Beauty Tips From the Pros: Perfect Lips

April 15, 2008 — -- Famed actress Audrey Hepburn once said, "For attractive lips, speak words of kindness." So true, but I'll add one thing: Lipstick sure helps!

It's been reported that for Cleopatra to paint her lips, it took 70,000 beetles to yield one pound of carmine dye. Talk about high maintenance. Today, lip color is far less complicated.

Signature lip shapes and lipstick colors are distinctive and will always define many iconic legends such as Lucille Ball and Joan Crawford. But few of us can pull off those dramatic looks with such ease. The reality is that their lip shapes were crafted skillfully by the great Hollywood makeup masters.

Today, it is always the best idea to work with and compliment what nature gave us and make the prettiest mouth we can in a few easy steps. Don't overdo it with any lip makeup, and you will keep your lips looking pretty, sexy and kissable.

Lipstick comes in a dizzying array of shades and formulas such as crème, matte, sheer, frosted, long-wearing stick, pots, glossy and even the new "plumping" formula. Your choice of formula and color choice is a very personal fashion, style and comfort choice.

Do not be convinced by a salesperson that the latest, greatest shade is YOU! Get a friend's opinion or trust your instinct. Take care navigating this jungle of colors -- the possibilities are endless. Try not to fall for each and every new seasonal trendy shades as they might not be flattering for your complexion and hair color.

But be brave and try new shades -- make sure you are comfortable that your choice of color really reflects your personality or the fashion mood you are going to reflect. Your lips tell others a great deal about your personality, even before you part them to speak.

TAKE AWAY TIPS

* Do not be convinced by a salesperson that the latest and greatest shade is right for YOU! Get a friend's opinion or trust your instinct.

* Lipstick can spoil! It can go rancid, so if it starts to smell funny, feel like candle wax or not go on as smoothly as it once did, toss it.