Collagen.

That’s the substance that plumps our lips… until production slows, starting in our 20s, and lips start to look thinner, especially by the time we’re over 50. Lack of collagen also leads to creases and fine lines.

Here are four tips to help your lips look great on camera:

1. Exfoliate. Just like the rest of your skin, your lips can use a little help shedding dead, dry skin cells to stay soft and smooth. Try a gentle scrub (make it at home with a bit of sugar mixed with water) or even just a soft toothbrush.

2. Use an “occlusive” balm. Occlusives stop water and natural moisture evaporation from skin by creating a waterproof coating on it. Since we don't have oil glands in our lips, they can't recover from dryness without help. Choose a lip balm with a thick occlusive, like beeswax, to lock moisture in. Consider one with olive oil or honey to nourish and soften your lips.

3.  Add creamy color. Filling your lip up to and including the ridge of your lip line with a creamy, natural looking lip color helps add visible volume. What color is best? A technique I recently learned to choose a flattering color is to match the inside of your bottom lip!

4. Try a subtle lip contour. Avoid “overlining” to make lips look plumper, as that can call more attention to creases or fine lines around your lips. Instead, once you've applied your lipstick, apply a lighter shade to the centers of your upper and lower lips. This helps enhance lip shape and volume. Go a step further by adding a touch of highlighter just above and below each lip to help emphasize the edges of your lips. Use your finger or a brush to apply a bit of highlighter to your Cupid’s bow (just above the center of your upper lip) and then just below your lower lip line at the fullest part.

Bonus tip: Use caution with lip glosses. Too much shine can look odd on camera.

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Women are multi-faceted, and I love helping them share images that show their authentic, beautiful, confident shine! How do you want to be photographed? Let's meet over coffee and talk about it. Contact me: text/call 434-226-0365 or email [email protected]... or schedule a Zoom meeting online here!