I am all about playing up my eyes with my make-up, but once in a while, I like to focus on my lips. Just because they can be overlooked does not mean you shouldn’t take care of them. Here are a few things I believe every make-up [and beauty] lover should know about.

No one wants dry or cracked lips, so to keep them soft and moisturized, apply some sort of lip balm, preferably one with SPF in it. Yes, even your lips need protection from the sun. I suppose I’m bad for not taking my own advice, it’s just that I love my Burt’s Bees Lip Balm so much, it’s become my HG lip balm. [I like the concept of their products being natural, plus I like the tingly feeling I get on my lips when I put it on.] I’ve tried Softlips (it worked fine for a while, then it stopped working for me, for some odd reason), Chapstick, Carmex (doesn’t taste very pleasant), even Rosebud Salve (I liked the faint scent and the hint of color it gave my lips, but I did not like the idea of sticking my fingers in the gloss, then on my lips; too much of a hassle), but haven’t since used anything but Burt’s Bees. Of course, everyone has their own favorites. I’ve heard good things about Aveeno lip conditioner [with SPF 15!] from a friend and I’ll test-drive it once I run out of my lip balm.

Just as you should exfoliate your face, you should also exfoliate your lips once in a while. This helps slough off dead cells. I usually do it after I’ve brushed my teeth. I just use my toothbrush and gently brush my lips and then I run my toothbrush in very hot water afterwards, since it probably sounds gross to multi-task with it, but hey, it works. Another alternative is to rub sugar all over your lips. I have also used Benefit’s Lipscription, which I recommend. It leaves my lips feeling nice and soft.

I am a lipgloss girl through and through, but I’ve suddenly started getting into lipsticks. If you prefer lipgloss like I do and you don’t want to spend too much on lipsticks, I suggest you get only the basic colors. In my opinion, every girl [or guy] should have the following: 1) a lipstick color that’s like your natural lip color, but better. Why? It’s perfect for those days when you don’t want to look like you’re wearing make-up; 2) a red lipstick. On days when you really want to feel glammed up, just red lipstick on your lips will do the trick. Red lipstick can be tricky. A tip for finding the perfect shade of red for you is to, first and foremost be able to look at the color in person, and second, look at your skin tone. Cooler tones look better in red lipsticks with a hint of blue in them (think M·A·C’s Russian Red), while red lipsticks with a more orange-y tint suit those with warmer tones (I suggest M·A·C lipstick in Lady Bug; I have it and I love it); 3) a peachy-colored one since they work with neutral colors, and greens and golds; 4) a pinkish-toned one because they work with purples, some blues, and again, neutral colors. There are also different kinds of finishes for lipsticks: matte, semi-matte, satin, frost, etc. I suggest not using matte lipstick all the time as it can dry out your lips; however, you should test out all the finishes to see what works best for you. Never limit yourself.

Ever had a problem with getting the lipstick on your lips to show up as the color it is on the tube? To combat that problem, I suggest applying foundation on your lips first as it helps to neutralize your natural lip color.

Some tips on applying lipstick, courtesy of InStyle magazine (October 2007 issue, p. 408)…For day lipstick: hydrate (”condition and protect with a balm that contains sunscreen…The smoother your lips, the more perfect your lipstick will look”), apply color, blot, reapply, and blot again. For night lipstick: exfoliate, prime (this “fills in fine lines around the mouth and helps lipstick go on more smoothly”; Olay Regenerist lip treatment was suggested), line lips so that the color doesn’t bleed and use a color that’s a shade lighter than your lipstick, so it looks more natural, and finally, brush on the color.