The Gloss: Lips Tips
By Mariah, age 15, Minnesota
♥ To make lips look bigger, use a shimmery, light gloss. Matte or dark lips make them look smaller. Only movie stars can pull this off. Don't try it.
♥ Don't buy expensive lipsticks. Wet n' Wild works just fine and it's only 99 cents.
♥ Don't have the right shade of lipstick? Make it. Use any old one you have lying around, then alter the color using foundation to lighten and other colors to darken.
♥ Want a cute shimmer? Use Vaseline and eye shadow.
♥ Make your own lip gloss. Mix some Vaseline in a pot with Kool-Aid. It exfoliates and tastes great!
♥ Never skip the Chapstick. Always use some lip balm or Vaseline as a base before putting on lipstick. Carry some in your pocket 24/7.
♥ Don't lick your lips. It dries them even more. Instead, use Chapstick. And if you don't like the taste of your Chapstick, get some mints to suck on. Or get yucky-tasting balm.
♥ Said it once, will say it again: Vaseline is the ULTIMATE gloss. Invest in a tub. It's about a dollar and will last you until you're 20.
♥ Ever gone to blot your lips and had the tissue stick to them? Been there, done that. The solution: get some coffee filters and cut them into little squares. Stash them near your makeup. Use them, and you'll thank me.
♥ Want to make your lips look fuller? Use an eye shadow pencil and draw a faint line just under the middle of your bottom lip. Smudge with your finger. It gives the look of a shadow, hence, a fuller lip.
♥ Another way for a fuller appearance: Dot a little concealer near the center of your bottom lip, then spread outward.
♥ Have lipstick on your teeth? Before you leave the house, make an "O" with your lips, stick your finger in and pull it out. Looks weird, yet keeps your teeth white, not red.
♥ Gloss = Bigger, kissable lips.
But too much = a sticky situation when you actually get that kiss.
♥ Get a Chapstick with sunscreen. The skin on your lips is more prone to skin cancer than other areas on your body. When you're seventy, you'll thank me. Besides, a lot of Chapstick type products have built-in sunscreen components.
♥ My lip balm picks are Blistex Complete Moisture, Burt's Bees, Kissable Lips, Chapstick Original, and Candy Kisses.
How to Make Lip Stain
Ingredients
Beetroot juice
Moisturizer, if a darkish lip color doesn't suit you
Directions
For cool, long-lasting color simply dip your finger into the beetroot juice and spread evenly over your lips. (Be careful you don't spill any on your clothes, because it stains!) Note: Don't use a lip brush, as the juice will stain the bristles.
If you prefer a lighter lip color, take your regular moisturizer and mix a tiny, tiny, little bit with the juice. I'm talking about smaller than a pea here! Don't use a lot!! This will lighten the color, but won't stain for as long.
How to Make Lip Gloss
Ingredients
Vaseline
Cherry juice
For extra sparkle: glitter, shimmer powder, or loose pink eye shadow
An empty glitter/gloss/shadow/shimmer/whatever pot
Directions
Take Vaseline and fill the pot almost to the top.
Squeeze cherries (you'll only need a few) into the Vaseline and mix until you achieve the desired color. If you gleam, add glitter, shimmer powder, or loose eye shadow to the mix. Finished! And the cherry gloss smells great!! You can melt everything down in the microwave if you want a lighter gloss.
