Get Natural Red Lips

Are you tired of getting red lipstick on everything your lips touch? If you want lips that look red without the mess, start by conditioning your lips to bring out their natural color. Using a subtle lip stain made with berry or beet juice adds is a great natural trick to have up your sleeve for days when your lips need a colorful boost. To keep your lips looking their best, use sunscreen and moisturizer so they'll always look bright and supple instead of flaky and dull.

Steps

Prepping Your Lips

  1. Use a sugar scrub. Dry, dead skin that builds up on your lips can cause them to look paler than they otherwise would. To bring out your natural reddish hue, you need to exfoliate your lips to uncover the fresh skin underneath. An easy way to do this is by mixing up a homemade lip scrub with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Here's how to do it:
    • Mix a teaspoon of sugar and a teaspoon of honey (or olive oil, if you don't have honey available).
    • Scrub the mixture over your lips using a circular motion.
    • Rinse and repeat until your lips are dry-skin free.
  2. Brush your lips with a toothbrush. If your lips are too flaky for a simple scrub to get through the skin, try brushing them with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Cover your lips in baseline, wet the toothbrush with warm water, and then scrub your lips in a circular motion. Scrub each section of your lips for 20 to 30 seconds before moving on to the next. Your lips will be good as new when you're finished.[1]
  3. Condition your lips with serum. Now that you've uncovered your natural reddish color, condition your lips with a layer of lip serum to keep them in good shape. Applying a serum overnight will give you even better results; you'll wake up with soft, pink-hued lips. Try using one of the following oils as a natural lip serum:
    • Coconut oil
    • Almond oil
    • Olive oil
    • Jojoba oil
  4. Plump your lips to add natural color. Just as pinching your cheeks makes them look rosy, increasing circulation in your lips brings up their natural red color and causes them to look pleasantly plump. You can buy a lip plumper from the store, but it's just as effective to make one yourself. Try one of these natural lip plumpers:
    • Mix 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or cayenne pepper with enough olive oil to make a paste. Apply to your lips for five minutes, then rinse.
    • Mix 5 drops of peppermint extract with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Apply to your lips for five minutes, then rinse.
    • Cut a small piece of fresh ginger, or cut a jalapeno pepper in half. Rub the cut part on your lips for five minutes.
  5. Moisturize your lips. Keeping your lips moisturized is essential to having good natural color. If your lips get dry, they'll start looking pale and dull again. Use a good natural lip balm to ensure your lips never dry out. You can make your own lip balm using the following method:
    • Melt 1 tablespoon beeswax together with 3 tablespoons coconut oil.
    • Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, like peppermint (as a bonus, it'll also plump your lips).
    • Pour the mixture into an old lip balm container and let it harden before use.

Adding Natural Color

  1. Use red fruit juice. Starting with conditioned lips, dip a cotton swab into a small container of red fruit juice. Rub the juice over your lips, staying within your lip lines, and allow the juice to dry. Apply more layers for deeper color. Seal the color using a clear lip balm. Any of the following types of juice will work:
    • Cherry juice
    • Cranberry juice
    • Pomegranate juice
    • Strawberry juice (for a pinker hue)
  2. Try a slice of beet. Cut off a slice of fresh beet, making sure the interior flesh is bright red. Rub the slice over your lips, squeezing gently as you go to release the juice. Let the juice dry, then apply more layer for deeper color. Seal it using a clear lip balm.
    • Beet root powder is also an effective lip stain. Mix a little powder with enough olive oil to make a paste. Apply to your lips, and let the paste dry completely. Wipe off the excess paste, then seal the color with clear lip balm.
    • You can also use canned beets, although the pigment won't be as strong.
  3. Eat a red popsicle. Red popsicles contain just the right amount of food coloring to make your lips look naturally red. Choose a cherry or raspberry popsicle and eat it slowly, making sure the melted popsicle coats your lips. By the time you're finished eating the popsicle, your lips will have a bright red hue.
    • For a more precise application, you can melt the popsicle into a dish and apply it using a cotton swab. This also prevents your teeth from turning red.
    • Make a custom color by mixing more than one flavor of popsicle. Try mixing a grape and a cherry to make a rich red plum color, or an orange and a raspberry for a pretty coral hue.
  4. Use Kool-Aid powder. Red Kool-Aid powder has been used as a lip stain since the 1950s. Who knew this simple drink mix would make the perfect addition to your cosmetic bag? Grab a cherry or strawberry-flavored packet of Kool-Aid powder. Mix it with enough olive oil to make a paste, and rub it on your lips. Let it sit for five minutes, then wipe off the excess paste.[2]
  5. Make your own portable lip stain. If you want to have a stain handy to use whenever your lips need a lift, it's easy to make your own using either beet root powder or Kool-Aid powder. Mixing the powder with coconut oil will make a stain that absorbs into your lips, so you don't have to wipe it off. Here's how to do it:
    • Melt 1 tablespoon coconut oil.
    • Mix in 1 tablespoon Kool-Aid powder or beet root powder.
    • Pour the mixture into a small jar with a tight-fitting lid.
    • Apply it with your finger or a cotton swab. The stain will melt at warm temperatures.

Keeping Your Lips Healthy and Bright

  1. Protect them from the sun. Too much sun exposure can cause lip discoloration, including dark spots. Keep your natural lip color safe by protecting your lips with lip balm that has at least SPF 15. It's best to use sunscreen all year long, even in the winter when the sun isn't as strong.
  2. Keep them moisturized. Moisturizing your lips helps them look bright and fresh, preventing cracks and flaking. It's especially important when the air is dry and cold. To keep your lips moisturized, do the following:[3]
    • After exfoliating your lips, always apply a good nourishing lip balm to keep extra moisture from escaping.
    • If you have trouble with flaky lips, try sleeping with a humidifier.
  3. Stay hydrated. If your body is dehydrated, it'll show up in your lips. Start each day with a full glass of water. For each cup of coffee or soda you have throughout the day, drink a full glass of water to make sure you stay hydrated.
    • When you have alcohol, make sure to follow it with plenty of water. That way you won't wake up with dry lips.
    • Avoid extremely salty foods, since they can dry out your lips.
  4. Avoid smoking. Smoking tobacco products can lead to lip discoloration. It also causes lip wrinkles and thinning. When you're going for a natural red color, it's best to avoid smoking altogether.[4]

Things You'll Need

  • Lip scrub (sugar, honey)
  • Lip plumper (olive oil and cinnamon or cayenne; cut piece of ginger or hot pepper)
  • Lip balm (coconut oil or olive oil)
  • Lip stain (berry juice, beet juice, popsicle or Kool-Aid powder)

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.thegloss.com/2014/09/29/beauty/how-to-exfoliate-lips-pinterest-diy-recipes-tricks-hacks/
  2. ↑ http://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/tips/g8632/kool-aid-lip-cheek-stain/?slide=1
  3. ↑ http://www.dailymakeover.com/trends/skin/chapped-lips-cure/
  4. ↑ http://guardianlv.com/2014/05/cigarettes-may-darken-lips-for-smokers-natural-remedies-to-combat-effect/

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