Ways to fix your discoloured lips

Dark/discoloured lips could be due to an unhealthy lifestyle or bad hygiene habits.

 

If you smoke, here's one more reason to kick the butt. Smoking is one of the biggest causes of lips turning dark. Experts say that the nicotine present in cigarettes causes lip discolouration.

Your lips also need regular exfoliation. Use a soft bristle toothbrush to scrub your lips once a week. This will remove all dead skin and keep your lips pink, soft and healthy.

Experts say that massaging your lips regularly will improve circulation. Make a paste of crush almonds and lemon juice and massage it on your lips regularly. 

 

Lips also need to be hydrated and moisturized. Apply petroleum jelly or lip balm daily so that you don't suffer from dry and chapped lips. Use a balm, which has cocoa butter, known to be great for lips.

A simple home remedy to lighten dark lips is to crush pomegranate seeds and mix them with a few drops of milk cream. Apply this paste on your lips and leave for 20 minutes.

Make your lips look fuller

If you desire a gorgeous pout like Angelina Jolie, you needn't go through the ordeal of painful injections! Just follow these simple and pain-free make-up tips for bee-stung lips: 

1. Use a glossy lipstick:

 When you are applying your lipstick, choose one which has a shiny finish. The light will bounce off your lips, thus creating an illusion of fullness.

2. Avoid dark shades: 

Lipsticks in darker colours will dwarf your lips. One of the easiest ways to get fuller lips is by opting for nude or clear shades. These will also give your lips a natural look.

 

3. Exfoliate your lips:

When you use an exfoliator on your lips, you promote circulation, making them look plumper. You can use a small, soft toothbrush to brush lip balm or cinnamon on your lips Exfoliate in circular motion.

4. Create a shadow: 

Take a dark brown, waterproof eyeliner, and draw a very small line directly under your bottom lip. This will create the illusion of a shadow, which in turn will make your lips look bigger.

5. Lip plumpers: 

You can invest in a lip gloss with a lip plumper. This will sting, especially on the first application, but will give you a fuller, glossier pout. Go for one that is non-sticky and will keep the lips hydrated.

 

6. Apply concealer on the lips: 

This is a trick used by make-up artists on fashion models. Apply a thin layer of concealer with a brush on your lips, before you apply your lipstick. Make sure that the shade of the concealer is as light as your foundation.

How to lighten dark lips

 Feel that your mouth is too dark compared to your face? Do you want a pink perfect pout? 

You are not alone. Millions of women worldwide suffer from this entirely treatable condition. So, look no further for your dermatologist-recommended tips to lighten your lips!

1. Stop licking your lips: 

Many people suffer from a repetitive habit of licking their lips. This repetitive friction and irritation causes a darkening of the lips and even the surrounding skin. Why does this occur? Usually, people with this habit have lips that continually dry and they repeatedly lick their lips to moisturize it. Unfortunately, the more you lick your lips, the more water evaporates from the lips, ultimately making them even drier. This ultimately perpetuates a never-ending cycle! So stop this habit for a lighter and healthier pout!

2. Exfoliate your lips: 

A lot of people with dry lips will have excess skin that makes your pout look rough, uneven and discolored. Luckily, there is a natural remedy for this. You can gently rub your lips with your toothbrush every morning! Or, for an extra effective exfoliation, you can mix sugar, honey and olive oil and apply it to the lips as a gentle scrub and then wash it off. Do this a few times a week and be amazed at the results.

3. Moisturize regularly: 

Dry lips are darker lips, likely because light is not able to reflect properly off an uneven surface. Moist lips will look healthier and pinker, so moisturize regularly with a strong lip balm at least 5-6 times a day! Make sure the lip balm has shea butter in it, as it is highly effective at moisturizing your pout.

4. Apply sunblock: 

Yes, lips can get tanned too! In fact, the sun can damage the skin on the lips, making them appear darker and rougher. Look for a lip balm with SPF30, and apply it at least 5-6 times a day to make sure it does not wear off.

 

5. Try lasers: 

If natural remedies do not work, then you can try a KTP Laser for your dark lips. This safe and painless procedure uses a targeted light therapy to attack excess color on the lips. Typically, KTP requires 2-4 sittings, depending on how dark your lips are. Talk to a certified dermatologist about it to learn more.

(Inputs by: Dermatologist Dr. Kiran Lohia, Medical Director of Lumiere Dermatology, New Delhi)