Your lips play a big role in determining your overall attractiveness. Having dry, dull lips can be unsightly and off-putting to those around you.
However, it’s easy to get the healthy and vibrant lips you’ve been dreaming of if you know a few tricks. Here are ten simple steps to rosy pink lips:
1. Keep lips moisturized
The first step towards getting naturally pink lips is to use moisturizing lip balm. It’s best to apply a liberal coating at least twice a day.
It’s especially beneficial to put on a thick layer before bed. Your lips will soak up the added moisture while you sleep and you’ll awaken to a rosier color in the morning!
2. Avoid too much sun exposure
You probably know that too much sun can be bad for the skin on your face and body. However, you may not know that those rays can damage your lips as well.
Try to limit your sun exposure as much as possible. If you must be out in direct sunlight, at least use a lip balm with a high SPF count.
3. Lay off the caffeine
Caffeinated drinks can be detrimental to your health in general, but they can particularly affect your lips. Caffeinated beverages like coffee, soda and tea are often dark in color.
Sipping them too much can lead to dark lips and may wear away at your lips’ natural protective layering. If you aren’t willing to give up your daily latte or cappuccino, consider opting for a smaller size and drinking it right down rather than nursing it all morning.
4. Stay hydrated
While you should steer clear of caffeinated drinks, that doesn’t mean you should avoid drinking plenty of water. Staying hydrated is a great way to achieve rose-colored lips.
Just like the rest of your skin, your lips will appear brighter and healthier when they’re given an adequate amount of H2O. So drink up and you will have those pinker lips you’ve been hoping for.
5. Use a lip scrub
Exfoliating is another terrific tactic to attain pink lips. There are several good products available at your favorite cosmetic store. However, you can also make your own homemade scrub by blending equal parts of sugar, water and honey until a paste forms.
Rub the mixture onto your lips with your finger or a lip brush before rinsing it thoroughly. The exfoliation will repair damaged lips and stimulate the growth of new skin, which means your lips will look rosier.
More: 10 Beauty Boosts That Take 5 Minutes or Less
6. Avoid high-pigment lipsticks
If you typically use somewhat darker shades of lipstick like burgundy, fuchsia or maroon, you may be darkening your lips without even realizing it. Many of those darker shades contain higher levels of pigment.
That pigment can be absorbed into your lips and leave them looking drab. Stick with lighter tones of lipstick to highlight your natural rosiness.
7. Remove lipstick before bed
You should always take off any heavy lipstick or lip liner before you hit the sack. Be sure to remove any traces of lip makeup by rubbing on a little petroleum jelly and letting it sit for a few minutes.
Then, you can wipe off the jelly with a cotton ball and any remaining lipstick will smear off with it. By taking away all the lip makeup you’ve worn throughout the day, you’ll allow your lips to “breathe” and reduce the chance of absorbing the aforementioned pigment.
8. Suck on some citrus
Citrus fruits like limes, lemons and oranges all contain acidic properties that can rejuvenate lips and make them appear rosier. By sucking on one of these fruits, you’ll coat your lips with the juice and reap all the healthy benefits. In other words, puckering up with citrus can lead to puckering up pinker lips!
More: 10 DIY Skin Care Remedies
9. Cut down your sodium intake
Consuming too much salt can leave your lips dull, cracked and dry. Cutting down on your sodium intake can help combat that dryness.
Skip the salt shaker and try to avoid eating too many sodium-laden processed foods. Your lips will benefit greatly from the dietary changes.
10. Smack your lips
Sometimes you don’t want to wait for moisturizing lip balms or scrubs to work. For example, you might want your lips to have a rosy glow for a driver’s license picture or a selfie while you’re on vacation.
In those cases, pursing and smacking your lips together a few times will stimulate blood flow and momentarily give them a pinker tone. It’s a temporary fix, but at least you’ll have the rosiest lips in all the family photo albums!
Every woman would love to have lips that look vivid and nourished. By using the steps on this list, you can get the rosy pink lips you’ve always wanted. Give all these tips a try to sock that dullness right in the kisser!1