How to keep that gorgeous smile when you are on the wrong side of 35

It’s no secret that fuller lips make you look younger. Of course the celebrities all go for that “trout pout” which they achieve through fillers and which in no way appeals to me. You want to look pouty without looking trouty, if you know what I mean!?

Here’s how to keep that gorgeous smile when you are on the wrong side of 35!

It’s no secret that fuller lips make you look younger. Of course the celebrities all go for that “trout pout” which they achieve through fillers and which in no way appeals to me. You want to look pouty without looking trouty, if you know what I mean!?

Here are some tips to keep lips looking young and full and your smiles looking beautiful:
1. Make sure you opt for glossy rather than matte lip formulas. Gloss is your friend as you age, as gloss naturally plumps up your lips and some formulas actually contain a lip plumping ingredient.

2. Yellowing teeth age your mouth. Fact. Opt for lipstick with blue undertones if your teeth are slightly yellow to enhance the whiteness and try using whitening tooth pastes. Do not opt to do a home whitening procedure as these often harm your tooth enamel and you end up doing more harm than good. If you are concerned about the yellowing, rather get whitening done by a dental practitioner who knows what they are doing. Limit tea and coffee and cut out smoking, which all contribute to tooth discolouration.

3. Choose the right lip shade for you. Lighter colours do make your lips look fuller, but if you go too light, you may also end up looking washed out. Experts say to opt for a shade a couple of shades darker than your own lips, but don’t be afraid to go bold. You can still look amazing in the right colour red, especially if you wear glasses! Ladies who wear glasses can look fabulous in bright shades.

4. If your lips need help in the pout department, here are some tips to make them look fuller: outline just above the bow of your upper lip with a nude liner and just below the thickest part of your bottom lip and blend. You can then fill in the rest of your lips with the liner or a lipstick and slick on some gloss. Please never, ever outline outside the entire lip area with lip liner in an attempt to make them look fuller. HUGE make up faux pas! Another tip is to take a white eyeliner and apply a little line just above the bow of your upper lip and just under the thickest part of your lower lip and blend. Then add lipstick and gloss as usual.

5. Always keep your lips in tip-top condition. You needn’t buy expensive exfoliators and lip balms. What works best for me is exfoliating with a warm face cloth and then applying petroleum jelly or coconut oil every night before bedtime.

So those are some of my tips for keeping your lips looking kissable. What tips do you ladies have?

Written by Maryanne Young.