The Joy of Lip Gloss
How I love lip gloss! One of the greatest things about lip gloss is that not only is it inexpensive, but just a dab can have you looking pulled together at a moment’s notice. Another great thing about lip gloss is that you can buy it nearly anywhere. You can go to the MAC counter, or if you’re in a rush you can pick it up at your local pharmacy or grocery store.
Lip gloss is such an inexpensive way to pickup your face. I personally think that rose-tinted lips that are bright and shiny bring out a youthful appearance. The colors and what they do for you vary greatly. Some glosses are just about shining up your lips. Others include ingredients that help to add fullness to thin lips. Whatever it is that you’re seeking, there’s a lip gloss for you.
When you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, it’s always fun to take a friend shopping with you to tell you what looks best on you. Some of the best places to try these on are the Macy’s cosmetics departments, Sephora, or have a professional at MAC make suggestions. You can’t try things out at drug stores, but the lip glosses are normally so inexpensive there that it’s worth the few dollars even if you don’t like one. Check for sales. They often do two for the price of one.
I also recommend patronizing your local Avon or Mary Kay representative. You’ll be looking better, all while supporting someone else. You can look online to find a representative in your area. It’s a win-win situation.
Do’s:
- Experiment! Try different colors, textures, flavors and brands. Men can normally taste the flavored ones while they kiss you, which is an added bonus.
- Ask around. Most women love to talk about their favorite lip glosses and they’ll have tons of personal tips for you.
- Expect to get what you pay for. The lip glosses at your local beauty supply store may look good on you and they may only cost $1, but expect to reapply often.
- Look for products with aloe and vitamin E. Those two help to moisturize the lips as you wear gloss.
- Lightly layer lip gloss on top of a lipstick shade that you like.
- Prepare to reapply after you eat or drink but remember that it can be rude to reapply make up at a table where people are eating.
- Leave lip gloss where you’ll need it most, your desk at work, your purses and your bathroom. You can even leave different kinds around, so there’s no need to leave one tube of the expensive stuff all over the place.
- Go lightly on the glitter. Many lip glosses contain pieces of glitter and while glitter can add a funky touch to a night time outfit, you may look a tad out of place in the office during the day or at your child’s ballet recital. You would look like you’re wearing the same lip gloss as some of the young ballerinas. Glitter is funky, but it can look too young and unprofessional so be careful when and where you wear it.
Don’ts:
- Wear “medicated” lip glosses and lip balms. While some lip glosses and lip balms have the cooling feeling of menthol (Carmex for example), menthol dries out lips. While you’re wearing it, it’s great, but once it wears off, you have to apply more. After so many applications, your lips start to get used to it and when you don’t wear it your lips are dry and cracked. Once your lips are used to it, it can take days of dry cracked lips before your lips are back to their normal moisture level. Medicated lip glosses and balms are best used to dry out cold sores on the lips. Otherwise, avoid at all cost!
- Wear petroleum jelly as a substitute for a good lip gloss. It fades quickly and it won’t give you the sexy look you’re going for.
- Leave lip gloss in your purse on a hot day. While it’s great to have in your car for a re-up while you’re out running errands, since many lip glosses are oil based, they can melt into an ickie mess pretty quickly. If you leave your purse in your car with lip gloss in it, be careful that you don’t end up with strawberry scented gloss all over your wallet. On hot days, it’s best to try to find the coolest places to stash your lip gloss. Many lip glosses also separate when heated so you can possibly ruin your favorite tube if you’re not careful.
- Put on too much. No woman ever looks good or natural with too much make up and lip gloss is no exception. Putting on too much lip gloss at one time makes you look like a little girl playing dress up.
- Wear any of the lip glosses or balms made of beeswax or honey if you’re allergic to bee stings. You’ll run the risk of an allergic reaction.
- Assume that every color looks good on you. Very few women can pull off brown, red, pink and purple lip gloss colors. Ask a beauty professional (preferably one who doesn’t work on commission) or one of your friends how the shade makes you look, honestly.
So the next time you’re in Target and you have a few dollars to spare, stop into their cosmetics department and pick out some lip gloss for your sexy pout. Looking like a fly mommy isn’t as hard as it appears.
