With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s time to give your lips a little extra TLC — and there are a variety of ways to get a plump, youthful pout that’s ready to pucker up. Check out your options at our dermatology offices in Miami — and learn what you can do at home.
The skin on the lips is different than other skin on the face, and it’s actually most similar to the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. These areas don’t have oil glands, which is why the lips are so prone to dryness and chapping, and they lack hair follicles, as well. The skin on the lips is also thinner than every other inch of skin on the body (with 3 to 5 layers of cells, compared with 16 elsewhere), and this delicate area is devoid of melanin, which serves as natural sun protection. Without melanin, the lips are susceptible to sunburn and long-term sun damage that manifests as fine lines, loss of volume, and increased risk of skin cancer.
The lips are comprised mainly of muscle, and the repeated contractions associated with kissing, sipping, smoking, smiling, and even talking can lead to vertical lines around the mouth. As with the body as a whole, collagen levels decline with age and accumulated sun exposure, and these factors can have a deflating effect on the lips over time.
So what’s a girl to do? Follow these suggestions and you’ll be loving your lips in no time …
Xtend Your Youth Lip Filler & Volumizer
Looking for one lip product that protects, plumps, and prettifies? Xtend Your Youth Lip Filler & Volumizer has all of your concerns covered. This unique multitasking formula hydrates and smoothes just like your favorite lip balm, but it also goes a step further to boost collagen and elastin production for an increase in volume and a more defined lip border. Inspired by injectable fillers, Xtend Your Youth Lip Filler & Volumizer decreases the appearance of vertical lines around the mouth, for an overall youthful, pillowy pout. And it also contains a signature antioxidant blend of vitamin E, green tea, white tea, and grape seed extract to create a lip line filler that also shields delicate skin from damage and keeps lips looking younger longer.
Restylane® Silk
The newest addition to the injectable filler “toolkit” at our dermatology practice is Restylane Silk at our Miami practice. The first hyaluronic acid wrinkle filler developed specifically for the lips and area around the mouth, Restylane Silk can be used to enhance lip volume and smooth fine lines. Because the formulation is thinner than other hyaluronic fillers used elsewhere on the face, Restylane Silk delivers natural-looking — not duck-like — results.
Lifestyle Tips
Anti-aging skincare and in-office treatments are sure-fire ways to improve the appearance of your pout, but these everyday pointers can also make a difference over time.
- Slather on the SPF. The lips are often overlooked when applying sunscreen, and you should always make sure they’re protected when spending an extended period of time outdoors. Also avoid shiny lip gloss if you’re lounging on the beach or pool as it attracts sunlight.
- Skip the straw. Perhaps you sip your iced coffee through a straw to keep your teeth pearly white. Over time, this will lead to vertical lines around your mouth, so toss the straw and brush your teeth after your morning (or afternoon) caffeine fix instead.
- No smoking. Cigarettes don’t do any favors for any part of your body, and this habit does a number on your lips as well. First, the repeated muscle contractions lead to etched-in lines. Second, cigarette smoke is filled with free radicals that cause cellular changes deep within the skin and accelerate the aging process.
