Beauty & the Brush

We abuse our mouths mercilessly. We care for the skin around our eyes, exfoliate our noses, but we overlook the one feature on our face that is constantly in motion. Not only have we subjected our poor lips to the blazing summer sun, but we also torture them every day while drinking, eating, smoking and talking.

Some of us even unwittingly bite or pull our lips with our fingers when we are stressed out or while we’re thinking about something. The result? A rough and flaky mouth. Most women assume they can cover this up with lipstick or gloss, and if you’re one of them, you are doing yourself a great disservice. Drawing attention to your lips by layering colour over them is the last thing you want to do when they are peeling.

To salvage your lips, you must exfoliate them before you use any kind of balm. Until you remove the dead layer of skin, no amount of chapstick or lipstick is going to heal your mouth. Ensure your pout is soft and smooth by giving one of our favourite exfoliation methods a shot.

Begin by applying either a little Vaseline or olive oil to your lips. If your mouth is extra flaky or rough, add a little sugar to the base product. Next, using a toothbrush (preferably not one that is electric and definitely not the one you are currently using for your teeth), gently start brushing the entire surface of your lips in small, circular motions. Be gentle - your mouth is delicate and will be sore if you brush harshly.

After about thirty seconds to a minute (depending on your sensitivity level), wash your lips with cold water and clean the brush. Finish up by moisturising your lips with a moisturising balm. For best results, remember to exfoliate at least every two weeks.

Once your mouth feels butter smooth, you can fearlessly apply lipstick without drawing attention to flakes. Feel confident when experimenting with the flirty fall colours appearing on catwalks everywhere, such as purple, red, orange and even black (yes, now you can enjoy Halloween every day).

But before you reach into your make-up bag, did you know that the colour of the lipstick you wear affects how big or small your lips look? Different shades can either make your lips appear plump like Angelina Jolie’s or thin like Jennifer Aniston’s. Augment your newly exfoliated mouth with colours that are perfect for your lip size.

If you’re plagued by a large pout and want to make your lips look smaller, skip the nudes. Instinct may lead you to believe that dark colours actually attract attention and should be avoided. However, in reality, deep shades will help to minimise your mouths appearance. Choose your colours by avoiding light, bright colours and sticking to darker, earthy tones.

Those who want their lips to appear larger than they are should seek out light to medium shades, such as nudes and lighter versions of pink and coral. Steer clear from deep shades, they will cause your lips to seem smaller. If you absolutely must go dark, be sure to counter the effect with a little shimmery gloss at the centre of your pout. The reflective particles will give the illusion of plumpness.

Whatever the measurements of your pout, we can’t stress enough the importance of caring for your mouth first. Pair your lipstick with soft, cared-for lips and we know you will rock any shade you choose.

Maria Saadat is author of the popular desi beauty site Lipstick Masala.

QUESTION TIME

Do you have a question about make-up? Can’t figure out a hairstyle for an upcoming wedding? Do your attempts at smoky eye make-up leave you looking like a raccoon? Have no fear! E-mail your questions and issues to [e-mail] and Maria Saadat will respond to them in an upcoming column.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2010.