Simple Tips for Healthy Lips

Smooth, youthful, healthy looking lips is something everyone aims for. However, due to the elements, dehydration, stress and aging, our lips can quickly become chapped, dried out and covered in fine lines. While some women opt to get cosmetic procedures done, there are natural ways to help your lips look healthy and attractive year round.

While it's easy to find an array of products on the shelves that promise to soften your lips and even plump them, many of these products are full of harmful chemicals like parabens and petrochemicals. Your best bet is to go natural and try a couple of at home tricks to keep your pout supple.

One of the oldest and most effective ways of smoothing out your lips and keeping them healthy is to brush them. Yes, you heard right! Brushing your lips with your toothbrush after you are done brushing your teeth will not only exfoliate dead, chapped skin off of them but will also aid in circulation to your kisser making your lips look plumper and giving them a healthy glow. This has been a beauty secret of many models and make-up artists from Twiggy up to Tyra.

If using your toothbrush is something you would rather keep for your teeth and gums, then try making an exfoliating paste out of a small amount of baking soda and water. All this takes is one teaspoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of water that you will mix until it becomes a pasty consistency. Once mixed rub it into your top and bottom lip in a circular motion sloughing off dead skin and making your lips softer and smoother instantly.

For a sweeter lip treatment, you can mix a teaspoon of brown sugar to half a teaspoon of olive oil and repeat the steps above. If you prefer a savory lip treatment, then you can subsitute the sugar with salt. You can use these natural lip exfoliants as often as you like or need. As there are no chemicals or unnatural ingredients involved you don't have to worry about any side effects or irritation. Just make sure that when massaging the baking soda or sugar treatments into your lips you do so gently in order to prevent any minor tears in your skin.

It is also essential to remember that even when you use these wonderful ways of smoothing out your lips and making them look and feel healthier, that you remember to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. One of the first signs of dehydration are chapped lips. If you are spending a lot of time outdoors, use a lip protectant that has an added SPF in it. The skin on your lips is some of the thinnest and most easily damaged by overexposure to the sun and wind.

Dry, stressed, unhealthy looking lips not only can age your face, but also make it difficult to wear lipstick without it cracking and peeling and can just be overall uncomfortable if not downright painful. With a few simple at-home tricks you can maintain a very healthy looking pout no matter what your age or what the elements are that you are exposed to. Drinking plenty of liquids and protecting your lips when you are outdoors will complete the benefits of these lip treatments giving you a smile worthy of the silver screen.