Do you need a mistletoe makeover?
WHILE many of us lavish time and money on skincare, there is a part of the face that is often overlooked – the lips.Apart from the odd dab of lip balm, this delicate area is usually ignored.
However not only are the lips affected by winter weather, they are also one of the first areas to show signs of ageing.
But thanks to a new wave of cutting-edge products and treatments, there have never been more ways to pamper your pout.
You have… WRINKLES
Lips lack oil glands, so can become very dry. Continuous muscle movement means lines can also form on the lips, making lipstick look cracked and cakey when applied.
At the clinic: For crepey skin on the lips, try new hydrating injectable Restylane Vital Light, which will fill out fine lines for a smoother look. Results are instant and last up to six months. Expect to pay from £200.
Best buy: Reduce lip lines with a peptide cream.This will stimulate the production of collagen, an essential ingredient for a plumper pout. Use your eye cream over lips or try Verso Lip Serum, £55 (spacenk.com), which tackles fine lines and creates the ideal base for lipstick.
Excessive sun exposure, genetics and smoking can create lines. Talking, chewing gum, eating and even drinking through a straw can worsen them.
At the clinic: SmartXide Laser creates micro-wounds in the skin.As these heal, it stimulates the skin to repair itself and become stronger. SPF must be worn every day after treatment to prevent pigmentation marks. Results last up to three years. Expect to pay from £750.
Best buy: A lip primer is the best way to stop lipstick bleeding and feathering.Try Elf
Lock On Lip
Primer, £5 (elfcosmetics.co.uk).
A nightly retinol
product can help too, boosting collagen and thickening skin.Try Pixi Retinol Eye Cream, £22 (boots.com).
You have… CHAPPED LIPS
Many people suffer from chapped lips, especially during winter. Licking dry lips only makes them worse and some chemicals in toiletries, such as toothpaste, can aggravate.
At the clinic: An hyaluronic acid-based lip smoothing injectable can be mixed with a serum made of your own blood plasma to help soothe and heal cracked lips. Costs from £750.
Best buy: Quantum Botanika by Nataliya Robinson The Lip Cure,
£38 (nataliyarobinson.co.uk) is a new luxurious balm that softens and plumps the lips naturally and contains gold powder for a lustrous finish. Beeswax and lanolin promote healing and moisturise lips.
You have… PALE LIPS
Lips can lack colour because they contain little to no melanin, the pigment that contributes to skin colour. Hormones and ageing cause lips to become paler as we grow older.
At the clinic: Lip blushing is a semi-permanent make-up, which deepens the colour of your pout for a fuller, healthier look. It’s like wearing a light slick of lipstick which never washes off.The process involves shading the entire lip area using colour customised to match your natural lip colour. Results last up to two years. Expect to pay from £450.
Best buy: Boost your colour with a long-lasting lipstick such as KatVon D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, £17 (debenhams.com).
You have… LACK OF DEFINITION
As we get older, lip edges
become less shapely. Collagen and elastin break down over time, meaning less definition. At the clinic: Lip Restorer uses hyaluronic acid injectable Teosyal Kiss, which is placed around the border of the lips to re-define and smooth.
Results are instant and last up to nine months. Expect to pay from £450.
Best buy: Lip liner is a simple but effective way to restore definition and outline. Use a neutral pencil to softly draw round the outer corners of the lips.Try NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner, £4 (boots.com).
The problem... LACK OF VOLUME
After your 40s, collagen and elastin, which gives lips their fullness, breaks down and leaves lips deflated.
At the clinic: Plump lips temporarily with The Cinderella treatment, during which a dental block is given before saline is injected into the lip line to boost your pout.
Results last four days, expect to pay from £100.
Best buy: Lip plumpers and glosses can help create temporary fullness.
Try Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme, £22 (boots.com) for surgical results without the needle.
● For advice on cosmetic surgery, consult your GP. For more of Lesley’s tips, visit lesleyreynolds.com