The mouth is the body’s most visible erogenous zone, and full, plump lips signify youth and attractiveness. So, it’s no wonder your lips take centre stage when romance is in the air.
Kissing often serves as the ultimate litmus test, with one study revealing that a poorly executed first kiss can lead to a breakup, as 59% of men and 66% of them ended a new relationship with someone they found attractive after an unsatisfactory initial kiss. A good kiss, though, will trigger your brain to release a chemical cocktail of oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin, making you feel euphoric.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’re sharing our tips for achieving kissable lips that will leave a lasting impression:
Look to hydration
After enduring a harsh winter, our lips can quickly dry and crack by February. Make your lips a part of your skincare routine by exfoliating regularly to remove dry, dead skin cells. This ensures better absorption of moisturising products, keeping your pout plump and hydrated.
Our Aesthetic Practitioner Stevie recommends using hyaluronic acid dermal filler product in a lower viscosity for those dealing with persistent dryness. The product is thinner and more pliable in consistency, so rather than adding volume and structure, the lips benefit from the hydrophilic effects of hyaluronic acid.
“Hydrophilic means water-loving,” Stevie explains. “Hyaluronic acid works like a sponge and is capable of holding over 1,000 times its weight in water.”
A subtle augmentation
While social media may be flooded with images of influencers and celebrities sporting plumped-up lips, most individuals seek a more natural rejuvenation for lips that have naturally thinned with age. At Karidis Clinic, our mantra is a beautifully natural result, so we add small amounts of lip filler to restore the vermillion border or subtly volumise the lips.
Reverse the signs of ageing around the mouth
Over time, fine perioral lines, often referred to as lipstick lines or smoker’s lines, can develop around the mouth. To address this common ageing concern, Stevie injects a higher viscosity filler mainly into the vermillion border of the lip to support the very fine lines that form there. “Then, if necessary,” she explains, “we very carefully place tiny deposits of thin, flexible dermal fillers directly into the vertical lip lines to soften and hydrate this area without adding unnatural volume.”
Lifting a downturned mouth
Gravity can impact the mouth, causing the corners to droop and giving the impression of a perpetually sad or cross expression. Stevie can address this with two treatments. First, it is possible to support and lift the upper lip by carefully placing filler in the lower lip at the oral commissures. “A nice combination treatment, though, is to add support with filler and then use muscle relaxing injections into the depressor anguli oris muscle to aid in lifting the oral commissures, turning up a downturned smile!” Stevie concludes.
This Valentine’s Day and beyond, embrace these tips to create irresistibly kissable lips that will leave a positive and memorable impression. As Spring approaches and the nights get lighter, we’re delighted to announce that Stevie is now offering Thursday evening clinics. Call 0207 432 8727 or email enquiries@karidis.co.uk to book a slot with Stevie.
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