Who doesn’t want super kissable lips? I don’t know about y’all, but in the winter months (and summer too!) my lips are just a disaster – they get dried out and crack so easily. I’ve never been one to take care of my lips (ha that sounds funny), but I’ve been doing little things to make an effort lately and it’s been making a difference for me! So I thought I’d share with y’all and dedicate a blog post to the topic! Regardless of which season we’re in, there are a few simple things that have really helped me heal my lips, and I wanted to share them with y’all.

Here are some easy steps on how to perfect your pout:

Hydrate

It goes without saying, but for good skin in general – and hey, lips are part of that – you need to stay hydrated! A lot of fine lines and wrinkles are caused from dehydration, so if you want supple, fuller looking lips, it all starts here. You’ve probably heard that you should drink at least half of your body weight in ounces each day. Sounds easy. Let’s be real though – drinking enough water, let alone tracking how much you’re drinking, can be a real struggle. Using a water bottle in a fun color keeps me motivated to keep refilling and drinking water throughout my day. I’d highly suggest giving that a try, or mixing it up with flavored sparkling water to keep yourself hydrated.

Exfoliate

To keep my lips in tip-top shape, I’ve found it important to exfoliate at least once a week. I make my own sugar scrub, by combining a tablespoon of sugar with a teaspoon of coconut oil (it’s super easy – promise!). For the days when I’m traveling or on the go I bring this one along. Then, I gently massage the sugar scrub onto my lips, and wipe clean with a damp washcloth. Or, if I’m in a rush, I sometimes use my toothbrush to gently remove dead skin and even out any rough patches.

Moisturize

For a perfect pout, you’ll want to ensure that you’re keeping your lips moisturized. When your lips get dry, your lipstick doesn’t go on evenly, and it doesn’t make for a very attractive look. To make sure I don’t forget to apply it, I keep lip balm in my purse, car, at my desk, and even on my nightstand. During the day, I always make sure to use lip balm with SPF in it!

Apply lipcolor

At this point, you should have a good base to work with – your lips are hydrated, exfoliated, and nice and moisturized. Depending on what event I’m attending, I like to switch between glosses and matte liquid lipsticks. Usually I’ll do glosses during the day for an effortless but still put together look, and mattes in the evening or out to dinner (they stay put much better). If you’re looking to give the illusion of fuller lips – because who isn’t these days (thanks Kylie) – try using lipliner and lining just right outside the top of your lip line. This takes some practice – you’ll want to make sure you’re not overlining too much, unless you’re going for a clown look lulz. After you’ve applied liner, fill in with a matching matte lipstick or gloss to finish.

Do y’all have any tips on how you perfect your pout?