Soft & Kissable Lips 101

I have a bad habit. Anyone who knows me well knows that when I am anxious, upset, nervous, or stressed, I pick my lips (bad, bad habit). I can’t even remember when I started, but it had to be a long time ago because my mom and dad were/are always saying, “Ashley, stop picking your lips.” Now my close friends and other family members say it too. In fact, even my co-teacher finds himself saying, “Mrs. Kolesar, stop picking your lips.” Oops. My lips are pretty full and become easily chapped and sunburned (Lip sunburn is the worst. I literally have to be very certain to apply SPF to them in the summer and definitely on vacation) and I think it’s because of this that I pull at the skin. I drink a ton of water. I am constantly applying ChapStick or lip moisturizer, but they still become “peely” and the moment I become anxious, I, most of the time unconsciously, begin to pick.

I hate that I do this. I hate that the skin on my lips is not always smooth, so I continue to pick at them even though I hate that I am. That being said, for a while now, I have been in search of the best products out there to help make my lips smoother so that I can combat the urge to pick and pull at the skin. I have found some pretty amazing products that have made my bad habit occurrences decrease significantly.

Let’s talk lip scrubs. I’ve used three different kinds and I honestly can say I like all three. Each has its own pros and cons, but they are also all very similar, so it’s kind of a user’s choice type of deal. The first one I ever used was by Mary Kay. When I finished up student teaching (wow, that was 6 years ago), one of my 7th graders gave me this awesome basket of cosmetic products (I think his mom helped him out a bit). One of the items was this lip scrub. It also came with a moisturizer you apply after. It worked well and I continued to use it as needed. The lip scrub is more creamy and has smaller exfoliating particles. Sometimes, I would just use the moisturizing balm if I didn’t need to exfoliate.

Once I found my beloved Glam Glow products, I read up on their Sugar Exfoliating Treatment. This is the one I’ve used over the past two years and it is another great product. The exfoliator is a bit thicker and more transparent. It actually looks like sugar, as the exfoliating particles are bigger than the Mary Kay ones. I got the set so it also came with a moisturizing balm, but sometimes they are sold separately. The packaging is also really pretty!

The one I’ve most recently ordered is MAC’s Lip Scrubtious. This one comes in a variety of scents/shades: Sweet Vanilla, Fruit of Passion, Candied Nectar, Summer Berry, and Sweet Brown Sugar. Which one did I get? Well, I wanted them all, but that’s just not cost-effective (lol). I read in the reviews that your lips can end up with a slight tint after using (esp. with the bright pink and purple) so I went with the Sweet Brown Sugar since it’s more of a natural color and I love brown sugar flavored things! The scrub itself works like all the others– exfoliates and removes the flaky, dead skin and smooths lips, but you’ll notice no moisturizing balm is included with this one. So, I was pleasantly surprised when my lips felt extra moisturized after using it, as if I had applied balm. The scrub leaves behind a lip conditioner! I love that. The texture is simliar to the Glam Glow exfoliator. I love the scent and definitely use it before apply lip color because it leaves my lips so smooth!

Ahh, moisturizers– thirsty lips crave this stuff! I recently started wearing lip color, but honestly, only wore Chapsticks and lip balms for like, my whole life. The product on the right (Rimmel London Kate Lip Balm), I received in my ipsy bag (This balm is $8.50 and I only pay $10.oo each month for a cosmetic bag and 5-6 beauty products– this is why I love ipsy!! Well worth it). It’s great to throw on for work or when my lips need some hydration! We’re giving away a dupe of this product (another one I always carry in my purse–

The product on the left (Lanolips 101 Ointment Superbalm) is phenomenal. It’s really thick, so I use it at bedtime mainly! It’s 100% natural and made with ultra-pure lanolin. It keeps my lips so soft. They’re dramatically changed since I began using this stuff, so that means less picking at my lips (You’re welcome, mom)! 🙂

Of course, some things you just can’t let go, so I’ll always love my Cake Batter ChapStick. I’m all too loyal to that stuff. It just smells sooo good and always seems to get the job done. You can find it at Target.

When it comes to color, I’m new here. Not huge into lipsticks– I often find them uncomfortable and worrisome. That’s why I’m often seen wearing lipstick or a basic balm, but I’m starting to like the world of lip color every so often. So, here’s what I’ve found. For starters, a lip primer works wonders. GlamGlow’s Plumprageous Matte Lip Treatment is applied prior to lipstick to smooth out the natural unevenness and creases of the skin on the lips. This one, obviously by the name, plumps the lips a little as well and you will find it tingles a bit. I probably am the last person in the world to need lip plumper (lol), butttt I like how it makes lip color go on smooth, and in my opinion it doesn’t do very much “plumping” anyway. It is applied with a retractable lip wand (like you would apply gloss) and it dries in about one minute.

As for lip color, I’ve recently discovered Jeffree Star Matte Velour Liquid Lipstick! It dries immediately and stays on all day. Some of the colors are pretty bold and I really like Androgyny, Gemini, and Designer Blood the best so far! (I’m wearing Designer Blood in the photo at the top of the post!) Also, received NYX’s new lip stick, Butter, in my ipsy bag last month and really like it (you’re probably starting to see this ends up happening most of the time with the contents of my ipsy bag– they get me)! It’s easy application and really conditioning. If you don’t know about NYX, you might want to learn! Everything is very inexpensive and available a variety of places– from Ulta to Target. (Off topic– but their liquid liner is amazing!)