Pout Patrol Four ways to lift your lip-care routine

“You should treat your lips as you treat other parts of the face, so make sure they are well hydrated and protect them from the sun. Ultimately, UV light damages collagen and elastic fibres in the skin,” shares Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai's Department of Dermatology in New York. Hong Kong-based dermatology specialist, Dr. Nicola Chan, reiterates, “apply the same anti-ageing products you are using on your face around your lips as well. Also pick a lipstick or lip balm with SPF as balms or lipsticks, don’t always stay on, you need to keep applying throughout the day.”

“There are three components to the ageing lip. First, you may develop lines around the mouth. Second, you may lose the structure of the border of the lip. Third, you may lose volume in the body of the lip itself. Injectable fillers like Restylane and others can help address all three of these factors,” explains Dr. Zeichner. “Some people need all addressed, while others may only have one or two issues.”

“Fine lines around the lips are caused by muscle movements such as talking, eating, sucking or kissing” shares Dr. Chan. While these obviously shouldn’t be given up in the name of youthful lips, there is one muscle movement you could cut back on : “Repetitive movements cause folding in the skin that lead to lines, making smoking particularly damaging to the lips,” explains Dr. Zeichner.

“If you develop dark spots around the mouth, topical creams and dermatological procedures can help. Your dermatologist may give you a prescription for hydroquinone which helps lighten pigmentation. Lasers and peels can help the body shed unwanted pigment as well as improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” shares Dr. Zeichner.