. Mirror Mantra

My lovely lips frame my bright smile.

Mirror Mantra

Today I am going to rock this world. I look great as I am right now!

 

Kimberlee, 16, Lakeland, FL

 

Bamboozled by color choices? Start with rose lipstick; it complements every skin tone. Redheads look great in warm rose, fair ladies shine in cool pink rose, medium/olive complexions win with true rose, and darker complexions beam with deeper rose.

 

. Mirror Mantra

Banish lipstick traces from your teeth forever. After application, stick your pointer finger into your mouth and close it. Slide your finger out, and off comes the excess that would otherwise wind up on your teeth.

 

. Mirror Mantra. Mirror Mantra

Remember playing dress-up and digging in mom’s makeup drawer? Chances are your little hands first grabbed for those shiny tubes of big-girl crayons in pretty pinks, reds, and corals. I say let’s keep that spirit of play in play. Lipstick remains a great way to dress up the face with a simple flick of the wrist.

Lipstick has recently made a comeback, with a host of rich and moisturizing new formulas that are free from old-school heaviness. Matte, shimmer, pearl, satin—there is definitely a texture and finish out there for you. And, my goodness, what a rainbow of hues. Step out of your color rut, ladies! Today’s sheer lipsticks are wonderfully translucent and an ideal choice for experimenting with trendy new shades.

Whether you apply straight from the tube, use a lip brush for precision, or tap the color on your finger, lipstick will showcase your smile like nothing else. There are even lip colors now that make your teeth look whiter and brighter with one easy swipe. Look for lipsticks featuring color pigments that contain blue undertones to make your teeth look their pearly best.

Nutrients, antioxidants, and other yummy skin treats are also showing up in new lipstick formulas. It’s about time we focus on the health of our lips and not their size. Hey, while we’re at it, let’s think that way about every aspect of our beauty.

Lipstick does have a tendency to “catch” in dry patches on the lips. To achieve ultimate smoothness, lightly scrub your lips first with a little white sugar and a washcloth. If dryness persists, slick on a little lip primer to even out the texture before applying your lipstick for a satiny finish.

There’s no rule for how to put on your lipstick—start up top or along the bottom, straight from the tube or using a lip brush. To make your color last longer, layer your lipstick. Slick on a first coat, blot with a tissue, and then add a second swipe for enduring loveliness.

Подпись: Sheer coral lip gloss complements all skin tones, no matter what your age.
Подпись: If your color bleeds when wearing gloss by itself, simply trace the lips first with a clear lip liner.

To perfect your lippy look, trace the outside of your lipsticked lips with a little concealer, using light strokes with a small brush. This brings light to your mouth, creating a pillowy effect. Heavenly!

. Mirror Mantra

Oh, lip gloss, how I adore thee. So many addictive shades. And, come on, how else can you sweep on sexy in seconds?

Lip gloss has a lot of pout perks. It’s fast and easy, the shine accentuates your lip shape, and its dewiness looks modern, hip, and youthful. Wear it solo or over lipstick—just don’t limit yourself. Today’s glosses offer a huge range of looks from high-impact shine to subtle, moist sheen.

For optimum results, older women should choose a subdued gloss that offers a more opaque, dewy finish and skip the sticky vinyl-finish glosses. Younger ladies can go crazy with the maximum wet – slick look.

Подпись: I love how my nose crinkles up into a little button when I smile. Brittany, 18, Fargo, ND

Although lip gloss works well on all lip shapes, it lives fast and dies young. You gotta gloss early and often. But it’s oh so worth it!

. Mirror Mantra

Updated: July 2, 2015 — 7:00 am