Copyright 2004 Sarasota Herald-Tribune Co.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Florida)

September 5, 2004 Sunday Style Edition

SECTION: STYLE; Pg. L76

LENGTH: 615 words

HEADLINE: luscious lips

BYLINE: TERRY McKEE

BODY:
With everyone wanting fuller, poutier, more kissable lips, and with some of the horror stories we've heard and, unfortunately, seen, it's time to set the record straight about the best way to create luscious lips.

Lip enhancement falls into three basic categories: temporary, semi-permanent and permanent.

Lip plumpers are the most popular temporary treatment on the market today. Many of these preparations contain ingredients such as lactic or alpha-lipoic acid. The sensitive skin of the lips is irritated causing them to swell. The main problem is, the effect lasts only four to five hours. Two of these products featured on sephora.com are Lip Injection, $18.50, by Too Faced and City Lips, $29, available in a variety of colors.

Longer-lasting results are obtained with treatments like collagen (although allergies are possible) and a new option, Restylane, a clear, injectable gel made of hyaluronic acid. This acid, being a component of human skin, eliminates the allergic response that can sometimes occur with collagen. An additional benefit is that Restylane outlasts collagen by as much as two months. Please note, these treatments should only be administered by your dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

For the most permanent route, lip implants have become a viable option, despite the calamities we've all been witness to. Please be careful here. A qualified plastic surgeon with considerable experience in these procedures is the only professional from whom you should consider taking advice. There are many options, from natural to synthetic. Seek out a board-certified professional you can trust. Outcomes can range from the subtle to the ridiculous.

As with so many regimens, moisturizing is one of the most important aspects of lip care. With lips having no oil glands, they need to be constantly hydrated. On InStyle.com, New York City dermatologist Dennis Gross says, "Licking your lips doesn't help. The digestive enzymes in saliva actually make lips drier." There are more moisturizers than could possibly be listed here. Consult your skin care professional on which treatment will work best for you.

Once you get the size and shape, where do you go from there? What do you use to enhance those beautiful, full lips?

Well, the trends seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. Celebrities have been favoring the bare look with nude lips. "This season's pout is sheer and feminine, not the opaque, pasty beige of the past," says celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose on InStyle.com. Options here include: Film, a sheer nude pink gel with shimmer, $18, by Smashbox at sephora.com and Aveda's Lip Tint SPF15, $11, in sheer peaches, pinks, roses and earths, available at Aveda lifestyle stores and salons nationwide. And for an extra value Pixi produces a Perfect Nude Gloss Kit, $28, with transparent nudes and creamy shimmers in a credit card-sized-kit, available at sephora.com.

On the other end of the spectrum, red lips are getting the green light. "It has a retro vibe about it," says Los Angeles makeup artist Chantal Moore. When choosing a tone, note that reds come in different tones from cool to warm.

While cool blue-reds will make your teeth look their whitest, warm tones have a softer, "more available" effect. Try Stardom lipstick, $20, in "Red Spark" by AWAKE (sephora.com), Aveda's Lip Color Concentrate, $14, in the warm red shade of "guarana" and Vincent Longo's Velvet Riche lipstick in "fore-plush," a sexy red that is a modern version of the classic '50s cream lipsticks, $23, at sephora.com.

Whichever look you choose, remember, lips speak volumes about your own fashion sense. *

NOTES:
[health and beauty]

GRAPHIC: PHOTO; Left to right, Lip Injection, $18.50, by Too Faced; sheer gels with shimmer, $18 each, by Smashbox; Stardom lipstick, $20, in "Red Spark" by AWAKE; Vincent Longo's Velvet Riche lipstick in "fore-plush," $23. All from sephora.com.

LOAD-DATE: September 8, 2004