dead skin flakes on the lip surface to help create a smooth, even surface for the moisturizing and color product to come. I start by first rubbing a little Honey and Almond Scrub onto the surface of the lips, then gently removing with a warm, wet face cloth. The honey acts as a humectant, helping to draw moisture into the lips, which the almond meal helps gently smooth the lip surface. 

2. Hydrate: Follow with an application of Essential Oil of Seaweed. This is great for providing extra hydration with Laminaria Saccharina Seaweed extract and Vitamin E. Take a dropper and apply just a few drops directly on the top of the upper lip and then massage it into the lips gently with your fingertips in a circular motion until the product is absorbed. I then take either a tissue or cosmetic sponge and lightly tap in the product to help with the absorption while removing the excess oil.

3. Even Skin Tone: To cancel out any color on your lips—pink tones, red tones, freckles or discoloration from the environment—I have a trick. I take Perfect Skin Liquid Foundation in Neutral PS4, (read here to find out how to select the right shade of foundation) and put a tiny dot on the back of my hand. Take a cosmetic sponge and pat it all over the lips. Just like the skin on your face, you want to even it out and conceal any discolorations so that they don’t show through the lip color.

4. Conditioning Color: Finally, apply a conditioning lip gloss that contains moisturizing ingredients such as replenishing Mafura Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Laminaria Saccharina Seaweed extract and Cocoa Seed Butter such as Repêchage Perfect Skin Conditioning Lip Gloss in Mantra. Mantra provides the perfect wash of color, not too much or too little to give your mouth a pop. I start at the center of my bottom lip and swipe across, then apply to the center of the top lip and wipe.

Rub it in by puckering lips and there you go!  Your lips are smooth, glossy and hydrated!

Have more questions about lips or makeup in general? Leave them for Amanda in the comments!