Posts from — December 2008

Lips are beautiful and sensuous and what you put on them is of vital importance, because a lot of it ends up in your mouth. Just Google how much lipstick women eat in their life time, and that may be the best stimulant to start taking what you put on your mouth more seriously.

So, let’s jump right to it.

This time of the year you probably have dry lips. Lips dry very easily because their skin does not have sweat or oil-secreting glands. So first line of defense for most women is a lip balm. To avoid the chemically loaded petroleum based mainstream balms, check out my list of affordable organic lip balms.

There are also pricier ones, such as Dr. Hauschka lip care stick. But these will do the job just as well, and cost you a mere fraction of the price. They can be picked up at most health stores. (Though the lip care stick is heaven sent for lips that need serious healing, so don’t overlook it if yours do.)

You can also try some organic homemade lip balm recipes. Here is one from Organic Beauty book , by Josephine Fairley:

Homemade lip moisturizing balm

1/3 cup (30 ml) sesame oil
1/3 cup (20 g) grated beeswax
1 tsp honey
5 drops peppermint essential oil

Melt the sesame oil, grated beeswax, and honey over gentle heat in a double boiler. When melted, add the peppermint oil and remove from the heat. Stir until thickened and pour into small, sterile containers. Let it cool.

Josephine also recommends applying mashed ripe papaya to your lips for 10 to 15 minutes for smoother skin appearance.

When you apply lipstick, look for natural organic products. Dr. Hauschka makes a few different types of organic lipsticks and lip pencils. (Including lip gloss and long lasting lipstick). Other brands that have great natural lipstick are Logona, NveyEco and SukiColor. (see this list of best natural makeup brands).

If you are feeling creative you can also make your own homemade lip tint. There are many recipes in books and online. Here is an example from The Ultimate Natural Beauty Book:

Homemade pink lip tint

You’ll need to grate cooked beetroot to extract the juice or use a bottled pure beetroot juice, available from natural food stores.

2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
10 g (1/2oz) beeswax
1 tablespoon beetroot juice (or less for paler balm)
4 drops peppermint essential oil

Gently heat the oil and the beeswax in a double-boiler. Remove from heat and gradually add the beetroot juice, until you get the color you like. Wisk very well, add the peppermint essential oil, whisk again and transfer into a small sterilized pot.

Some general lipstick tips, which apply to organic lipstick as well:

* Contour the lips first with a natural pencil, to prevent lipstick from bleeding out
 
* You can also use pencil/balm combination. Contour lips with pencil, then apply lip balm, then fill in with the pencil.
 
* Four fuller lips look, consider using two lipsticks of same color, but one lighter shaded. Apply the darker lipstick as usual. Then apply the lighter lipstick to the middle/inside part of the lip. (If you want your lips to appear smaller, do the reverse.)
 
* Professional makeup artist always use a brush to apply lipstick. It gives you much more control then applying from the tube.
 
* To keep the color fixed to the lips for longer time, apply a bit of powder on top. (Make sure it’s organic powder). Or apply twice — apply lipstick, blot with napkin, apply again.
 
* To avoid lipstick on your teeth, run your finger through the middle of your lips, so that the excess comes off on your finger and not your teeth.

* If you are above the age of a preteen, use common sense when selecting a lipstick color. Go for tones that have natural tints in them to avoid looking overly clownish. After all, experimental shades may belong on princess coloring pages, but certainly not your face

And most of all, choose shades and products that work for you. If a shade is popular, but you don’t like it – don’t bother getting it! There is enough organic makeup products out there for you to find you’re the perfect match.