It doesn’t matter what lipstick you choose, if your lips are dry and cracked your pout will never look fabulous. “Lip balms and conditioners are fantastic for keeping lips soft, smooth and hydrated,” says Estée Lauder’s Audrey Lim.
“But it is also a great idea to invest in a lip scrub or even rub a soft dry toothbrush over the lips to exfoliate before applying your balm.”
The key to a smooth, luscious put is to exfoliate and condition. Then make your lips stand out with a vibrant coloured lipstick or gloss. If you’re a lipstick fan, Lim advises starting with a lipliner in the same shade as the lipstick and colouring the lips in completely.
“It gives a clean and polished look, redefines the lips and controls bleeding,” she says. “Colour in the lips completely before blotting and then apply the lipstick.”
Even if you’ve never tried it before, all of our experts agree a classic red lip is worth a go for special occasions or just when you want to glam up your everyday look.
“Reds are a colour a lot of women find scary but like any other colour, you need to wear it for about 10 minutes to adjust to the colour,” says Lim.
And there’s only one way to choose your perfect shade, according to Bobbi Brown’s Doreen Yon.
“Try it on! Your hand is not the same as your face,” she says.
“If you’re a first time red wearer, go for a glossy, sheer formula. A cool blue-based red is universally flattering for any skin tone, while adding brightness to your teeth. Warm orange-based reds generally work for quite fair or deeper skin tones.”
STAR PRODUCTS (Pictured below) Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Pure Color Lipstick, $50; Clinique Different Lipstick, $36; Kiehl’s Lip Gloss, $24; Elizabeth Arden Lip Definer, $35; Dior Serum de Rouge, $58; Aveda Nourish-Mint Rehydrating Lip Glaze, $34.95; Bobbi Brown Brightening Lip Gloss, $40.
