De-Aging Tips for Your Lips!

If you're a guest of our spa, you may be familiar with our new De-Aging Gracefully program, a combination of treatment modalities and alternative therapies that are designed to help you look your best without medical intervention. For example, we have a new HydraFacial machine that performs microdermabrasion with water pressure, and infuses hydrating serums into the skin to provide instant firmness. And we have a sensational Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation program, commonly referred to as an Acupuncture Facelift. But today I'd like to talk about good old fashioned artifice!

One quick way to De-Age your makeup is to De-Age your lips. You can do this instantly when you rediscover lipliner, lipstick and the lip brush. Just as clothes are becoming a bit more constructed, so is makeup. We're not talking heavy--we're talking artful. And we're especially talking about the art of illusion.

Ladies, we've been awash in lip gloss and those forgiving little sponge applicators a bit too long. (Like roaming around the house in sweatpants for too long, after awhile you just feel a little sloppy.) One of the things that happens as we age is that the "ruby" (the pigmented portion) of the lip begins to fade. Another thing (yes, there's more) is that the fatty pads under the face shrink. For a moment, resist that overwhelming urge to pump your pouter full of Restylane and consider the power of the humble lip pencil.

STEP ONE: PRIMER
Many of us women-of-a-certain-age have what are politely called "whistle lines" around our lips. These lines attract lip color--the last thing in the world you want. This is called "feathering," and it's the quickest way to Re-Age your lips! We have a creamy, colorless product in a tube called "Lip Keep" that can be applied to the lips and the skin just outside the lipline. Let it dry, and you've got the perfect feather-prevention system. You may want to reapply it after eating a nice greasy hamburger (heaven forbid) but otherwise it will stay in place.

STEP TWO: LINER
If you've been wandering in the glossy wilderness, you may very well enjoy having a freshly sharpened lip pencil in your hand--it's a feeling of...control. Sketch, don't outline your mouth. By this I mean use a series of small, fine lines, feathered back into the body of the lip. We don't want to have ring-around-the-mouth when it wears off.

I'd recommend something close to your natural lip color--not surprisingly, we have a color called "Natural" that is extremely versatile. And my second choice is "Pink Glass", which is a very juicy warm pink, ideal with some of the clearer rosy shades. While we do have lovely, creamy, automatic lip pencils, for real artistry, nothing beats the old-fashioned, wood-encased version. Yes, they're harder, but they hold a point better.

(If you're wearing red, you're best off with a red lip liner. "Earth Red" is a rich, slightly warm red that works well on lots of different coloring.)

STEP THREE: LIP COLOR
I've rediscovered the joy of real lipstick lately. Why? It stays on, and it moisturizes better than gloss because of it. Want to find your most wearable, versatile lip color? Look at the inside of your lip. The hue you see there is your perfect color--simply a brighter, deeper version of what's on the outside. You'll be able to wear it with virtually anything. If you're lucky enough to live in Silicon Valley, drop into the spa or call us for a complimentary makeup consultation. Our artist will pick out a great shade for you.

You've got a real, Big Girl lipstick now. But wait, don't scribble away with that tanklike tube--for heavens sake, get out your nice sable retractable lip brush and use it to apply the color. While you're doing that, you're blending your lip liner in, as well. When you're done, flash a big smile in the mirror to check for gaps.

Blot very lightly with tissue. (If you want your lipstick to last forever, pull apart a two-ply tissue and apply loose powder to your lips through the thin single sheet lips with a brush. Reapply another layer of lipstick, repeat, and forget about it. And omit the last step, below)

If you're flashing back to the 80's with me right now, that's okay. Breathe through it! And notice how great your mouth looks. Firmer, fuller--dare we say it? Younger!

LAST STEP: Add a little gloss just in the center for highlight. It gives the effect of a moist, sensual mouth without making you feel like a Venus flytrap. A tiny touch of "Baby Lips" Lip Lacquer is very long lasting. This is also a great "going to the gym" lip color on its own.

De-Aging Etiquette: I was recently asked by a young client why her mother would never let her put on her lip color in public, but shooed her off to the restroom instead. Life is complicated! When you leave the innocent world of lip gloss behind, and graduate to the fine art of the lip brush, you'll need to use a mirror to touch up. And the official rule thumb for public preening: if you can do it without a mirror, you can do it in public. So if you must get out the heavy equipment, you'll have to head offstage! While you're at it, you could actually powder your nose...