Healthy, Moisturized Lips Underscore Trendy Makeup Looks matte lipstick (avoid pearlized shades) to fill in the lips,” James (NAPSA)—A natural, “wind bitten” look—including a strong, says. “Then, apply light strokes of casually smudged eye and freshout-of-the-cold flushed cheeks— a stronger mauve or berry-toned pencil randomly along the edges and from the center of the lips for evokes an image of braving harsh elements with appealing weatherkissed effects to show forit. Just make sure it’s only a a subtle, two-toned effect. It should evoke that weather-kissed, ‘edged’ effect without lips actually makeupillusion! “The idea is a pseudo ‘wind-bitten’ look with none of the negative having any rough, dry surfaces.” To complement more subtle ness,” says New York-based healthy beauty expert Kat James. jet black eye liner just along the effects such as dryness or rough- “But pseudo ‘wind-bitten’ is as far as we go. In reality, the lips are healthy, supple and protected, which is why the effect is so intriguing.” Lips left untreated and unpro- tected from the winter weather effects of dryness, chapping and overexposure to the sun are any- thing but trendy or beautiful. James knowsthat all the cosmetics in the world can’t make unhealthy lips look andfeel great. As one of the most exposed areas of the body all year round, lips are especially sensitive to cold, dry temperatures because they lose moisture faster than any other part of the face, according to Dr. Charles Zugerman, associate professor of clinical dermatology at Northwestern University Medical School. For overall lip protection during all types of weather, Dr. Zugerman recommends that both men and womenuselip care products that condition and protect, such as Blistex Ultra Protection (with six protectants and SPF 30) and Blistex Lip Ointment, which contains three analgesics to help relieve discomfort and soreness. Protecting lips before exposure to the elements can prevent more lips, James suggests using matte, earthen-toned eye shadows and than just the discomfort of sore, chapped lips. Protection also can limit long-term damageto the lip skin, which often produces fine lines and wrinkles on and around the mouth, explains Zugerman. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause changes in collagen, the protein that gives lips resilience, which can lead to premature aging and even skin cancer. Proper lip care is crucial to achieving this year’s hottest lip looks, including beauty expert James’s own pseudo, “wind-bitten” makeup creation: “Before applying any color or accents to the lips, always start with a moisturizing lip balm that contains at least an SPF 15 sunscreen to protect and smooth the lip surface,” says James, whose celebrity clients have included Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Bjork. New Blistex Fruit Smoothies are great for conditioning, plus they offer real fruit extracts and flavors in ultra creamy textures for super smooth feeling and healthy lips. “After applying lip balm, use a putty-colored lip pencil or demi- lash line. Cheeks should also appear slightly flushed, either naturally or with a touch of liquid cheek stain. The eyebrows can be left natural. Even the most skillfully applied makeup, however, cannot hidedry, scaly lips damaged by cold wind and weather. To rid your lips of peeling skin and flakes, Jamesrecommends applying a moisturizing lip balm, then using soft-bristled toothbrush to gently massage away dead skin. Blistex Lip Ointment is one of the two Blistex lip care products (Complete Moisture is the other) that actually delivers moisture directly to the lips’ surface, hydrating and softening lip cells to allevi- ate cracking andseriously drylips. Drinking plenty of water is also vital to keeping lips and skin healthy. “About 70 percent of the skin’s hydration comes from the water you drink, regardless of how much moisture you apply externally,” says James. Both James and Zugerman agree that a simple cleansing and moisturizing regimen can help keep skin and lips looking and feeling healthy during even the harshest of winters and in any kind of weather.
