THREE DON’TS. Don’t lick, pick or smoke if you want your lips to look the best on your big day. Never lick your lips, the enzymes in saliva will dry them out. Picking at dry lips makes thing worse. Smoking produces oxygen going to your lips, drying them out, aging faster, creating fine lines around the mouth and adds nicotine stains…. NOT PRETTY!

Hydrate: Keep lips moisturized from the inside ot by drinking at least eight 8-10 oz. glasses of water each day.

Humidity: Big winters like ours are really hard on lips. Be sure the air in your bedroom has adequate humidity and use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

Be gentle: Whenever you are treating lips or applying lipstick or gloss, be very gentle so as not to damage those smooches.

Exfoliate: Remove dry, dead skin from your lips with a gentle exfoliation. Purchase a ready-made product or create your own. Among mix-it-yourself recipes is a moisture of equal parts of brown sugar and honey. Apply to your lips and remove by wiping it off very gently with a wet cloth in circular motions. Follow with a lip moisturizer of balm.

Moisture: Use quality lip balms or moisturizers to keep your lips well moisturized. Avoid balms with drying ingredients. be sure to apply products before you go to bed for maximum benefits.

Plump: create that sexy illusion of fuller lips, outline your lips with a lip liner a shade lighter than the lip you color you plan to use.

Eat right: For great lips, eat a diet rich in anti-oxidants. Think colorful vegetables and fruits. Omega-3 fatty acids are another key, so include fish, walnuts, and plant oils like olive oil on your menu regularly.

Source: Wedding essential Magazine. Ontario Edition. Summer/fall 2013

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