Pretty Up Her Pout

Having dry, cracked lips is not only uncomfortable, but they also make clients look unpolished and older than their actual age. Here are some easy pointers to pass on to them (and practice yourself) that will create and maintain a smooth, moist and very kissable pout.

Before you apply one coat of lipstick to finish her look...

When you see snapshots of supermodels of any age, they all have one thing in common: well cared-for lips. Dry or chapped lips not only make it impossible to have flawless lipstick application, but they can also give lips a creased, dull and aged appearance.

Need help transforming her lips into a moist, plump pout? Here are three tips that HotOnBeauty editors swear by:

• No more lip licking. Saliva contains digestive enzymes that wear down the lips’ thin skin, leaving them vulnerable to environmental exposure like dry air. The next time you or your clients have the urge to lick, apply a lip balm instead for instant and longer-lasting relief.

• New morning ritual: After brushing her teeth, tell her to rinse her toothbrush (toothpaste dries lips) and brush her lips. If she likes a toothbrush with firm bristles, advise her to keep a soft-bristle brush on hand that she can wet and give her your lips a few light strokes.

• If her lips are in dire need of smoothing, recommend a lip conditioner. We`ve also found that wetting a soft toothbrush, sprinkling it with a little baking soda and lightly brushing the lips works in a pinch. Don’t overdo it; a few light strokes are all that are needed to create a smooth pout.

• After brush, recommend that she pat her lips dry and apply a lip balm. We’ve posted our three favorites, which are chock-full of natural oils and ingredients and don’t contain mineral oil, beeswax (bees are killed when beeswax is harvested) or synthetic sunscreen ingredients.

Important: Lips are sensitive, so make sure to emphasize just a few light strokes. Over brushing the lips will make them raw and damaged.