3 Steps To Kissable Lips!

This article was written by a dear friend, assistant and natural beauty lover, Coco Noel.  

He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. 

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and you still have dry, parched winter lips? Worry not! Whether you’re planning a romantic night with your sweetie or to celebrate your freedom with the girls, you’re only three steps away from achieving a soft, luscious pout. And did I mention it’s going to be totally safe and all natural? No harmful chemicals or weird fish faces allowed. 

Exfoliate

Have you ever tried putting lipstick on top of dry, flaky lips? Yuck! Having smooth, moisturized lips will allow your lipstick to glide on evenly. Get rid of flakes, moisturize and soften your lips by making your own lip exfoliator. It works just as well as expensive department store products, but without any of the harmful chemicals. Bonus: it’s totally edible. 

You’ll need:

¼ tsp honey

¼ tsp coconut oil

¼ tsp white or brown sugar 

Honey is a natural remedy for cracked lips, the coconut oil will help soften and moisturize and finely ground sugar will exfoliate dead skin away. Mix all ingredients together and massage in a circular motion on lips for 30 seconds before wiping off. If your coconut oil is too hard to mix smoothly, place the container in a warm water bath for a few minutes until it softens. 

Mix up a larger batch using 1 tablespoon of each ingredient and store in the fridge for up to a week. Allow it to soften on the counter for five minutes prior to each use. 

Moisturize

Once you’ve exfoliated, seal in that moisture and protect your lips with a nourishing lip balm. Before you reach for just any old lip balm, check this out: classic cherry Chapstick contains 19 ingredients, among them artificial colors, flavors, parabens and saccharin – which have been linked to cancer, allergies and hormone disruption. I’m ok with enduring some pain for beauty (say, an eyebrow wax), but why risk your health when you can get any of these positively sensational alternatives… 

My all-time favorite lip balm is Pangea Organics’ Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom lip balm, $12. It’s certified organic and gluten free, though does contain soy.

If you’re going to be in the sun, consider a lip balm with sunscreen. Purple Prairie SunStuff has a 98% organic SPF 30 lip balm, about $9. It’s made with natural zinc oxide, so it’s super safe but it will leave your lips looking a bit chalky.  

If you’re not into white lips, try Beyond Coastal’s Active Lip Balm SPF 15, about $5. While it’s primarily made of safe, all natural ingredients it does contain some sheer chemical sunscreens. 

Pick Your (non-toxic) Poison

When it comes to puttin’ on your lips, you can go for a natural look with a sheer balm or dress that mouth up with some of the best non-toxic lip stains, sticks and glosses. 

Lip Stains and Tints: These “stain” your lips for long-lasting color that won’t wipe or kiss off (wink, wink). Try Jane Iredale’s Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Pink, $25. For more vibrant color options, Au Naturale carries a line of bright, organic and gluten-free Lip & Cheek Tints, $22.   

Lip Gloss: Gloss can either be worn alone or layered over stains and tints for added glam. Natural Solutions magazine recently chose Primitive Natural Makeup’s lip gloss as best lip gloss, and it comes in clear and shimmers, $18. For a red hot Valentine’s Day pout, consider Au Naturale’s lip gloss in Red Cross Red, $15, which is organic and gluten-free. 

Lipstick: Most strong pigments are synthetic and come with a laundry list of health hazards. Who wants that? LippyGirl makes glossy organic lipsticks with fun names like Sassy Ass and Homewrecker, $15-$23. Because it’s a Canadian company, shipping to the U.S. can be a bit pricey if ordering directly from the company. Make it worth your while by ordering several lipsticks to be prepared for all occasions. 

If you’ve had enough of shimmer and gloss, consider a matte lipstick from Afterglow Cosmetics, $24. Hues like Merlot, a wine-stained cream and Tango, a sheer wash of coral red, make it fun to try the matte lipstick trend…and the soy-free, gluten-free lipsticks made with organic ingredients make it safe to. 

BONUS TIPS:

For an extra pouty sheen, dab lip gloss on the center of your lower lip. 

A swipe of bronzer beneath your lower lip will make your pout stand out even more. 

Pat a bit of highlighter or shimmery white eye shadow just above your cupid’s bow for a mouth that takes center stage. 

Now that you’re the proud owner of one set of very kissable lips, don’t be surprised if your inner monologue starts to sound a little more like this:  He loves me! Oh, and he loves me! And see that handsome fella over there? Yep, he loves me too!

What’s good for the skin is good for the lips. Outer beauty is reflective of inner beauty. Check out this post for tips on skin- and lip- loving nutrients to emphasize in your diet.

About the Author:
Coco Noel is studying holistic nutrition in Berkeley, California. Her passion is exploring how nutrition relates to anti-aging, beauty and the brain. She likes hot weather, adventures in cooking, other people’s dogs, and everything pink. Check out her website at CocoKnows.com and follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CocoKnowsItAll.