Luscious Lips: 5 Tips and Tricks for a Pretty Pucker

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Is there anything more intriguing than a set of soft, full, beautiful lips? Ask any man around and the answer is sure to be "absolutely not." Given our reputation for having some of the best lips on Earth, it's only fair that we crack open the vault and share a few of our secrets to perfect puckers. From do-it-yourself treatments to top-of-the-line professional remedies, here are a few of our favorite ways to keep your lips kissable.

STEP 1: Condition. The first step to amazing lips is the preparation. Using a mild scrub will keep your lips feeling soft and ready for whatever the next step in your regime may be. Try Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant, $18, smashbox.com.

This sweet conditioner is great for dry winter lips. The sugar-based product also contains poppy seeds, providing the perfect combination of exfoliation for the lips. The addition of grape-seed extract and jojoba take the moisture level a step further. Apply this product on your lips while they are clean and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Like a daily deep conditioner for your lips, this scrub will not disappoint.

Prefer a do-it-yourself fix? Check out BV on Beauty's Kissable Lips recipe.

STEP 2: Hydrate and protect. The next best thing you can do after scrubbing your lips is to treat them with moisture. Leaving the house with freshly exfoliated lips and no protection will do nothing but make them dry and flaky. This is one of the most important parts of lip care.

Hydrating can be done as many times a day as you please without the risk of additional harm. The addition of sun and wind protection will keep your lips looking and feeling good without any extra steps. We like Matte for Men Hydrating Protective Citrus Lip Care, $6.50, sephora.com)

Yes, it's a product for men, but it works well for women, too. This lip balm has a finish familiar to your everyday chapstick, but with a number of added benefits. With a mixture of vitamin E, beeswax, cocoa butter and shea butter, the SPF 15 in this cure will keep your lips protected. This won't provide any shine or fruity taste, but the feeling is unparalleled. Keep it in your bag at all times!


STEP 3: Add a little color. After your lips are looking silky and smooth, the natural follow-up is the color. Shades of pink done in moderation look beautiful on darker skin. For daytime subtlety, use a tinted balm with a hydrating feature, like Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm, $30, sephora.com). While a tad on the pricey side, this two-in-one treatment is definitely worth it and is great for the woman on the run.

STEP 4: Make 'em shine. Going out for date night? Want to catch the eye of the man at the bar on girls' night out? Put some gloss on those smackers! Nothing makes you more irresistible than a shiny set of lips. Keeping your kissers glossy is guaranteed to have the guys at your side all night long. Murad Energizing Pomegranate Lip Protector ($17, murad.com) is a yummy lip treatment that has a scent that makes you want to kiss yourself, and it keeps your lips looking flawless at all times. The slightly-pink hue of this gloss is great for work, the grocery store or date night. The best part of it is that it works for any skin tone.

STEP 5: Scrub the day off. After a long day of strutting your stuff around town, there's nothing your lips need more than to relax, especially if you wear rich lipsticks, which can make your lips cracked and flaky by the end of the night. Your body is the most relaxed during sleep, and therefore most susceptible to most treatments. The best and most inexpensive way to treat your lips at bedtime is with one simple household item: an extra-soft toothbrush. Lightly brush balm-free lips at night or in the morning to remove dead skin and keep them soft. A nighttime moisturizer, like Sally Hansen Overnight Lip Recovery ($10.49, walgreens.com), will repair any daytime damage and keep lips moisturizes even after your pillow wipes most of it off.

What are your soft-lip secrets?

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