Lip shtick

Even the perfect shade of lipstick won't make your lips look luscious if they're dry and chapped. Keep yours kissable with a little help from Ala Lozinski, a cosmetic dermatologist at Aestheticare in Stoney Creek, Ont. Here's what you should do to achieve the perfect pucker.

If you're heading south for a holiday this winter or spending time on the ski slopes, keep in mind that your lips are extremely sensitive to the sun's harsh rays and will burn easily. Over time, too much sun may damage the elastin in your skin, leading to fine lines around your mouth.

Whenever you're going outdoors, use a lip balm with SPF 30 to protect against chapping, windburn and sunburn and keep your mouth moisturized. While some lipsticks contain SPF, they don't typically offer adequate protection, so if you're going to be out in the sun, be sure to apply lip balm with SPF 30 underneath your favorite lip colour.

When you smoke, repeatedly pursing creates unattractive lines over your upper lip. And skin regeneration is compromised by smoking, so it can also contribute to premature wrinkling. Quit now and if you don't smoke, don't start.

Constantly licking your lips causes water loss, which makes your mouth look and feel chapped. Can't kick the habit? Seal-in moisture by applying lip balm throughout the day.

If rough peeling lips are your problem, the brand of toothpaste you use may be to blame. Whitening and tartar control toothpastes and those with ingredients such as the foaming agent sodium lauryl sulfate can irritate lips. Look for a brand that doesn't contain these additives.

Once a week, exfoliate your lips with a sponge to get rid of dry, dead skin.

Now that you know what it takes to get soft kissable lips, try these simple makeup tips to create a marvelous-looking mouth: For a long-lasting look, dust your lips with a matte face powder before applying lipstick. Or go natural and line and fill-in with a neutral-coloured lip liner. Then top them with a sheer gloss for extra shine. Now get ready to pucker up.