Keep Lip Wrinkles at Bay with a Few Simple Steps

If there is one thing we all want, it's a beautiful sexy pucker. It seems as though everywhere we look all we see are models and starlets with beestung lips, and while many of us may not naturally have those Angelina Jolie pouts, there are ways to ensure that the lips we have remain youthful and looking their best.

One of the first things that can make our lips look thin and aged are lip lines or wrinkles. These are the thin lines that appear vertically above and on your top lip and may also even pop up on the sides of your mouth causing the corners of your mouth to look slightly droopy. No matter what your age, these pesky little lines can appear and are worsened if you happen to smoke, but can also be brought on by dehydration, slow collagen production, and other factors.

While completely getting rid of lip lines and wrinkles, especially if they are deeper, may be best left to the hands of a cosmetic surgeon, there are things that you can do to avoid those pesky lines from appearing in the first place or from deepening if you already have them. First of all you want to make sure that you are well hydrated. Oftentimes, these lip lines are nothing more then a sign of parched lips which, in turn, are a sign of dehydration. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, and think of drinking more if you tend to drink a lot of coffee or alcohol which are notoriously dehydrating beverages. If water is not your thing, try non caffeinated teas and fruit or vegetable juices. The point is, that you want to keep your body hydrated from the inside out and that will naturally plump up the dryer areas of your skin making those lines and cracks diminish.

Another important way to keep your lips looking younger longer and keep those lip wrinkles at bay is to protect them from the sun. Many of us are amazingly adept at making sure our faces, hands, arms and legs are well protected with high SPF lotions, but our lips are too often overlooked. Dermatologists highly recommend using a lip balm with an SPF in it, or simply wiping a light layer of the SPF lotion you use on your face over your mouth. Sun damage to your lips will prematurely age them, and quickly. The skin on your lips is thin and very sensitive to sun overexposure.

Using natural products like Vitamin E, almond oil, and Vitamin A on your lips as a part of your daily beauty regimen is another fantastic way to ensure that the skin on and around your lips are kept moist and hydrated. You may also consider exfoliating your lips to remove the build-up of dead skin cells and dry skin flakes that will dull your pout and draw attention to any fine lines you may have. You can use your toothbrush to lightly brush over your lips once a day when you brush your teeth. This will aid in the circulation of blood to your lips giving them a plumper, rosier look as well as allowing your skin to breathe and be rid of layers of dead skin. If you prefer, you can gently exfoliate your mouth and the skin around it with an exfoliating scrub that you may already use for your face. Just use it gently and in a circular motion over your lips when you wash your face and you will notice, immediately, that your lips are invigorated and healthier looking.

While having pillowy, Hollywood-style lips is not in the cards for many of us, having healthy, younger looking lips can be a reality. By taking care your your lips and the skin around your mouth you can avoid and diminish fine lines and wrinkles that can develop and age our smiles. A little pampering, hydrating and exfoliating is all it takes to have a million dollar smile no matter what your age.